Skip to main content
Inspiring Educators by Suraasa

Inspiring Educators by Suraasa

By Suraasa

Inspiring Educators by Suraasa is an educational podcast series to inspire and guide passionate teachers to become successful in their profession.

You will learn the success mantras of successful educators who took the road less taken and created magic in the lives of thousands of students.

If you are passionate about teaching and believe in upskilling yourself, listen to this podcast and become an inspiring educator!
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Ms Roja Paul’s Teaching Journey From Being a Teacher to Being a Principal Who Still Teaches | Inspiring Educators

Inspiring Educators by SuraasaNov 24, 2021

00:00
25:49
"We’ve created 40 leaders, 40 Principals till now!" | Ms D. Usha Reddy| Inspiring Educators

"We’ve created 40 leaders, 40 Principals till now!" | Ms D. Usha Reddy| Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms D.Usha Reddy, Advisor to Basilwoods School by ISKCON and Advisor Education Initiatives of EMRI Green Health Initiatives, India.
Ms Reddy's illustrious career includes her role as the former CEO of Meridian Schools, where she played a pivotal role in transforming them into centres of excellence.
She is dedicated to building schools which develop the moral fabric of students who are deeply rooted in Indian culture and have a modernistic approach as well. She firmly believes in striking a harmonious balance between our rich Indian heritage and the demands of the contemporary world.
She was also the Chairperson of the Hyderabad Sahodaya Schools Complex, which consists of 300 CBSE schools and received the National Award in 2010. Ms. Reddy is a CBSE Master Trainer for various programmes and has trained many Principals and teachers.
In this episode of Inspiring Educators, she shares her insights into diverse educational approaches and the significance of inclusive education in shaping the future of our society.

Sep 29, 202353:60
"If you invest in your teachers, they’ll invest in your students" | Mr Gur K Serai | Inspiring Educators

"If you invest in your teachers, they’ll invest in your students" | Mr Gur K Serai | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Mr Gur K Serai, Co-chair of Satluj Group of Schools, India.


Mr Gur K Serai is an accomplished educationist with a wealth of experience spanning over 29 years in the field of education. Before serving as the Co-chair of Satluj Group of Schools, he played a pivotal role in the transformation and success of educational institutions in the UK.


Mr Gur K Serai's educational philosophy emphasises the promotion of a Growth Mindset and a celebration of achievements of all kinds. He holds a deep belief that every child deserves the best opportunities to excel in life.


In this episode of Inspiring Educators, he highlights the importance of training teachers and shares some qualities every teacher must possess.


Sep 28, 202334:51
"The Kindness Quotient for Teachers" | Ms Manika Sharma | Inspiring Educators

"The Kindness Quotient for Teachers" | Ms Manika Sharma | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms Manika Sharma, Director at The Shri Ram Schools, India. Ms Manika Sharma has an impressive career spanning over three decades in education. She started her career with The Shri Ram Schools in 1989 as a teacher, eventually ascending to the esteemed position of Principal. Presently, as a Director, she leads the group of schools towards even greater achievements. Ms. Sharma's exceptional talent lies in fostering parent communities and advocating for her teachers. She strongly believes in cultivating a growth mindset, encouraging her teachers to experiment and embrace risk-taking. In this episode of Inspiring Educators, she highlights the importance of a strong school culture and shares how alums often return to her school as teachers, a testament to its enduring impact.

Jul 30, 202336:12
"Empowered Educators lead to Engaged Classrooms!" | Ms Paramjeet Kaur Dhillon | Inspiring Educators

"Empowered Educators lead to Engaged Classrooms!" | Ms Paramjeet Kaur Dhillon | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms Paramjeet Kaur Dhillon, Principal, Administration & Innovation) at Kamla Nehru Public School, India.

With an impressive 28-year tenure as a Principal and having trained over 5500+ educators across India, Ms. Paramjeet Kaur Dhillon is a distinguished figure in the field of education. She holds the esteemed position of Founder Principal at Kamla Nehru Public School and currently serves as the Principal (Administration & Innovation). Ms. Dhillon's expertise is internationally recognized as a globally validated Master Trainer on 21st Century Core Skills, endorsed by the British Council, U.K. 

Under Ms. Dhillon's exemplary leadership, Kamla Nehru Public School achieved remarkable recognition, winning the Microsoft Showcase School Biggest Impact award for the ASIA Pacific Region in 2020-2021. Her infectious energy and enthusiasm are channelled into empowering her teachers, fostering a remarkable team culture. She firmly believes in the power of collaboration and mutual support, which drives the school's remarkable success.

In this episode of Inspiring Educators, she highlights the importance of experimenting with education and how she initiated the #RiseUp4SDGs project.

Jul 27, 202341:09
"Teachers strive for perfection, but growth is through failure." | Ms Meghana Musunuri | Inspiring Educators

"Teachers strive for perfection, but growth is through failure." | Ms Meghana Musunuri | Inspiring Educators

Meghana Musunuri, a remarkable individual with diverse accomplishments, is recognized as an outstanding educator and entrepreneur. She was selected as one of the top 50 finalists for the prestigious Global Teacher Prize 2021 by the Varkey Foundation. This honour distinguishes her among thousands of nominees from 121 countries. Ms Musunuri is one of the co-founders of the leading company- My Edu Guru, which helps students get into their dream universities abroad. Her commendable philanthropic endeavours include the NGO Save Water and Nature (SWAN), which is dedicated to the preservation of water and nature. Under her tutelage, her students have successfully revived several lakes, like the Meedikunta Lake, from scratch. In this episode of Inspiring Educators, she shares her philosophy of leading by example and encouraging her teachers to nurture their innate curiosity indefinitely.

Jul 23, 202342:04
"No pedagogical practice can succeed without technology" | Ms Anita Makkar | Inspiring Educators

"No pedagogical practice can succeed without technology" | Ms Anita Makkar | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms Anita Makkar, Education Leader and Founder Principal of HDFC Schools, India. Ms Makkar is the former founder principal of DAV Public School, Sector-14 in Gurugram, nurturing it for 29 years into a premier school renowned for its academics and co-curricular activities in equal measure. She was tasked to lead the establishment of the HDFC Schools and continues to inspire the next generation of students and teachers. She has travelled widely across Western Europe, Japan, Russia and many other countries in pursuit of adopting and sharing innovative educational ideas. In this episode, she shares her philosophy- “Every child should be an individual entity for every teacher’’ that has been the cornerstone for all her efforts as a leader. She also discusses the importance of teachers adopting technology.

Jul 17, 202334:11
"From Heart Surgeon to Heart Nurseries" | Ms Ritu Mendiratta | Inspiring Educators

"From Heart Surgeon to Heart Nurseries" | Ms Ritu Mendiratta | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms Ritu Mendiratta, the Founder and Principal of The Stepping Stones School, Pune. Ms Mendiratta has always been someone who follows the compass of her heart in every decision she makes. Although she holds the position of the school principal, her core identity lies in being a friend to her teachers and students.

Her initial foray into teaching occurred when she volunteered to assist a family friend with challenging mathematics concepts. Since that day, she has embarked on a truly inspirational teaching journey spanning over 20 years. A firm believer in teaching as a lifelong learning profession, she advocates wholeheartedly for continuous upskilling among educators. 

In this episode, she shares her views on how teachers with a flexible and growth-oriented mindset are the ones who will truly transform the face of education.

May 30, 202346:54
“Technology is only a tool, it cannot replace a teacher.” | Ms Sanjala Wazir | Inspiring Educators

“Technology is only a tool, it cannot replace a teacher.” | Ms Sanjala Wazir | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms Sanjala Wazir, Education Advisor and Consultant.

Ms Wazir started her career as an ad-hoc teacher at Welham Girls' School in Dehradun. An initial stint of just one month has today turned into nearly three decades of teaching career. She then progressed to become the Dean of Academics at Welham and, post-retirement, started training teachers in renowned schools. 

Throughout her extensive career, Ms Wazir has had a profound impact on the education ecosystem. She has even led teacher development programmes in schools like Bishop Cotton, Assam Valley and Pallikoodam in Kerala. 

Ms Wazir is an educationist to the core. She ideates best practices and effective teaching methodologies to help teachers improve their craft. She truly believes that it is crucial to nurture our teachers as they are the ones who ultimately have the most significant impact on our students.

May 21, 202331:30
"Teaching is not an 8-to-2 job!" | Ms Shalini Nambiar | Inspiring Educators

"Teaching is not an 8-to-2 job!" | Ms Shalini Nambiar | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms Shalini Nambiar, Principal Director at Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Vasundhara, Ghaziabad. She brings to the table a diverse background, having previously worked in the aviation industry before entering the realm of education. Her deep desire and passion for making a difference in the lives of students brought her close to the field of education. And eventually today, she stands tall as one of the leading educationalists of the country.

With a career spanning for almost three decades, Ms. Nambiar's primary focus has always been to nurture teachers with passion and to be a supportive figure for all her students. Her impressive portfolio includes stints at reputed institutions like VIBGYOR Group of Schools, GEMS Education, and GD Goenka Public School. She is a visionary who believes in challenging traditional notions prevalent in the Indian education system. Above all, it is her core belief that education, when imparted in its true essence, has the power to revolutionise the world.

May 16, 202331:58
“Just 10 years back, I was a teacher sitting in a staffroom and today I am a Director.” | Mr Abhishek Bagchi | Inspiring Educators

“Just 10 years back, I was a teacher sitting in a staffroom and today I am a Director.” | Mr Abhishek Bagchi | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Mr Abhishek Bagchi, Director (World Peace Schools, India) and Principal (Rmps International School, Gujarat, India).  An avid learner since childhood, Abhishek shifted his career from an IT professional to an educator. With more than 20 years of experience in education and 7 years in leadership positions, he has worked with reputed organisations like GEMS Education, PEARSON, Birla Group, among many others.

He is passionate about education management, quality improvement of the academics and  school development. His unwavering commitment and love for the teaching profession is reflected in his leadership and academic excellence of schools under his umbrella.

Oct 12, 202231:53
Make learning relevant to the real world | Ft. Co-Founder of one of 15 most progressive schools in the world | Inspiring Educators

Make learning relevant to the real world | Ft. Co-Founder of one of 15 most progressive schools in the world | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Mr Sandeep Hooda, Co-Founder of Vega Schools, India. Sandeep, a first-generation entrepreneur started Vega to spark the love of learning & revolutionise education.  Vega, today is the only North Indian member school of the Global Schools Alliance - an alliance of the 15 most progressive schools around the world nurturing the passion in its students to encourage them to learn.

In this episode of Inspiring Education, we explore the learning & teaching environment at Vega Schools & how Vega is able to attract & retain progressive teachers. Hear Sandeep talk about his journey as an entrepreneur, explorer, an educator & his exemplary work in developing real-world skills by transforming the way we teach & learn.

Aug 18, 202231:24
It’s not your B.Eds or M.Eds because degrees sometimes don’t matter | Ms. Farzana Dohadwala | Inspiring Educators

It’s not your B.Eds or M.Eds because degrees sometimes don’t matter | Ms. Farzana Dohadwala | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms Farzana Dohadwala (Executive Chairman, Crimson Education), a national & international educator with over 30 years of experience in the industry. She has established over 20+ schools and has mentored 100+ Schools across India, the Middle East and South Asia. A change maker, pioneering new approaches in education, Farzana is recognized as one of India’s top 50 educationists.

In this podcast, she discusses the need for teachers to be tech-savvy as well as mindful teachers today and shares anecdotes about how teachers can impact not thousands but millions of lives in their lifetime. A strong believer of Plutarch's philosophy— “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited”, her influence & leadership are truly inspiring.

What is Suraasa?

Suraasa helps teachers in meeting skill and certification requirements by virtue of its courses. Once ready, teachers are helped to get selected for Domestic and International teaching jobs and the local teaching approvals for the target countries. We put them in touch with government and private schools with better salaries. Basic salary may start as low as INR 4 LPA up to INR 40 LPA.

Talk to Suraasa Mentor: https://links.suraasa.com/7W7X

Check out our website: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzP

For more updates about our upcoming masterclasses, join our community: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzS

Follow us on Instagram: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzO

If you wish to apply to PGCTL, You can click on this link:  https://links.suraasa.com/7PxN

If you wish to enroll in KHDA-approved Mandatory Professional Development courses, you can check out this link: https://links.suraasa.com/7PxW 

Jul 13, 202236:49
"It’s in Human nature to strive for better" | Dr Chandrashekar D P | Inspiring Educators

"It’s in Human nature to strive for better" | Dr Chandrashekar D P | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Dr Chandrashekar DP, CEO , Jain Group of Institutions (JGI Schools), India. With over 20+ years of experience in the education sector, Dr Chandra has been anchoring the establishment of various schools of the group across India–leading the strategic domain and coordinating the operations to accomplish his vision of impacting 1 million children through his work and leverage his experience in the education sector to build a better schooling system in the country. An Author, TEDx Speaker, and Edupreneur, he believes that understanding of the organisation’s vision, mission, and values is the key to engage employees and set clear deliverables across any organisation for its success and progress.

What is Suraasa?

Suraasa helps teachers in meeting skill and certification requirements by virtue of its courses. Once ready, teachers are helped to get selected for Domestic and International teaching jobs and the local teaching approvals for the target countries. We put them in touch with government and private schools with better salaries. Basic salary may start as low as INR 4 LPA up to INR 40 LPA.

Talk to Suraasa Mentor: https://links.suraasa.com/7W7X

Check out our website: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzP

For more updates about our upcoming masterclasses, join our community: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzS

Follow us on Instagram: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzO

If you wish to apply to PGCTL, You can click on this link:  https://links.suraasa.com/7PxN

If you wish to enroll in KHDA-approved Mandatory Professional Development courses, you can check out this link: https://links.suraasa.com/7PxW 

Jun 21, 202234:34
"Skills can be Taught, but Attitude Cannot be" | Ms Monica Sagar | Inspiring Educators

"Skills can be Taught, but Attitude Cannot be" | Ms Monica Sagar | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with Ms Monica Sagar, Director Principal, Shiv Nadar School, Gurgaon, India. With the belief that education is not just about developing academic capacity, but also the humane, social, emotional, aesthetic, physical, and spiritual potential of every student, her approach to teaching centres around ensuring the holistic development of her staff and students.  

Her creative energy, years of teaching energy and change-making temperament are reflected throughout our conversation. With over 20+ years of experience in the industry, she truly is an inspiring educator—a favourite amongst her students and teachers alike.


What is Suraasa?

Suraasa helps teachers in meeting skill and certification requirements by virtue of its courses. Once ready, teachers are helped to get selected for Domestic and International teaching jobs and the local teaching approvals for the target countries. We put them in touch with government and private schools with better salaries. Basic salary may start as low as INR 4 LPA up to INR 40 LPA.

Talk to Suraasa Mentor: https://links.suraasa.com/7W7X

Check out our website: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzP

For more updates about our upcoming masterclasses, join our community: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzS

Follow us on Instagram: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzO

If you wish to apply to PGCTL, You can click on this link:  https://links.suraasa.com/7PxN

If you wish to enroll in KHDA-approved Mandatory Professional Development courses, you can check out this link: https://links.suraasa.com/7PxW 

Jun 08, 202227:29
Build an Ecosystem of Inspired Learning | Ms Rachna Sharma | Inspiring Educators

Build an Ecosystem of Inspired Learning | Ms Rachna Sharma | Inspiring Educators

In conversation with “Ms Rachna Sharma”, Principal at Silver Oaks International Schools. With over 20+ years of experience in the field of education, she is a seasoned educator with diverse experiences across a broad spectrum of masses of different ages, ethnic, and social groups, especially in remote areas of India amongst military forces.   

Her compassionate and empathetic attitude with a meta-cognitive approach has enabled her to build an ecosystem of inspired learning across the five Silver Oaks Campuses spread across South India. The motivation for her teaching stems from a mission in life: to enable and empower into a force for sustainability for the planet, people, and environment.


What is Suraasa?

Suraasa helps teachers in meeting skill and certification requirements by virtue of its courses. Once ready, teachers are helped to get selected for Domestic and International teaching jobs and the local teaching approvals for the target countries. We put them in touch with government and private schools with better salaries. Basic salary may start as low as INR 4 LPA up to INR 40 LPA.

Talk to Suraasa Mentor: https://links.suraasa.com/7W7X

Check out our website: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzP

For more updates about our upcoming masterclasses, join our community: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzS

Follow us on Instagram: https://links.suraasa.com/7IzO

If you wish to apply to PGCTL, You can click on this link:  https://links.suraasa.com/7PxN

If you wish to enroll in KHDA-approved Mandatory Professional Development courses, you can check out this link: https://links.suraasa.com/7PxW 

May 23, 202235:58
The Immense Potential of The Education Sector | Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff | Inspiring Educators

The Immense Potential of The Education Sector | Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff | Inspiring Educators

May 06, 202235:44
"A Mentor in Teacher's Life is Very Important" | Ms. Varsha Agarwal Rodewald | #womensdayspecial
Mar 09, 202234:04
An Educator who Believes in "Yeh Dil Maange More" | Dr. Shunila Joy Chauhan | #womensdayspecial
Mar 09, 202221:54
Create learners who are passionate... | Ms. Trayee Sinha | #womensdayspecial
Mar 09, 202228:38
Journey From Librarian to School Climate Builder | Ms. Lakshmi Kumar | #womensdayspecial
Mar 09, 202234:47
My Teacher Used to Tie My Hands... | Ms. Anuradha Monga | #womensdayspecial
Mar 09, 202217:03
What Fascinated Mr Dakshinamoorthy Towards Teachers’ Professional Development? | Inspiring Educators
Jan 19, 202254:23
Ms Roja Paul’s Teaching Journey From Being a Teacher to Being a Principal Who Still Teaches | Inspiring Educators
Nov 24, 202125:49
How can Teachers Prepare Themselves to Teach Abroad? | David Dasari | Inspiring Educators
Oct 13, 202118:03
Making India the Export Hub of Qualified Teachers | Dr. N. Panchanatham | Inspiring Educators
Sep 14, 202108:10
Types of TETs in India and Recent Guidelines | Dr. N. Panchanatham | Inspiring Educators
Sep 11, 202113:52
Importance of TETs in India and Tips for Preparation | Dr. N. Panchanatham | Inspiring Educators
Sep 08, 202115:14
How to Land your Dream job? | Brian James Coulter | Inspiring Educators
Aug 27, 202111:53
Understanding Schools Expectations & Making Your CV Standout | Brian James Coulter | Inspiring Educators
Aug 26, 202122:16
What is Your Dream Teaching Job? | Brian James Coulter | Inspiring Educators
Aug 25, 202106:32
Career Pathways of a Successful Teacher | Rishabh Khanna | Inspiring Educators
Aug 24, 202101:07:30
Inspiring Educators | Introduction
Aug 23, 202101:24