Introduce yourself in three words or phrases
- Curious
- Driven
- Sporty
What do you like most about your job?
Without doubt, the transformative impact we can have on young people – be it supporting them land their dream university place, building up their key future skills set through our UCAS-accredited career immersive experiences, or developing cross-cultural competencies in young people through welcoming students from over 150 nationalities to our summer schools each year.
The speed of change and the future of work has never looked so unpredictable. It is our responsibility to address this and prepare the young people of today for tomorrow.
Best work trip/Worst work trip?
Autumn of 2023, in Lisbon. We welcomed our first international school to the Dukes Education family – United Lisbon International School.
Not only was this a seminal moment, expanding our education provision outside of the UK for the first time, but Lisbon also holds a special place in my heart, being half Portuguese. To see the two come together was exciting and motivating.
If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?
Hindi. Being half Indian, I would love to be able to converse in my mother’s native language. India is a unique country and one that is making big waves in the global education space.
What makes you get up in the morning?
Two key drivers:
- Working towards our clear purpose statement at Dukes Plus – “to empower young people to live a happy and successful life”. We have made big strides over the last three years but there is still a lot more to do.
- My family. Providing for them and setting a good example to our two young boys.
Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?
- Dr Rangan Chatterjee – given my medical background as a practising doctor for 10 years, I am fascinated by human behaviour and how we can work towards leading a happier and more successful life. In my view, Rangan has been a game-changer by having authentic, vulnerable and honest conversations around human behaviour, which provide genuine actionable takeaways for leading a more enjoyable life. His podcast is my morning go-to.
- Aatif Hassan – you may say I would say this because he is my boss, but how Aatif has driven Dukes Education in such a purposeful and values-led way is nothing short of extraordinary. Within the field of education, he has been unrivalled over the last decade.
Best international ed conference and why?
Dukes Education hosted The Heart of Education conference at Wembley Stadium earlier this year, which about 2,000 of our staff attended. It had a unique and wonderful blend of educational expertise and the science behind human behaviour.
We heard from world renowned leaders such as Professor Guy Claxton; AI was expertly unpacked by the effervescent Dan Fitzpatrick; and Maya Raichoora, Nike’s mental fitness coach, highlighted the importance of visualisation and the huge impact it can have on our performance.
It genuinely looked at education in a holistic and modern manner.
Worst conference food/beverage experience
No comment!
Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?
I referenced Rangan Chatterjee’s podcast, Feel Better, Live More. Can’t recommend it enough.
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company is a fascinating insight the world of leadership and business. My main take-away was the importance of vision and persistence, especially when faced with adversity. Disney’s focus on maintaining the organisation’s core values while adapting to new business landscapes shows the importance of resilience in helping sustain long-term success. I think there are key lessons in there for all entrepreneurs and leaders.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
Dukes Plus is in a privileged position where we can embrace the growing body of scientific evidence around human behaviour and the neuroplastic brain, to truly build holistic educational programmes that prepare students both academically and as human beings, to succeed in the world.
We are exploring several programs that encompass this vital combination.
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