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The people behind Kiya World School
Meet the founders, educators and leaders who make Kiya a place where every child is seen, supported and stretched to be their best.
CO-FOUNDER
Mr. Sumit Handa
29+ yrs in Marketing, Operations, Business Strategy, and EdTech.
Experienced Co-Founder with a rich background in the FMCG, D2C, and Education industries. Skilled in Marketing Management, Business Planning, Go To Market Planning, Sales, Operations, and Customer Relationship Management with experience at ITC, Tata Global Beverages, Grindwell Norton Ltd., People Combine, and my own startup. Strong business development professional with a PGDM focused in Marketing from Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development(SCMHRD) and B.Tech from NIT Kurukshetra.
Co-author of amazon best seller "Don't Build Your School Brand Without Us."
CO-FOUNDER
Mr. Rakesh Gupta
25+ yrs in Fund Raise (Equity & Debt), M&A, Business Strategy.
15+ years of experience in Fund Raise (Equity and Debt), Mergers and Acquisitions, Business Strategy, Team Building across sectors. Angel Investor in EdTech and Consumer Businesses. TiE Charter Member + FICCI Arise Member
Angel Portfolio : Board Infinity (Edtech), Barney's (Consumer), One India Value (Retail), BondsIndia (Fintech), QuadAI (HigherEd)
Co-Author : Dont Build Your School Brand Without Us, https://dontbuildyourschoolbrandwithoutus.com/
Founding Principal
Mr. Venu Gopal I
Educational Leader | IBEN Evaluation Leader | International Curriculum Specialist
Mr. Venu Gopal I is an accomplished educational leader with 22 years of experience in the Cambridge curriculum and 20 years across the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes – PYP, MYP and DP. He has extensive expertise in Cambridge affiliation and IB authorisation processes.
As a certified IBEN Evaluation Leader, he has evaluated IB World Schools across Asia, contributing to international educational standards and continuous school improvement.
He strongly advocates holistic education, believing that sports play a vital role in developing discipline, resilience, teamwork and leadership. Under his leadership, students have excelled at national and international sporting events.
He has undergone professional training with Cambridge International Examinations and the University of Cambridge, alongside specialised IB training. He holds a Master's degree in Statistics from Andhra University and has completed Google AI Essentials and Yale University's The Science of Well-Being.
At Kiya World School, he emphasises academic excellence, student well-being and holistic development, nurturing confident, responsible and well-rounded learners.
Academic Leadership
The educators guiding every day
Academic Head
Ms. Pooja Tiwari
19+ yrs in academic strategy, curriculum, and operations.
Curriculum Developer and Teacher Trainer . Passionate about creating meaningful learning Experiences!! Empowering Teachers : Enhancing Classrooms!
I work with educators to bring joy, clarity, and creativity into teaching.
Through training, curriculum support, and lesson planning aligned with NEP 2020, I help teachers feel less overwhelmed and more inspired.
CENTRE HEAD
Ms. Monica Paul
Passionate early childhood educator and academic leader with over 7 years of experience in pre-primary education, curriculum planning, and school coordination. Skilled in creating engaging, child-centered learning environments that support holistic development and foster curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young learners.
Experienced in leading teams, coordinating academic activities, mentoring teachers, and building strong relationships with parents and students.