An opportunity to grow
As part of our #belike series, Learner Circle brings you to an unassuming personality, from an ordinary background that changed the world in his own way. This coming year, we want you to reflect on the changes you want to make for yourself and the world around you. We are always ready to help with a journey of change and learning. We hope to do this by offering you ample opportunities to learn, grow and develop. Our courses focus on early age development that fall across the spectrum of skill development. We know that you can draw inspiration from Sridhar Vembu who brings a whole new meaning to the word ‘extraordinary’.
‘Every day is an opportunity to change and to grow.’
Who is Sridhar Vembu?
Sridhar Vembu is a social entrepreneur noted for introducing software and product development functions from urban centers to rural villages in India. He is currently the 59th richest Indian in the world as per the listing by Forbes. His net worth as of 2020 is US$2.5 billion.
Why is he so important?
He was born into a family of farmers from a village in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. His name is now synonymous with evolutionary ideas for education and development in rural areas. His company Zoho became popular after setting up offices in rural districts in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In 2004, the company further went ahead to establish educational institutions to provide vocational software development education to rural students as an alternative to formal university education. The company takes pride in the fact that 15% to 20% of their engineers have received vocational education from Zoho schools with no college degree. In 2020, the company made a landmark move when they announced the setup of a ‘rural school startup’ which focused on free primary education.
What did he achieve?
Sridhar Vembu’s Alma mater is Princeton University in New Jersey, having secured his MS and PhD from there. His decision to move from Bay Area to Mathalamparai, Tamil Nadu is historical and has been lauded by many, winning him many awards for his iconic work in the field of education. In 2019, Vembu was conferred with the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year Award’’ in India. Recently in 2021, he became the recipient of the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor.
His amazing business instinct and acumen helped him to identify the right focus area to apply his knowledge, skills and innovative ideas. His legacy in education in the rural areas will live on for years to come. We hope that India will witness more social entrepreneurs of this caliber.
What can children learn from him?
Anyone can make a difference if they want to
Applying knowledge and experience in the right areas with the right intentions make a big difference
Vision is as important as creativity and hard work
Do not be afraid to experiment and go where no other man has gone
Always try new things, always go beyond your comfort zone
Conclusion
This coming year, we are all geared towards some innovative ways of learning for children of all ages. To check out all our courses, kindly visit our website at www.learnercircle.in
If you feel like a conversation would help you decide a course for your young child, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our contact details have been updated here.
We wish you a year filled with play, learning and joy!
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