CEO Insights Magazine

A good educator can make a world of difference in a student's life, impacting everything from their classroom learning to their long-term success. CEO Insights’ editorial team engages in a conversation with one such outstanding educator, Rajni Parasher, Principal, Wise Oaks International School, who has been inspiring her students to be a better version of themselves and achieve something significant in life. Driven by the belief that quality education is a right and not a privilege, Rajni has been leading some of the reputed public and private schools in India and Singapore for over 30 years passionately developing and delivering educational programs that cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and a love for learning in her students.

Rajni received her first international break as an educator at Global Indian International School the first Indian international school in Singapore, where she led a team of 30 teachers for middle school academic and non-academic activities successfully handling Project Coordination, Events Management, and Program Management for 14+ years. In 2017, she was presented with a unique opportunity to head a startup international school, Kindle Kids International School, which, under her exceptional leadership, gained immense success within a span of three years. Along the way, she acquired rich exposure to various aspects of business operations which included Human Resources, Digital Marketing, Procurements, and Government Regulatory Compliance.

Leveraging all her previous experiences, and to provide a high-quality education at an affordable price, and create an inclusive learning environment that supports intellectual risk-taking, critical thinking, and creativity, Rajni established Wise Oaks International School, in 2021. Wise Oaks has been offering a full Cambridge curriculum, Singapore Math, Wisetech Codespark, and various well designed co-curricular activities which emphasizes a values-based experiential learning environment, independent thinking, diverse perspectives, collaboration, effective communication, and contribution to society.

As an education leader, Rajni believes the true goal of education is to help students reach their full potential and acquire knowledge, skills, and values to succeed in life.

Let’s hear it from her.

What makes Wise Oaks International School unique from the other competitors in the sector?
Wise Oaks has a strong focus on the holistic development of students, emphasizing physical, emotional, intellectual, technological, and social well-being. With a diverse range of co-curricular activities and opportunities for students to participate in, we ensure that our students receive a well-rounded education. In just under a year and a half of operations, we have already enrolled over 370 students, which is a testament to the success of its value proposition. We offer every student with a wide range of opportunities to encourage growth in all aspects of their lives. One of our stated ambitions is to support our students to develop the skills of critical thinking and creativity to prepare them for a rapidly changing world.

What is your take on the dynamic technology trends in the education sector and their impact on your school?
As the Founder & Principal of Wise Oaks, I am certain that technology play a significant role in providing a dynamic and multisensory learning experience. By making use of edutainment and gamification technologies, students learn while having fun and effectively acquiring knowledge. We have been able to enhance the quality of education with better connectivity and access to online learning management systems within our premises. Moreover, data analytics provides Wise Oaks with a data-driven approach to education, tracking students’ performance, identifying areas for improvement, and elevating the overall quality of the teaching and learning experience. Technology, indeed, has had a significant impact on education in creating a more engaging and effective learning environment, and Wise Oaks aspires to continue to embrace the latest edtech to support our students and parent community to be an effective part of this revolution.

What is your approach to leadership?
Transparency, accountability, and active listening are the key principles of my leadership style. I believe in being transparent about my intentions, and I hold myself accountable for the success of my team. Active listening is another critical component of my leadership approach, leveraging which I understand the perspectives and needs of my team while creating a sense of trust and respect among each other. Moreover, my leadership approach is a blend of democratic and transformational styles which enables me to involve my team in decision making and promoting open communication. When necessary, I adopt a directive approach to set clear expectations and direction for the team. I value honesty, constant feedback, self-reflection, and a willingness to adapt my leadership style to fit different situations and achieve desired outcomes.

In light of your strong experience, what would be your advice to educators who are starting a new in this career?
My advice to new teachers is to lead with passion and purpose while keeping in mind the reason they chose to become teachers and strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of their students. To be a successful educator, it's important to understand each student's unique strengths and challenges and create a positive, inclusive classroom environment where they feel valued and supported. Also, they must never hesitate to embrace new ideas and approaches to improve the learning experience of their students and enrich their school community.

Rajni Parasher, Principal, Wise Oaks International School
Having a master’s degree in Commerce, a PG Diploma in Computer Application, and 30+ years of rich experience as an educator, Rajni, despite the commercialization of the education sector, remains committed to transforming the sector by providing high quality education at an affordable price.