Inspirational Woman: Mrs. Manjula Pooja Shroff
I am an ‘edupreneur’, a postgraduate from York University and an executive alumni from London School of Economics, holding a post-graduate degree from Utkal University and a Graduate of the Management Education Programme IIM, Ahmedabad.
I was born in a Royal family of Orissa. Our family was very conservative; where ladies were behind purdahs (veils) and there was no equal status given to men and women. The freedom that boys enjoyed was not available to girls. Girls were considered a marriage commodity, to be married off as soon as they completed their studies at the age of 10 or 12. After this, there was no further question of higher studies.
Since childhood, I have been revolutionary about this inequality. I suppose my leadership skills and ability to stand up to my opinion were developed from those early days.
At school, I was an all-rounder, known for my penchant to social services, and sports and for being the captain of the sports team and as well as the Head Girl.
College education was not easy but somehow I convinced my parents and they allowed me to study in a women’s college. After completing my education at the women’s college, I went on to complete my further studies as well. It is this education that has stood me in good stead today.
In 1995, with 16 teachers and 400 students, we started our first institution, Delhi Public School affiliated with CBSE. Since then there has been no looking back and today we have 40+ institutions, from preschool to university, in two countries, eight cities, 12000+ students, and 24+ nationalities.
As Chairperson of Kalorex, I have been instrumental in founding and managing several premier schools since its inception in 1995.
Tell us about any current projects or initiatives you wish to promote : We operate 40+ institutions across Western India and have created international footprints in UAE by establishing a pre-school chain, under the name of Blessings. The school’s portfolio consists of two Delhi Public Schools, one International Baccalaureate School, 11 Calorx Public Schools, 20 pre-schools, four Special Focus projects, Champions Schools (an Integrated Model School in Gujarat) and a university.
With our committed focus, we wish to expand our operations across Pan India in the next three years and add institutions in the Middle East region.
We cater to the learning needs of normal as well as special students, to the rich and the poor equally.
Kalorex has a distinctive vision of expanding by way of inviting partners to join hands to invest in Infrastructure facilities. Kalorex will bring in the Institutional expertise/experience by taking over the Operations and Management of the Schools. Investments are mainly pertaining to the working capital and growth of the schools. In business terms, we call it an asset light model.
Ref: https://wearethecity.in/inspirational-woman-manjula-pooja-shroff/
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