Leaders

“Education is not about conformity; it’s about awakening potential”. This phi­losophy perfectly encapsulates the path­breaking work being done by edupreneur Risivarthini Muralikumar. As the Executive Director of Lab of Future, she is redefining how students learn and interact with the world around them.

Being born in a family ingrained in entrepreneurship and education, Risivarthini was steeped in the lessons of leadership and discipline. She has a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB Hons) from Northumbria University, UK, where she acquired her analytical mind and sense of justice that later informed her empathetic leadership style. Inspired by her teacher, grandmother and her father who founded Chandramari International School, she embarked on a mission to build a platform that fosters students’ intellect and imagination alike.

That dream turned into Lab of Future, an edtech innovation ecosystem based on the STREAMER model i.e., Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, Math, Entrepreneurship and Resilience. Through experiential learning in areas such as AI, robotics, drones and space science, the platform enables students to transform ideas into tangible innovation.

How did your early life and family shape your journey as an edupreneur?

I grew up surrounded by conversations about creativi­ty, design, and purpose. During my school years, I spent time at our family business, Top Rock Interiors (TRI), learning about structure, precision, and people man­agement. Those early lessons taught me that leader­ship is not about control, it’s about clarity, consistency, and compassion.

Coming from a family deeply rooted in both education and entrepreneurship, I had the best of both worlds. My grandmother was a teacher, and my father later founded Chandramari International School in Coimbatore, India. Their dedication to nurturing others continues to guide me.

My journey has always been shaped by curiosity, compassion, and courage. I pursued my Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) from Northumbria University in the UK. But looking back, my journey as an edupreneur didn’t begin in a classroom, it started long before that, at home.

What inspired the creation of Lab of Future?

Lab of Future was born from a very personal realization, that education must evolve as fast as the world around it. We live in an age where technology changes every day, yet traditional learning often remains static. I wanted to create a platform that bridges this gap, a place where curiosity meets creation.

The vision was clear from the beginning: to build a platform that prepares students not just for exams, but for life, to inspire them to think, innovate, and lead with empathy.

Today, Lab of Future stands as a futuristic learning ecosystem where education goes beyond textbooks, integrating space science, AI, robotics, drones, and hands-on STEM research. Our goal is to help every student discover what they’re capable of when they’re given the right tools, mentorship, and belief.

What are your primary responsibilities and focus areas at Lab of Future?

As Executive Director, I transform vision into action, overseeing strategy and execution to ensure every program, partnership, and innovation aligns with our mission of experiential learning. My focus is on building international partnerships with space agencies, universities, and education institutions. I also work towards strengthening operations across UAE, India, and beyond; and empowering our team to lead, take ownership, and create impact.

I believe leadership begins with listening. One must hear and understand the needs of one’s team, students, and a constantly evolving world. At Lab of Future, learning is meant to be felt, not forced. Our STREAMER framework (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, Math, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience) enables students to not just understand the world, but build within it.

Some of my proudest moments include students launching a CubeSat (Orbita Mission) with nine experiments studying climate change, and a former intern gifting us a rocket he built, inspired by his Lab of Future experience.

What’s your biggest challenge in shifting educational mindsets?

The greatest challenge is changing mindsets. We’ve grown up in systems where success is defined by grades, not growth. As an edupreneur, I constantly work to help parents, schools, and educators reimagine what learning truly means.

Navigating that change takes empathy, patience, and persistence. There are moments of doubt, but I’ve learned that every roadblock is simply a redirection, an opportunity to rethink, realign, and rise stronger.

Resilience isn’t about never falling, it’s about learning how to stand taller each time you do. For me, education is not about conformity, it’s about awakening potential. And that’s a journey worth every challenge.

What’s your vision for Lab of Future and its global growth?

The future of Lab of Future lies at the intersection of space education, AI, and global collaboration. Aligning closely with the UAE’s vision of becoming a global innovation hub, our goal is to nurture young minds that can lead that future. Our next phase focuses on expanding partnerships with leading space and STEM organizations around the world, bringing AI and immersive learning technologies into classrooms for more dynamic, personalized experiences, and creating a Global Student Innovation Network where learners from different countries collaborate on research, sustainability, and real-world problem-solving.

Ultimately, I want Lab of Future to become more than an institution; I want it to be a movement that redefines what learning feels like and empowers students to lead with both intelligence and imagination. Our mission is to give students wings of imagination and the courage to fly, because the future belongs to those who believe they can shape it.

Risivarthini Muralikumar, Executive Director, Lab Of Future

Risivarthini Muralikumar is the Executive Di­rector of Lab of Future, a UAE and India-based edtech innovation ecosystem. She is recog­nized for revolutionizing education by blend­ing experiential learning in AI, robotics, drones and space science with creativity and resil­ience through the STREAMER model. Having been brought up in an education- and entre­preneurship-based family background, Risiv­arthini found inspiration in her father and her grandmother.