Leaders

"Be true to your purpose and determined in the face of any challenge. Success will follow." ­ Dr Anjlee Prakash.

Dr Anjlee Prakash is the Chairperson of Learning Links Foundation. Since its inception in 2002, she has been enriching lives with lifelong learning opportunities through the Foundation's diverse initiatives. In an exclusive interview with us, she takes us through her leadership journey and the vision that motivates her to serve a chosen cause.

Give us a brief overview of learning links foundation. What are the major facets about your expertise as a leader in the social and education sector?

Learning Links Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to enriching lives through learning and guided by its vision - to foster purpose and progress by unlocking lifelong learning. In the last two decades, the Foundation has strived to catalyse change in education by collaborating with partners across 27 countries and staying ahead of the learning curve with its future facing solutions.

After starting Learning Links and being greatly satisfied with the outcomes we were achieving as a non-profit, I went further to start my own school. Over the years, the knowledge and experience has led to positions of authority in various noteworthy institutions, some of these being - Board member of NIT, Delhi; Mentor of Change for NITI Aayog; and Advisory Board member of WEP (Women's Education Project) where we support young, underprivileged women to become economically independent leaders.

What prompted you to take up entrepreneurship and venture out on creating a non-profit organization that works in the education development domain? What was the idea behind starting learning links?

I wanted every child to have access to a learning environment, which accepts diversity, nurtures creativity and builds an ability to shape one's future. In a country like India, the education of the girl child is often neglected and I wanted all children should be able to achieve their potential. I sincerely believe that the role of education in promoting social equality and inclusion cannot be denied or undermined. The various initiatives at Learning Links strive to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and attitude that can enable them to chart a productive path for themselves in life.

What are the various programs that learning links has designed for the field of education?

The Foundation addresses diverse challenges in the education ecosystem via its thoughtfully designed and innovative programs. Our Education Solutions go beyond the school syllabus to activate the learning gene for life while the Skill-building Programs focus on professional development of educators and build job-readiness and entrepreneurial acumen in youth and adults. The programs under the Technology and Innovation domain use the human centered design thinking approach to spur creativity, innovation and build a growth mind-set in beneficiaries. In addition, as a trusted advisor on education strategy development, Learning Links Foundation drives systemic change by advocating reforms in practices and policies.

The entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs have helped over three million women improve their family's financial position. Over the years, the Foundation has seen incredible growth ­a staff of 10 has expanded to 1400 dedicated members and the impact of their work has been far-reaching-the beneficiaries include 1.8 million students, 2.2 million teachers and 6.8 million community youth and adults.

Today, Learning Links Foundation is ISO 9001:2015 certified and accredited by leading agencies such as Tata Institute of Social Science, India and Guide Star India. It has received numerous awards and recognitions, the most recent being the Mahatma Award for 2021 in the category of Quality Education and Skilling. This global award is given annually to change-making organizations and impact leaders who have significantly contributed to social good. It is also Great Place to Work-Certified.

In your opinion what are some facets of your personality and leadership style that have helped you become a successful entrepreneur in the field of education and learning?

The most important `entrepreneur gene' to which I attribute my achievements is `passion'. My interpersonal sensitivity has been a core strength and helped me cultivate an environment of respect and humaneness. I also place emphasis on communicating with different stakeholders including my teams, the government, academia, global research experts, policy planners and more.

“I truly believe that one has to keep aware of evolutions and trends in one's field. Apart from the innovations we bring in our own programs, being a member of national as well as global education bodies and boards plays a significant role in helping me stay abreast of the latest approaches and practices”

A leadership skill I attach great value to is `Future focus', especially, in the field of education. The whole purpose of Learning Links Foundation's existence is to build human capital that will shape the world of tomorrow.

How do you keep yourself well aligned with the evolutions taking place in your field and the tech world in general?

To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, 'no knowledge is terminal'. I truly believe that one has to keep aware of evolutions and trends in one's field. Apart from the innovations we bring in our own programs, being a member of national as well as global education bodies and boards plays a significant role in helping me stay abreast of the latest approaches and practices. I also present at various national and international seminars and conferences, which gives me the opportunity to hear from other experts in the industry and assess future trends.

What would your words of advice be for women aspiring to become Edupreneurs and educationalists?

In our ability to nurture and empathise, can be found our greatest strengths. This helps bring human-centeredness to any cause. Consider every setback as a learning opportunity to create a better solution. Keep trying, keep solving, and keep going ­ that's my mantra.

Dr Anjlee Prakash, Founder, Learning Links Foundation

With a Ph.D. in Education and twenty-eight years of an enriching experience as a techno pedagogue, Dr. Anjlee's consulting expertise has fostered some of the country's most successful philanthropic programs on tech integrated education.