Hello Kids Education India Private Limited

Hello Kids Education India Private Limited

Sunita Jain: Empowering the young minds with a transformative learning environment

Femmes of Fortune: Top 10 Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs to Watch Globally 2024

The business world is no longer a male-dominated playground. It has changed remarkably in the past three decades where feminine powerhouses have emerged to shake things up and take names. Among these forces, a few names make their mark. Sunita Jain is one of such influential women who are fearless leaders and are celebrated for their bold ideas.

What made Sunita’s story be featured here is her dash of flair, grit, and unstoppable attitude to change the way we know preschool education. As we should know, the preschool sector in India is undergoing a significant resurgence. This change is driven by the landmark National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Now, people are realizing the significance of early childhood education, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. Sunita mentioned, “We have to utilize the impetus provided by NEP 2020 to make sustained efforts in education, accessibility, and policy support. The industry is becoming increasingly organized and recognized. Let’s join hands to make momentum for raising awareness for foundational learning.”

In an exclusive talk with our team, Sunita revealed how her journey as a business leader was so unpredictable and helped her learn a lot. So, buckle up to explore her extraordinary business journey:

How did it all start?

Sunita had always been a bright student academically. After completing her education, she was able to bag a coveted role as a software engineer at Infosys. After joining Infosys, her career made a huge boom and marked the beginning of her thriving corporate career. After experiencing great corporate success, she married a business mogul. Her husband ran a chain of highly regarded preschools under the banner Hello Kids.

Though Sunita continued pursuing her corporate career after marriage as she transitioned from Infosys to Huawei Technologies, her family business intrigued her. Gradually, she got to know the nuances of this business and started contributing to it. And in 2008, he quit her high-heeled job and took a leap of faith to join Hello Kids.

Recalling the time she joined the venture, Sunita stated, “Stepping into the vibrant world of preschool education was quite fascinating for me. Beyond the ABCs, I discovered a realm where curiosity, creativity, and nurturing young minds thrived. I was captivated by the prospect of shaping future generations.

My journey from software engineer to preschool entrepreneur has been rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling. By joining my family business, I have found a new passion in shaping the future of our coming generations. Empowering young minds and helping them grow and flourish seems so satisfying to me, which I lacked during my corporate job.”

The Overview of Hello Kids

The year 2005 marked the beginning of Hello Kids. It started off with a single center in Bangalore. But now, Hello Kids has rapidly grown to become India’s premier preschool chain. The chain of preschools is renowned for its matchless quality education that is delivered with an innovative approach.

At present, Hello Kids has 980 centres not just in India but Bangladesh as well. By extending its footprint, the chain of schools has set new benchmarks for the preschool industry.

The success of this widespread expansion is largely due to our unique No Royalty model, which has transformed how preschools operate by empowering entrepreneurs to run their centers with greater autonomy while maintaining consistent educational standards. This model has allowed the institution to scale effectively while ensuring affordability and accessibility for families across the region.

With the opening of several schools throughout India in 2019, Hello Kids expanded their educational offerings to the K–12 market. They still adhere to the basic values of providing high-quality, accessible education at a reasonable cost, even with six prosperous campuses currently in operation.

The K-12 institutions uphold the same principles that have guided the success of their preschools, guaranteeing that children receive a thorough and all-encompassing education that equips them for the challenges ahead. They are now driven by an ambitious goal for growth. By December 2024, the aim is to cross the milestone of 1000 preschools. This milestone will solidify their leadership position in the early childhood education space.

Insights on women leadership

When asked whether she feels women today face equal competition or if there is an ‘it’s okay’ attitude to it, Sunita asked, “I’m fortunate to lead a dynamic team of young professionals, comprising talented ladies and gentlemen. Our success stems from professionalism, strong relationships, ongoing training, and motivational support.

As a leader, I believe inspiring my team is crucial. By fostering a positive work environment and providing guidance, I empower them to excel. Personally, overseeing the Hello Kids team, I prioritize: nurturing individual growth, encouraging collaboration, recognizing achievements, and developing leadership skills. Effective leadership is key to unlocking our team’s full potential. By investing in their success, we drive excellence in early childhood education.”

The cultural principles

Sunita elucidated that she leads a dynamic team of young professionals, comprising talented ladies and gentlemen. All of their success stems from professionalism, strong relationships, ongoing training, and motivational support. Being the CEO, she always believes in inspiring her team, which plays a crucial role in business success. Her leadership has always cultivated a positive outlook for the work environment, and she always supports the employees with her guidance.

“Personally, overseeing the Hello Kids team, I advocate nurturing individual growth. I aim to encourage collaboration and recognize achievements while developing leadership skills in my teams. Effective leadership is key to unlocking our team’s full potential. By investing in their success, we drive excellence in early childhood education,” she added.

The crown jewels

Sunita Jain is a well-recognized name in the sector. Since she joined Hello Kids, many feats have been achieved that caught the attention globally. Many top magazines and media houses in India have covered the story of her success and the impact generated by the institution. Her success story has been featured in: The Franchising World, Outlook Money, The Times of India, Business Standard, Forbes India, BW Education, The Economic Times, India Today, and Times of India-Preschool Survey.

The parting words by the CEO

“Do what you love with passion, learn continuously, and lead by example. As a leader, I strive to inspire others, foster innovation, and empower growth. At Hello Kids, passion and leadership come together to shape young minds. Moreover, I believe women play a vital role in shaping young minds.

At Hello Kids, we empower women to pursue their passion with purpose, fostering collaborative leadership and innovative learning. To succeed in business and beyond, remember to combine passion with dedication, foster meaningful relationships, and continuously learn. Together, let’s inspire the next generation of leaders and create a brighter future.”

Add Business Connect magazine to your Google News feed

Must Read: