Biography of Ganeshprasad Sridharan: Chief Operating Officer (COO) & Co-Founder of Think School- Entrepreneur
Journey of Ganeshprasad Sridharan
Ganeshprasad Sridharan was raised in Pune, where his
schooling stood out because it emphasized critical thinking. His teachers
encouraged him to question and reflect on morality from a personal perspective,
rather than just accepting societal norms. For example, analyzing Brutus's role
in "Julius Caesar" taught him that morality isn't always black and
white, helping him appreciate the value of individual perspectives.
Ganeshprasad Sridharan: Professional and Educational
Background
Ganeshprasad Sridharan is the Chief Operating Officer (COO)
of Think School and has gained significant recognition with 30 lakh subscribers
on YouTube. He is based in Pune, Maharashtra, where Think School operates.
Educational Journey
Sridharan completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil
Engineering at Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering from 2015 to 2019.
Before that, he studied science at Ashok Mahavidyalaya Junior College, Pune,
from 2013 to 2015. He started his education at City International School, where
he completed his 10th standard in 2013 with an impressive CGPA of 9.4.
Biography of Ganeshprasad Sridharan: Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Think School- Entrepreneur/Investor/Success story ofGaneshprasad Sridharan/Life
Shock of Engineering College
Transitioning to an engineering college was a major shock for
Sridharan. The college’s focus on rote learning and lack of emphasis on
understanding concepts was a stark contrast to his previous education. Students
and teachers alike avoided deep exploration of ideas, and the 75% attendance
requirement added extra pressure, leaving little time for personal interests or
intellectual growth.
Struggles with Conventional Education
The constant cycle of assignments and exams, paired with
mediocre teaching, set many students up for failure. The pressure to conform
and follow the traditional path, including the challenging UPSC exam with its
extremely low pass rate, further perpetuated this cycle of academic struggle
and failure.
Reforming Education with Think School
To address these educational challenges and break the cycle
of failure, Ganeshprasad Sridharan and his partner Prakash Kothari created
Think School. Their aim is to reform the Indian education system by promoting a
more thoughtful and engaging approach to learning, moving away from rote
memorization and conventional methods.
Earlier Roles and Contributions
Earlier in his career, Sridharan held various positions
including a Consultant at Reliance Global Corporate Security, where he curated
leadership content and managed external engagements. He also worked as a
Student Volunteer for Techlligent, an Assistant Director for a short film on
the Indian Army's 75-year history, and as a Publicity Manager at Pimpri
Chinchwad College of Engineering, where he successfully increased event
participation through effective promotion.
Consulting and Leadership Roles
Sridharan also worked as a Project Consultant at KPIT
Sparkle from December 2019 to June 2020, where he was responsible for setting
up 'Start-up Schools' in engineering colleges across India. His tasks included
recruiting leaders, selecting students with entrepreneurial potential,
designing tailored courses, and establishing a pipeline for event entries.
Additionally, he was a Lead Organiser for TEDxPCCOE from August 2017 to
February 2019, successfully managing the event and receiving high praise from
attendees.
Previous Experience in Education and Innovation
Before his role at Think School, Sridharan served as a
Creative Consultant for Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust from September 2019 to
July 2020. There, he created an innovation club called INFUSION, aimed at
training students to organize international conferences like TEDx and develop
real-world skills such as communication and negotiation.
Founding Think School
Think School was founded by Ganeshprasad Sridharan and
Prakash Kothari with a goal to revolutionize Indian education. Their mission
was to offer high-quality education at a cost lower than a pair of jeans.
Despite initial challenges and having to close their physical classrooms due to
the pandemic, they turned to social media, which helped Think School flourish
beyond expectations.
Focus on Accessible Education
Think School aims to bridge gaps in business education,
communication, and entrepreneurship principles by offering masterclasses on
each topic. They chose platforms like YouTube to make their content accessible
to those who can’t afford expensive offline classes. This shift to social media
was a strategic move to reach a broader audience.
Think School: A New Approach
Think School was founded with the goal of revolutionizing
education by offering high-quality learning at an affordable price, cheaper
than a pair of jeans. Although they initially faced setbacks, including closing
their physical classrooms due to the pandemic, social media helped Think School
thrive. They focused on addressing gaps in business education, communication,
and entrepreneurship through online masterclasses.
By moving their classes online, they made high-quality
education accessible to those who couldn’t afford expensive in-person courses.
Think School maintains its quality by carefully selecting team members based on
their ability to critically analyze themselves, provide and receive honest
feedback, and commit to continuous learning.
Maintaining Quality and Team Values
To ensure top-notch quality, Think School has a strict value
system for selecting their team members. Key qualities include the ability to
critically analyze oneself, provide and receive honest feedback, and a strong
commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
Depth Over Breadth
Ganeshprasad Sridharan believes that the depth of influence
is more important than the breadth. He values Think School’s reputation as a
reliable source of information, not just for students but also for professors
and established professionals who use its practical and engaging content to
improve their skills.
Conclusion
Ganeshprasad Sridharan's journey from a critical-thinking
student in Pune to the COO of Think School exemplifies a transformative
approach to education. Confronted with the rigid, rote-based learning of
traditional engineering college, he and his partner, Prakash Kothari, founded
Think School to revolutionize education by making it engaging, affordable, and
accessible through social media. Their focus on depth over breadth and commitment
to quality has enabled Think School to offer valuable, practical learning
experiences that resonate with students and professionals alike, reflecting
Sridharan's dedication to fostering a more thoughtful and effective educational
paradigm.
A timeline with dates and one-line explanations:
2003-2013: Attends City International School, completes 10th
standard with a CGPA of 9.4.
2013-2015: Studies science at Ashok Mahavidyalaya Junior
College, Pune.
2015-2019: Completes Bachelor of Engineering in Civil
Engineering at Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering.
August 2017 - February 2019: Leads TEDxPCCOE, managing the
event successfully.
December 2019 - June 2020: Works as a Project Consultant at
KPIT Sparkle, setting up 'Start-up Schools.'
September 2019 - July 2020: Serves as a Creative Consultant
for Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust, creating the INFUSION innovation club.
2020: Co-founds Think School with Prakash Kothari to reform
education.
2020-Present: Think School adapts to online platforms and
gains significant recognition with 30 lakh YouTube subscribers.
Present Day: Serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of
Think School.
