Our Team
Barefoot Edu Foundation is a grassroots organisation founded by a Young India Fellow, Teach for India Fellow and Harvard Graduate who trust in the potential of people. We believe that if we do not rapidly improve education, the largest youth population in the world may grow up to be the largest unemployable population in the world.
A country as big and populous as India requires a lot of leaders at the grassroots that are empowered to meaningfully contribute to education right now. Meet the masterminds behind our organization - our visionary co-founders whose ambition knows no bounds.
Saumya Aggarwal
Director, Design and Impact
The queen of manifestations
Saumya is on a mission to design transformative education programs. Her experience spans across designing school transformation interventions for schools and school clusters to district-wide systems. Her design embodies the name Barefoot- taking bold steps while being sensitive to the ground that one treads on. As a woman entrepreneur, she strongly believes in unleashing the potential of women in leadership positions and is passionate about mentoring budding women-preneurs.
Subhankar Paul
Director, Operations
The king of persuasion
Subhankar is on a mission to bring together communities through the power of the collective and transform education and the communities as a whole. His experience at Teach For India as a fellow and then as an Assistant School Leader led him to work with children, teachers, school leaders, and parents in low-income communities. Post that, as a social entrepreneur, he designed and implemented school transformation programs and 21st-century skills through sports programs for students from economically and socially under-resourced families. He has also served as a consultant to the International Olympics Committee’s Young Leaders Program, designing and implementing a sports-based mentorship and career guidance program for young adults. Additionally, Subhankar is part of a pan India School Assessor Network which examines schools and consults for rapid improvement of the school.
The Femme-tastic Leadership Squad
Aditi Bhargava
A ray of sunshine
Sangita Bissa
A perpetual student
Pallavi Kejriwal
A dreamer with a plan
Advisory Board
Gagandeep Kaur
Impact
Gagandeep Kaur is Precision Development’s (PxD) Head of Programs in India. Gagandeep Kaur holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from University of Delhi and an MBA with a specialization in Finance from FORE School of Management, Delhi. She’s worked for 17 years in the banking and finance industry, both in India and overseas after which she moved to the development sector. In addition to her role at PxD, Gagandeep Kaur also serves as a member of the advisory board for " Barefoot Edu Foundation," an organization dedicated to creating a movement of empowered educators who make education meaningful for children. With expertise in monitoring and evaluation, program management, and capacity building, she remains deeply committed to making a positive impact in the development sector.
Daya Kori
Strategy
With a career spanning over 17 years in the dynamic IT industry, Daya Kori brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our advisory board. Holding degrees in Mathematics from Delhi University and Management Studies from the esteemed Oxford University, Daya possesses a unique blend of technical prowess and strategic thinking. Her professional journey has been marked by a passion for excellence and a relentless commitment to growth. As the Managing Director of the Software R+D Center at Evive, Daya leads groundbreaking research and development initiatives, pushing the boundaries of technological innovation.
Beyond her corporate leadership, she is a dedicated mentor to multiple education non-profits. She specializes in identifying unique selling points, setting meaningful goals, and recognizing areas of improvement, making a lasting impact on the organizations and individuals she guides.
Farid Shaikh
Quality
Farid Shaikh is an entrepreneurial and action-oriented visionary in the education field. Currently, the Principal and owner of Gurukul English High School & Junior College, his commitment to quality education shines through innovative programs benefiting both students and educators.
Farid's diverse educational journey includes serving as an Alum Principal of Barefoot Edu Foundation, championing progressive pedagogical practices. With 19 years in school education and 5 years in the corporate sector, Farid offers a well-rounded perspective. His educational qualifications, including M.Com in Accounting, M.Com in Management, B.Ed, GDCA, and DTL, complement his practical experience, providing deep insights into the education sector.