Interview: Fatema Agarkar - Pioneering Holistic Education with ACE and Beyond"

Fatema Agarkar

The dynamic Founder of Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE), is a visionary edupreneur with an extensive background in education management. Based in Mumbai, Fatema has revolutionized the education sector through her innovative approach, combining academic excellence with sports.

With a career spanning over two decades, Fatema has been instrumental in establishing three educational startups and over 50 schools, both nationally and internationally. Her expertise includes management, leadership development, business development, marketing strategy, and business strategy. Fatema’s educational journey began with a Bachelor of Commerce from Sydenham Institute Mumbai, followed by an MBA from Birmingham Business School, UK.

Fatema’s earlier ventures include co-founding KA Edu Associates Pvt Ltd, where she worked on educational management, teacher training, and curriculum design. As the Managing Trustee & Director at JBCN Education, she was pivotal in school management and administration for over 12 years. Her career also encompasses roles in consulting at Egon Zehnder and marketing at Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group).

She is Mumbai Territory Head at Association for Primary Education & Research (APER) since May 2020, she has been steering educational initiatives within Mumbai. A National Council Member at WICCI Financial Literacy & Management Council since May 2022, contributing to national financial literacy and management efforts and Member at FICCI Flo Mumbai since April 2022, actively participating in empowering women through FICCI Flo.

Her passion for integrating education with sports is inspired by her own diverse academic and professional experiences. Fatema’s leadership extends to advisory boards of several edtech companies, reflecting her commitment to fostering innovation in education.

Fatema’s story is a testament to her dedication to education and her vision to create a holistic learning environment that nurtures both academic and athletic excellence. Her relentless pursuit of excellence and strategic vision continues to inspire many in the education and business sectors.

Fatema can be contacted at fatema@acesportsedu.com | LinkedIn Profile

Dr. Anand Wadadekar in a chat with her...

1.  How were you as a student in school and college and what extra-curricular activities were you involved which added to your learnings? Can you tell us how has your MBA from Birmingham Business School contributed to your professional growth?

As student introverted, hesitant and preferred to “blend” than stand out. The desire to get “results”, was self-driven and not commanded by parents, so when I look back, I wonder why the association with marks was so important for me, and I still don’t have answers to that question! Truthfully, most kids back in my time in an ICSE school thought it was the end goal, instead of focusing on learning. English Language and Literature, History and Geography were my favourite subjects largely because my teachers were simply brilliant. They brought alive the curriculum, and introduced concepts in the way that I could identify with easily. I felt alive when in the High School years, accounting was introduced as a subject option, I realised I enjoyed it so much that a decision to get into a Commerce college was the ideal way to understand more about business, business management etc.

From school to college was a huge transformation thanks to a decision to join what Sydenham was known for back then – society culture. I emerged from that shell, enjoyed the participation, making new friends outside of my cohort, and became Editor in my final year at college; also standing for college elections. From a girl who shied away from public speaking to someone who then led teams was a huge learning curve. I have not looked back, and I owe a lot to the team at Rapport, the magazine I was involved with for this.

Academically, and perhaps fine-tuning the start of entrepreneurship & leadership skills that I began to enjoy and the sheer ability to become a risk-taker happened on the MBA. The quality of discussions, case studies, the critical thinking skills and problem-solving ability emerged as the course progressed, and while my first semester was kind of a disaster as I moved from rote learning to application, I was grateful that with a highly experienced faculty, they were able to bring out the best in me. With a distinction, and a thesis I am proud of, I think, in many ways gave me the wings that I am able to fly with today.

My mentor, Bob who passed away recently, was the greatest influence on that program, kept me thinking, researching and pushing me in a way that was gentle yet definitive.

I learnt two valuable lessons – the approach to mentoring which I follow even today, and also the art of collaboration and team-work, both of which you will find defines ACE.

 

2.   How and when did you decide that early childhood education, primary and secondary education are the areas where you would like to work and grow professionally? What inspired and motivated to remain in this area for two decades and going?

To be honest, work experience after the post-graduation kept throwing me into the world of education, whether it was research, funding for schools or executive search, each assignment in various organisations that I worked with landed up being related to education and I discovered, the environment in Indian education was not progressing as it was the same formula being used for a generation very different from ours. If the students were to take a world that was fast changing, they needed different skills, something I has learnt on the MBA and that actually got me to enrol in professional educational qualifications to begin with.

After the MBA, these qualifications were at best modest, and that got me thinking about bringing about some change. Fortunately, my aunt was in education, and she was instrumental in roping me into a world which I keeps me going.

So ever since the first consultancy role I was part of involved a high school, it was imperative to deep dive and have a deeper understanding of how early years leads into primary years and then middle and high school. It simply cannot be compartmentalised and treated in isolation, and I found myself able to problem solve in that first assignment itself that led to confidence I suppose and it has only grown with experience. There have been things that have not worked out but I have always treated that as an opportunity to learn, and that has helped propel the kind of innovation we lead at ACE.

The inspiration is simply that I love children, and perhaps remembering my own childhood learning, hoping to provide children with opportunities to enjoy the process of learning which is very important to keep going.

To be fair, it was an FB post that reminded me that it was 20 years. I feel there is so much more to learn and discover and every year, every assignment throws up new challenges and also learning, and I think the desire to learn more keeps me going.

 

3.  What inspired you to combine education and sports when founding Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE), and how has this combination benefited students?

My better half will vouch that sports has given him everything – the much needed learning, the experience, exposure, shaped his personality and the physical and the mental aspect of it helps all areas of development that we speak about in education circles. Better concentration, life skills, integration of subject areas etc. It was an easy marriage to ensure that we have our children playing more for them to be become better learners.

 

4.   You have been instrumental in setting up over 50 schools. What are the key factors you consider when establishing a new school especially in India where geographies, culture and regulations differ from state to state?

It is very important to understand the aspirations, and affordability in neighbourhoods we operate in. Also a big factor is availability of teachers and their open-ness to be trained. I would also say, feasibility studies and thorough market research has been a success factor.

 

5.   As an advisor to several edtech companies and schools, how do you see technology transforming education in the next decade? What impact will it make on teachers especially and how should they cope with it?

There is no doubt. Pre Covid, I was the loudest voice in the room, talking about technology being an enabler. It helps teachers become more efficient with their time, helps them customise and personalise content, helps immensely when it comes to strategizing post assessments and importantly the innovation possible is simply mind blowing. Learning can become so much more enriching for children, because teaching is progressive.

 

6.   What advice would you give to someone looking to become a ‘teacher’ at any level?

Critical to understand child psychology and how a child’s mind evolves. Important to understand the evolution that has taken place, and an understanding of different approaches to learning. Being mindful that planning is also a vital cog in being a good teacher, because you then factor in all types of learning styles. Also, stay in the moment, and evolve with the dynamics that unfold in the class, sometimes reacting, sometimes being proactive. Technology is a great friend, so use it effectively to come up with solutions, and important to think of every child, and not a standardised formula for the class. Be prepared to work very hard, and keep a calm head about.

 

7.  Given your marriage to Ajit Agarkar, a celebrated cricketer, how has his sports background influenced your approach to integrating sports with education at Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE)?

There is no doubt about it, but growing up I have my father whose love for sports, got my brother to play cricket. We are sport loving family!

8.   What are your future goals for ACE and your other educational initiatives, and how do you plan to achieve them?

We do hope to partner more owners to set up more high schools in the near future in Tier 2/3 cities, and possibly consider setting a school exclusively for sports. The focus is also the Middle East as an expansion plan.

9.  Can you share a personal achievement or hobby that you’re proud of and how it has influenced your professional life?

Reading. Reading. Reading. It has not only influenced me but shaped the way I think, and the greatest contributor to all the ideas I am able to come up with.

 

10 Being a mother, spouse, how has been your daily routine and how do you manage it in terms of family time and personal time? What advice do you give your child about his life, career and success?

I would hope he paces himself and finds his passion and just not follow the herd. I would hope he enjoys taking some risks, and also making some mistakes. In those are life lessons, that will help eventually reach the destination that he desires. No advice. Just support for what he chooses.

(c) Dr Anand Wadadekar