‘My children inspire me’ Pooja of SchoolWiser

Entrepreneurial Story of Pooja Kedia who founded SchoolWiser located in Gurgaon

About:

  • Pooja Kedia – Founder and Director. Pooja has almost two decades of experience in strategic business enhancement in Media & Telecom companies and an extensive international exposure. She is a Six Sigma Black Belt who has worked with the likes of Bharti Airtel, Tesco Plc and British Sky Broadcasting. But her most commendable performance to date is that of a mother.

Email – updates@schoolwiser.com


When Started: 01/08/2015
Location: Gurgaon

What motivated you to start your Business?

I believe that we acquire wisdom either by reflection, imitation or experience. The last criterion made me ‘school-wise’. So, when we moved back to India from London, I worried myself crazy trying to identify the right school for my children. There were advises and suggestions about which school to choose and I was totally confused. I so wished if I could somehow figure out the USP of each school and take a pick. I could also totally relate to parents who were boggled by the exact same thoughts and doubts that I was. That is when I created SchoolWiser! I wanted to provide a platform where parents could get all the information they needed about various schools, easily and seamlessly.

Tell us about your Business

SchoolWiser is a match-maker of sorts. The objective here is to connect the right school to the right parent. This entails providing the requisite information to both the parties. We realize and appreciate the fact that choosing a school is a distinctly individual process. So, what works for one set of parents might not be the ideal choice for the other set.

Tell us what an average day in your life looks like.

A typical day begins with parents and schools and ends with them. We connect with parents and understand what is it that they NEED in a school- the most essential factors. We also interact with our partner schools to figure out if they need our assistance or if they have some pertinent information to share.
This regular communication is crucial because in the process of ‘match-making’ between parents and schools, we need to ensure that their individual expectations are in sync with one another. We also aspire for complete transparency with regard to the information, both for parents and schools.

One particular skill you got right and gave you best results.

Our parent-centric as well as empathetic approach has worked wonders for us. We believe in ‘looking through the eyes’ of our parents while choosing schools that meet their individual requirements.

What have been your biggest challenges in running your Business so far? How did you overcome these challenges?

It has to be ‘information chaos’. There is too much information available all around us, what with social media platforms overflowing with the minutest of details about everything and anything. Moreover, there is ‘word-of-mouth’ and personal experiences that we all carry with us. The trick here is to identify and highlight genuine feedback. SchoolWiser has carved a niche for itself, which separates it from its competitors, by including Reviews by community members, further reinforced by verified data. This first-hand information provided by its strong parent community ups SchoolWiser’s integrity quotient.

What have you found the most effective way to get new clients?

‘Word-of-mouth’ works the best for us. Our work speaks for us and we have a strong parent community which further reinforces our belief in ourselves and paves way to fresh partnerships, both with parents and schools.

What advice do you give to other business owners?

Always focus on your target audience- your customers. They can make or break you.

How did you keep motivated through difficult times?

My little angels-my kids, keep me motivated, 24/7. There is never a low moment for me… I am on a constant high because of them. Moreover, having found the ideal school for them encourages me to do the same for our parent community.

What are your Marketing, Funding, and Team Building Strategy?

Our marketing/funding strategy is based on non-financial factors, like, word-of-mouth, parent/school feedback and so on. We have an amazing team and we keep each other motivated. We have such an incredible talent pool available in the mums around us. Furthermore, the intellectual stimulation and flexibility of work that we provide is what our team swears by. We are a happy team and we look forward to getting back to work each morning.

Your Achievements?

We are the pioneers in what we do in Gurgaon and also the most popular. We have moved to other cities as well. Our portal is frequented by hundreds of thousands of parents looking for great schools for their children and through our ‘SchoolWiser for Schools’ offering, we work with a variety of schools to help them connect with the right parents.

What’s your favorite quote?

I believe that “the difference between ‘try’ and ‘triumph’ is just a little ‘umph’.

Who inspires you?

My children inspire me. I see them put their hearts, minds and literally their souls into even the most trivial of acts. I aspire to do the same because I believe that is the secret of success. Moreover, all these talented mothers around me motivate me to give my best to everything I do.

Share your Business Philosophy?

SchoolWiser believes in a personalized approach. My role is that of a facilitator. The objective is to deliver, while being true to both parents and schools.

 Contact links

LinkedIn | Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Website

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