At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Shilpi Sharma Gupta for an exclusive interview with us. Shilpi is an Entrepreneur and Founder & CEO at Cobuild Innovative Education Solution and Services Pvt. Ltd.. Let’s learn more about her background, journey and her advice for our community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Shilpi:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
My journey in education began in 2001 as a teacher, where I spent sixteen years deeply immersed in classrooms. Alongside teaching, I embraced leadership roles such as coordinator, headmistress, and eventually vice-principal. These experiences provided me with a well-rounded understanding of both classroom dynamics and school leadership.
A pivotal moment in my career came when I joined the central office of K-12 Techno Services, managing Orchids The International School, which operates ninety-five branches across India.
In this role, I undertook a variety of responsibilities—spearheading three EdTech products, leading the learning and development department, handling parent communication, designing SOPs, academic calendars, timetables, and overseeing numerous academic tasks. This phase allowed me to influence education at a systemic level, addressing challenges with innovation and structure.
Over the years, I developed more than 750 training modules and trained over 6,000 teachers and 300 school leaders. In 2023, I realized the time was right to bring my vision to life by founding Co-Build—a platform designed to empower educators, leaders, and schools with tailored programs that prioritize simplicity, flexibility, and lasting impact.
At Co-Build, we believe that the strength of a school lies in the strength of its teachers. Much like a tree, the stronger the roots (teachers), the healthier and more resilient the tree (school). This belief drives our commitment to holistic professional development, ensuring that educators are equipped not just to teach but to inspire.
What sets Co-Build apart is our data-driven approach, particularly through teacher competency analysis. This process evaluates educators’ strengths and areas of improvement, enabling us to design personalized training programs that address real needs. Training without such insights is like treating symptoms without addressing the root cause.
Additionally, our class observation model empowers schools to systematically observe and evaluate teachers, ensuring that feedback is both constructive and actionable. These tools make professional development purposeful, leading to tangible improvements in teaching quality and student outcomes.
How did you discover your passion?
While teaching, I came to an important realization: a strong teacher is the foundation of a strong school, and the future of a school lies in the hands of capable teachers and leaders. This understanding shaped my belief that meaningful change in education starts at the grassroots level.
While systemic efforts like the NCF are crucial, real transformation happens when we empower educators directly. This realization became the driving force behind my mission to strengthen schools by developing teachers and leaders who can inspire, innovate, and lead effectively.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My biggest motivation has always been the vision of empowered educators and strong school ecosystems. Seeing how impactful a well-prepared teacher can be in shaping young minds inspires me daily to push boundaries and do more. Personally, my family has been a constant pillar of support, providing encouragement and strength.
Professionally, it’s the incredible educators and leaders I work with. Their unparalleled dedication, even in the face of challenges, and their willingness to grow inspire me to innovate and create solutions that truly make a difference.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a leader?
For me, focusing on the grassroots level—understanding the real challenges faced by educators and addressing them directly—is essential to leading a strong organization. I also strongly believe in continuous learning, ensuring I stay adaptable and open to new ideas while being ready to embrace new opportunities for growth.
Lastly, my team has always been my greatest strength. Building strong relationships and fostering collaboration within the team have been pivotal in aligning efforts toward achieving a shared vision.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success as a leader?
Success as a leader comes from a combination of vision, clarity, and action. For me, it’s about recognizing that change happens when you empower others—teachers, leaders, and students.
A strong foundation, such as our focus on competency-driven training and actionable feedback, ensures that improvements are sustainable. Additionally, being grounded, listening to stakeholders, and embracing innovation have helped me lead with purpose and resilience.
What advice would you give to other leaders?
Lead with purpose and prioritize grassroots-level impact. Focus on building systems and tools, like competency analysis models, that create measurable improvements.
Remember that real transformation starts with strong teachers and leaders. My advice would be to invest in professional development tailored to individual needs and to always lead with empathy and understanding. Lastly, never stop learning; as leaders, we grow by listening and evolving.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
