Meet the Team: Ashish
Meet Ashish Srivastava, our Director of Business Development and Sales
Ashish has always been fascinated with machines, which led him to study engineering at university. After graduating, he completed his MBA and worked in Spain, Singapore, Middle East, UK, and India. This international experience helped him realize that he truly enjoys interacting with people. He now heads New Nordic School’s business development and lives in Gurgaon, India with his wife and 3-year-old daughter.
Hi Ashish! What have you been working on lately at New Nordic School?
“Hi! I've been working on some interesting global opportunities as well as expanding our presence in India. The pandemic has taken a huge toll on primary education yet we are excited to be collaborating with K-12 school groups, to see a revival in education.”
What was your dream job when you were a kid?
“Machines have always excited me. I wanted to become a mechanical engineer, where I can see things moving.”
Where did you grow up?
“I was born and raised in Delhi”
What was your education like?
“My school education in India was heavily based on rote-learning. I was always an average student and honestly don't remember many things from my schooling that I use today. For my Bachelor's degree, I went on to study Engineering. After graduating, stepping into my first job was a key milestone for me and it helped me to really understand that what I enjoy most is interacting with people and building relationships. This led me to take up business development. I moved to Spain to complete my MBA after which I have worked in the Middle East, UK, and Singapore.”
What’s something most people don't know about you?
"During my first job as a Sales Engineer, I was sent to negotiate a strategic deal with one of the biggest automobile companies. I was very young at the time and the other people involved were surprised to see me handling such an important case. I ended up closing the deal, which was appreciated by the entire management team. It was a big boost for me, knowing that I am capable of going beyond.”
What are you reading currently?
“Think Again by Adam Grant.”
Describe the city you live in, Gurgaon, in one word…
“Dynamic.”
You've visited Finland many times. What's your favorite thing about the country?
“Nature - I think it's amazing and an integral part of Finnish culture.”
If you could choose one place in the world to open a New Nordic School, where would it be?
“India, that's where I think our system is needed the most. I have been a part of the Indian education system myself so I can agree to the fact that future generations should have the autonomy, freedom, mentoring, and guidance to be able to prosper in what they are interested in, instead of simply being stuck to limited choices. I want my 3-year-old daughter to be happy and have fun in whatever she is doing instead of being worried about marks or testing, which does not lead to anything fruitful. India has responded to New Nordic School’s education system with enthusiasm and acceptability. We are implementing our first partner schools in India and I feel that there is much more to come in the coming years.”
What's something your daughter has taught you?
“A lot of things! In fact, we both mimic each others' behavior. I'm quite impatient and she is the same, sometimes more, which means that I get to see my habits in action. For instance, if she wants something and I tell her to ‘wait for a bit', she'll respond with ‘why not now’, so then I can relate to how others feel while I am being impatient. She is my mirror, and I am learning a lot from her.”
Learn more about New Nordic School in India:
or get in touch with Ashish directly at [email protected].