Ms. Anju Soni, Principal of Shiv Nadar School, Noida, follows a ‘learner-centred’ approach. She also looks after the High School students as the Senior School Head. The expanse of her horizons ensures that her students fare favourably both within and beyond the confines of the school.

She comes with a deep understanding of the National Curriculum Framework and supports the school management and Leadership in building the School on goals of academic rigour, creativity, and community service by ensuring the implementation of the Academic Calendar. She is also an integral part of the assessment team that ensures the efficacy of the teaching-learning process.

Ms. Soni holds a Master Degree in English Literature and Bachelor’s degree in Education. She is a learning pedagogue with over 20 years of rich experience in imparting education and training in the English Language. She enables students to become independent, lifelong learners and promotes intercultural awareness to foster tolerance, respect, and empathy. Ms. Soni plays an active role in supporting the management in school review and improvement framework to develop future strategic planning and accountability while establishing trust among the team for the required changes. 

She drives pastoral initiatives to promote Student Leadership Structures by closely working with and mentoring the student leaders who are a part of the student council. Ms. Soni regularly engages with all the stakeholders (parents, students, staff, leadership team) and conducts initial interviews for prospective students and new staff members.
 

Anshu Sharma, a passionate educator and academic leader with over 17 years of experience, holds a double Master’s Degree in Science (Botany) and Education (Psychology). She is a NEASC accredited school visiting team member and an IBEN—MYP Programme Leader. Her extensive experience spans teaching, learning, and leading in the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, including the PYP, MYP, and DP, as well as the IGCSE curriculum.

As an academic leader, Anshu has successfully led program implementation, evaluation, and verification at various educational institutions across India, the Middle East, and Europe. These include RBK International Academy in Mumbai, Pathways School in Noida, Ecole Mondiale World School in Mumbai, and Oeiras International School in Lisbon, Portugal.

As a pedagogical leader with a special interest in the MYP, Anshu has collaborated closely with government institutions and learning organizations to enhance inquiry-based teaching and learning, develop authentic assessments, and promote student agency. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the sole Indian educator invited by the International Baccalaureate to join the global team working on their ‘Enhanced MYP’ initiative.

Prior to joining Shiv Nadar School, Anshu was associated with Ambassador International Academy in Dubai.

Anshu enjoys reading and exploring new places and cultures. 

Col Puneet Salhotra (Retired) is the Head of Administration and Operations at the Shiv Nadar School Noida.

With a Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies, he is an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College. During nearly four decades of his service, Col Salhotra has served the length and breadth of the country, making a significant contribution in all assignments that came his way. He has had multifaceted experiences in operational, administrative, and training matters, including a tenure with the UN in Somalia, where he was responsible for the training of Somali police.

Known for his integrity, hard work, foresight, and teamwork, Col Salhotra joined the organisation when the school was preparing to reopen in physical space after the Covid pandemic. His mantra in life is to catch the bull by the horn. He has been able to utilise the strength of each member of his team optimally.  In a short span of four months, he has been able to bring about a significant turnaround not only in reinstating but improving several of the facilities and spaces which had closed due to the pandemic.

He enjoys family time with his two daughters and siblings. He utilises his leisure time reading, playing golf, cycling, cooking, or listening to music.  

Sumita Malik, Head, Early Years at Shiv Nadar School, NOIDA, is an innovative educationist with over twenty-eight years of experience in the field. During this vast career span, she has been an accomplished teacher, mentor, curriculum developer, and administrator with expertise in education research and business development. She is proficient in conducting workshops for teachers and parents.

She started her journey as an educator at Junior Raghubir Singh Modern School, Delhi, and eventually built and headed the Foundation department at The Heritage School, Vasant Kunj, Delhi. During this time, she delved deep into research to understand educational approaches to teaching language during early childhood. After an association of almost 13 years with The Heritage School, she joined a chain of international pre-schools, ‘Rumi Kids’ an initiative of Richard Chandler Corporation Singapore, as the Principal and Business head. She is the Territory Head, Delhi, of the Early Childhood Association. 

She presented a paper on ‘Inclusive Practices’ during the Conference on ‘Every Child’s Right to Early Childhood Education’ organized by AECED, CECED, and TIS in 2018 and has authored and published a paper on ‘Anxiety and low self-esteem in early years’. She was honoured to be a speaker for the ‘MP STEAM Education Conference 2019’ on Crafting the Future with STEAM curriculum and has been associated with the Madhya Pradesh Department of School Education for training their teachers since 2020. 

She is passionate about education reforms, especially at the primary and pre-primary levels. Sumita truly believes that early childhood is the most critical period when the foundation for lifelong development is laid and requires special care in enabling an environment rich in learning experiences. 

Arzoo Rikhy is the Head of Primary Years at Shiv Nadar School Noida

An alumna of Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune with a bachelor’s in literature and Cultural Studies, Arzoo was associated with Teach for India for two years as an English educator for Upper Primary Group prior to joining Shiv Nadar School.

A valued member of the Primary Years cohort at the Noida campus since 2017, when she joined as a Teaching Faculty, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and a continued passion for learning, first as Teaching and Learning Lead (Primary Years), and since June 2022, as Deputy Head – Primary Years.

She continues to enrich the Primary Years cohort, and the campus, with the same level of passion, dedication, and strategic thinking to this new role, driving positive change and fostering a collaborative and efficient working environments. 

Pooja Malhotra heads the Parent Partnership Office at the Noida campus.

Pooja holds more than two decades of rich professional experience, working with people and setting up cultures in organizations. Before she forayed into the education sector, she worked in leading organizations like Kuwait Airways, Radisson MBD Hotel, IBM, and Ebony Gautier. Her last stint was for a US-based company heading the People Culture and administration. Since joining Shiv Nadar School Noida,  Pooja has spearheaded various engagements by and for the parent community, establishing a great bond with them.

As a people person, she engages with the parent community, building a robust Parent Partnership Program. She has been working beyond her role capacity as a ferocious learner. As a hands-on learner, Pooja attributes her learning journey to her experience at work.

She believes that the right attitude is what matters the most. Pooja loves to be with her family and spend time with them.

Shweta Advani is a passionate and visionary HR leader with over 8 years of experience in shaping and nurturing organizational cultures that prioritize people, growth, and innovation. As the Lead of People and Culture at Shiv Nadar School Noida, she leverages her extensive expertise in human resources, organizational development, and employee well-being to create a dynamic, inclusive, and future-oriented environment.

An alumna of IMT Ghaziabad, where she earned her master’s degree in human resources, Shweta has had a diverse career spanning renowned global organizations like Microsoft, WNS, and Orange Health. These experiences have honed her unique skill set, enabling her to drive culture transformation, enhance talent management, and align organizational values seamlessly with daily practices.

Beyond her professional achievements, Shweta founded Mindful Love Tribe, India’s pioneering holistic platform dedicated to mindful living. Her innovative approach, encompassing Mindfulness Workshops, Life Skills programs, and initiatives that support startups, has positioned her as a thought leader in the field. Her impactful work in mindfulness coaching has garnered recognition in esteemed publications like Indian Express, Times of India, and The Logical Indian, where she has guided individuals and organizations in unlocking their full potential through mindful practices.

At Shiv Nadar School, Shweta’s leadership stems from her unwavering conviction that every individual possesses unique talents and the potential to make significant contributions. Her approach revolves around fostering an environment that nurtures and inspires people to unlock their full potential.