Deblina Chakraborty
Principal - Shiv Nadar School Faridabad
A passionate educator with over 2 decades of exploring and learning in the education space, she believes that the classroom and the surrounding world is an experience that has to be lived to understand.
A graduate with a B.Ed. from Calcutta University, she has taught English and Humanities for many years. Her academic experiences range from sustained classroom teaching on national and international platforms to supporting schools in their journey with understanding diagnostic testing. In a former engagement, she led a team of professionals through the School Quality Assessment and Accreditation process of the CBSE. Chairing the domain of Student Learning and Wellbeing during the process of Council of International Schools Accreditation was another enriching experience.
Since joining Shiv Nadar School Faridabad in 2020 as an Academic Coordinator, Mrs. Chakraborty has contributed significantly to the school’s growth, including setting up the IGCSE curriculum, supporting educators, and leading parent orientations. She also held leadership roles at Shiv Nadar School Noida, where she implemented the IG, IBDP, and MYP curricula as the Head of International Curriculum. A seasoned educator with over 27 years of experience, Mrs. Chakraborty has held leadership positions in renowned institutions and is a recipient of the prestigious IC3 "Counsellor of the Year" Award 2017.
An extremely bright scholar, with a special expertise in the area of assessments, she brings with her a rich experience with stints at Notre Dame Academy (Pune), Educational Initiatives Pvt Ltd, and Pathways School (Noida) amongst others.
From being a loved educator to a respected Head of Department, her journey has brought immense learning along the way. Deblina continues to share her experiences and learn from her colleagues and students. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with friends and family, and spending hours with senior family members and neighbours, listening to their stories of wisdom.
Sameer Arora
Principal- Shiv Nadar School Gurgaon
Sameer Arora is the Principal of Shiv Nadar School, Gurgaon, with over 24 years of experience as a leader, collaborator, and educator. He is dedicated to helping children and those under his care achieve their goals and build meaningful futures.
He holds a Master’s degree in Commerce, a degree in Education, and certifications in leadership from Columbia Business School and the International Baccalaureate. A seasoned career counselor trained by The College Board and UCLA, Sameer has contributed to international organizations like the International Association for College Admission Counseling. He has also founded travel-based start-ups offering experiential education, visited top schools practicing Multiple Intelligences in the U.S., and volunteered at UK summer schools and has engaged with global educational influencers such as Howard Gardner. Sameer has led the “Unlock Hour” program for National Geographic Channel in India.
His dedication to excellence and service has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Authority, India, and accolades from the Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Competition and Punarjyot, an organization fostering peace between India and Pakistan through cultural and academic exchange. In addition, Sameer has been honored with the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award by the National Society of High School Scholars, USA, and the Inspirational Educator Award by the International Alliance of Counsellors & Educators.
He also volunteers his time with global initiatives such as Rise Projects and HundrED, where he reviews and supports youth-driven impact projects and scalable education innovations.
As a prolific speaker, he shares his expertise at platforms hosted by ed-tech companies, higher education institutes, and government trade commissions.
Sameer is driven by a mission to shape environmentally conscious, mindful, and curious individuals who can create a peaceful and better world. Inspired by human potential, he channels his energy into transforming the lives of students and educators.
In his downtime, he finds joy in travel, his dogs, books, and music—pursuing life's passions with the same zeal he brings to education.
Ankit Gupta
Head - Finance
With more than 12 years of experience in Corporate Finance, Ankit Gupta Heads the Finance vertical at Shiv Nadar School, ensuring financial health and sustainability. As the Head of Finance, he oversees Financial Strategy and Planning, Budget Management, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Audit and Compliance, Revenue Management, and the development of Financial Policies and Procedures.
Ankit's journey with our group began in 2015 at HCL Corporation, the holding company of HCL Technologies. During his tenure at HCL, he gained extensive experience in budgeting and forecasting, FP&A, monitoring and controls, financial operations, and financial modelling. In 2018, Ankit transitioned to the Shiv Nadar School Corporate team, quickly rising through the ranks to become the Head of Finance.
Ankit is a qualified Chartered Accountant from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and holds a bachelor's degree in Commerce from Meerut University. Beyond his professional achievements, Ankit is passionate about travelling and cricket, bringing a well-rounded perspective to his role.
Amit Joshi
Head - People & Culture
With over 12 years of transformative HR management experience in the dynamic sectors of Media and Education, Amit Heads our People and Culture function with a deep passion for human transformational initiatives. As the Head of People and Culture, he collaborates closely with our leadership team to champion innovative people practices, foster a vibrant and inclusive culture, and ensure the well-being and growth of every employee. He firmly believes that our people remain at the heart of everything we do and that our workplace continues to be a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment.
Amit's journey with Shiv Nadar School began in 2015 as a People and Culture Partner at the Noida campus, eventually leading to his promotion as People and Culture Lead in 2017. By 2021, Amit had transitioned to the Core Team, where he now plays a pivotal role in overseeing and enhancing people and culture practices across our six dynamic campuses, including our Corporate Team.
Certified as a Great Place to Work® Professional by the Great Place to Work® Institute, India, his pursuit of enhancing organizational culture demonstrates his commitment to excellence.
He holds a postgraduate degree in Human Resources Management from Amity Business School, Noida, and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Karunya University, Coimbatore.
Raised amidst the serene beauty of the Andaman Islands, Amit is an avid reader, a two-time Table Tennis school games champion, and an enthusiastic follower of Formula 1 and Football.
Vandana Marda
Director - Brand, Marketing and Admissions
Vandana Marda Director - Brand, Marketing and Admissions
An alumna of Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University (USA) with a Post Graduate Degree in Business Management, Vandana also has a Doctorate in Management – Digital Learning. A gold medallist Master’s in science from the University of Bombay and an Executive Alumnus of IIM, Lucknow, she carries a rich global experience of over 20 years in the EdTech domain with expertise in Product Positioning and Strategy, Business Expansion, and Market Entry Strategies, Digital & Organic Marketing, Marketing Automation, Product Development, Reporting & Analytics Tools, Strategic Alliances, and Partnerships.
Vandana has worked in global setups and has been associated with the education space for the past ten years with K-12, EdTech and Training organisations. Soon after her MBA, she worked with global organizations such as International Techne Group Inc. (Cincinnati, USA) and Virtusa (Fremont, USA). She was also the Founder and Promoter of Going2USA.com (an Internet Start-up based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) for five years.
After moving to India, she joined Hindustan Times as Head - Product Management & Business Alliances, followed by a stint with GEMS Education as General Manager - Business Strategy and Operations. Vandana was later associated with The Princeton Review (Manya Group) as Vice President - Product Strategy, Global Partnerships, and Marketing. She was also the Director - Products with the Global University System (GUS), where she played a crucial role in enhancing the online portfolio across all product lines. She led the Product division for the company defining the long-term product roadmap based on market research, competition mapping, data analytics, market evaluation, and organization strategy.
Vandana enjoys travelling and spends her free time painting rocks and bottles, singing, creating music albums, and creating fusion-themed home décor items with a mix of ceramics, quilling, pebbles, and acrylic paint. She strongly believes in the power of will, congruency, and the right attitude.
Padmini Sambasivam
Principal - Shiv Nadar School Chennai
With over 28 years of rich academic and administrative experience, Padmini Sambasivam has made an indelible mark as an educator and leader. She has successfully steered some of the most prestigious institutions in India and abroad, combining vision with transformative action. A Zoology graduate from Stella Maris College, she holds advanced degrees in Environmental Toxicology, Genetics, and Education, reflecting her deep commitment to interdisciplinary learning and excellence.
Padmini’s illustrious career includes pivotal roles at renowned organisations such as The Krishnamurthi Foundation, Bala Vidya Mandir, Arsha Vidya Mandir, The Peevees Group (KSA), and The Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun. As a forward-thinking instructional leader, she has consistently championed innovative pedagogies, holistic education, and the integration of arts and sports into mainstream academics. Her expertise lies in 21st-century education practices, child welfare, and mental well-being.
A staunch advocate for experiential learning, Padmini is currently the founding principal of Shiv Nadar School, Chennai, where she is involved in setting up an IB school where learning through inquiry forms the foundation of academic and personal growth. She believes in nurturing education “by design rather than by default,” creating environments where students thrive academically, creatively, and emotionally.
Beyond academics, Padmini’s interests are vast and inspiring. As a former NCC Air Wing cadet and trained solo pilot, she represented Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in Republic Day celebrations. Her adventurous spirit has seen her trek the Himalayas and Mount Kailash, raft the Ganges, and explore the African wilderness. A passionate debater and public speaker, she also has a love for performing arts and community service, which she embraced wholeheartedly as a student and continues to champion today.
Padmini’s dedication to education and leadership has been widely recognised with awards such as the ‘School Leader of the Year,’ ‘Distinguished Service Award,’ ‘Exemplary Leadership Award,’ and ‘Best Teacher Award.’ Guided by the philosophy of “thriving, not just surviving,” she approaches challenges as opportunities to push boundaries, unlock potential, and inspire excellence in herself and others.
Anju Soni
Principal - Shiv Nadar School Noida
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.
Mark Nelson
Head - Technology
Coming Soon!
Payal Kapur
Executive Head - Coaching & Mentoring
Payal Kapur is the Executive Head of Coaching & Mentoring at Shiv Nadar School. A passionate and innovative educator, with close to 30 years of experience, she has a deep understanding of children's educational needs. She joined the Shiv Nadar School team in 2013.
A student of English and an alumna of Kolkata University, Payal began her career as a member of the senior school English faculty at The Shri Ram School, Moulsari. She went on to be appointed Principal, senior school of The Shri Ram School, Aravali. She later joined Step by Step, Noida as founding Principal.
At Shiv Nadar School, in collaboration with the school teams, she has put into place specialized development programs which have afforded members of staff numerous opportunities to enhance their professional knowledge, skills and effectiveness.
Payal strongly believes that in today’s VUCA world, ethics must form the very foundation of the education system. She is an avid reader and a film enthusiast; she also likes travelling and acting. She finds inspiration in nature and music, and enjoys nothing more than having a good laugh.
Raspreet Sidhu
Head of Sports
Raspreet Sidhu is the Head of Sports at Shiv Nadar School, and the former Captain of the Indian Women’s National Basketball team. She is also a Federation International Basketball Association (FIBA) Level 1 certified Coach.
Raspreet comes with over 15 years of experience as a national basketball player. Raspreet is the only player in the history of men and women Basketball to represent India in 3 consecutive Asian Games (2010, 2014 and 2018) and Commonwealth Games (2018). She has been instrumental in bagging several medals for the nation during her illustrious playing career. She was an Assistant Professor (Guest) of Physical Education at Miranda House, University of Delhi. She has also worked as an Assistant Professor of Physical Education (ADHOC) in Mata Sundri College for Women, University of Delhi.
She has authored several articles related to sports, wellbeing, obesity in children, and fitness during the Pandemic. Several research papers have also been co-authored by her, focusing on physical fitness in students, sports injuries, gender bias, and training practices. A gold medallist from Delhi University in Masters of Physical Education, and a graduate from St. Stephen’s College in English Literature, Raspreet has received several awards for her contribution to the upliftment of physical education and sports training in India.
When she’s not on a tour, playing a match, or training students, Raspreet likes to spend time with kids and listen to music. She cites Lebron James and Roger Federer as her inspiration.