India’s Transformational Leaders 2019: Dr. Tushar Vinod Deoras, Astute Academy

My vision is to make Astute Academy, World’s #1 Ethical Student-Centric Academy with Social touch. My Passion to achieve this Goal drives me to work with zeal.

Years of working in the industry, your contribution reflects versatility and volubility. What has influenced your decision making process at various stages?

Being in Education field, the whole process revolve around the apt Career guidance for student. At every stage ethics, ethical business Practices and student centric approach takes the center stage. My fight against the Commercialisation of education with social touch has given numerous awards and recognition. Today my company, Astute Academy is India #1 Career Counselling academy.

A project or an accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career?

Anti-Donation campaign against admissions in MBBS/MD institutes in India is most signification social initiative which got huge response from Parents and students. In India, Donation had become the norm for MBBS/MD admissions. We spearheaded All India campaign and today we can say with Pride that we can get students MBBS/MD admissions in India purely on Merit without Donation or Management quota irrespective of NEET marks. We have become ONLY academy to accomplish in India. Others are Teaching Reforms, fight against Commercialisation of Coaching Industry without accountability, Research Outsourcing and many numerous projects underway for Educational reforms.

How do you integrate corporate philanthropy or corporate social responsibility as a part of your business strategies?

The foundation of Astute Academy is Social initiatives. In view, starting from Identification of right Career to admissions in Prestigious Universities helped students from urban and Rural areas. We are ONLY academy in India provides Free Counselling to student as social cause. We conduct free Career Counselling sessions/seminars in rural areas, schools and empower students with guidance for right Career. We had received the “Corporate Social Responsibility” award for Student empowerment in rural Maharashtra by Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis.

What has been your driving force or philosophy in life?

My vision is to make Astute Academy, World’s #1 Ethical Student-Centric Academy with Social touch. My Passion to achieve this Goal drives me to work with zeal.

What are the other philanthropic works you are involved in?

Working towards training the teachers programs. India is facing severe shortage of qualified

teachers. Young generation not entering teaching profession as 1st career. The Teaching methodology over the years have changed and there is need to develop teaching skills. Another major initiative is Coaching classes reforms. Coaching industry is too commercial without any accountability. In view, we have established the Research Lab which provide the showcase to the Coaching industry. We want to support Coaching industry for the benefit of students. Accountability is key element.

How do you define success and how do you measure up to your own definition?

If I am happy what I am doing and my guidance is helping the society, its success for me. When I get peaceful sleep at night without any worry, its success for me. When I see students making great career matching their skill, its success for me. When I am 100% law abiding citizen with contribution to society, its success for me. If I can run 100% ethical business, its success for me. All other recognitions are milestone which boost my morale to work even harder.

We are constantly making things better, faster, smarter or less expensive. In other words, we strive to do more with less. Talk about a recent project or solution to a problem that you have made better, faster, smarter or less expensive?

There are many. We are only academy in India which helps MBBS/MD student admit in India without donation thereby saving huge amount. We are the only Career Counselling Academy in India having Center of Excellence in USA whereby we can sent students to USA for quality education with cost lower than India. Large number of our students go to USA with 100% Scholarships. Engineering with Rs.4 Lacs a year is common which nobody in India can provide. We send students to better Universities than India. In Engineering, better institutes than even IITs.

Your perception of an empowered society. How far your industry has/can contribute for the same?

I am pained due to too much commercialisation, no value system, ethics and lack of research in our education industry. In fact, the industry has failed to empower society and there need to be major overhaul due. The lack of focus for quality education, quality of teachers, research funding making Education sector down thereby social discrepancy increasing. Today educational institutes are not same as 10 years back and that pains me. I am trying my best to help industry but still major work needs to be done.

PERSONAL GRID

One thing you wish to change and one thing you wish to retain about your industry?

I want all institutions research oriented. Education system need to evolve considering global needs. There is great need for Globalisation. I do not think anything needs to be retained from current. We need complete change of education starting from school education to higher education.

One thing you have to let go off as an entrepreneur/leader?

I understand my limitation as an Individual and as a Company. Sometimes, I have accept baby steps rather than high pace development. As an entrepreneur, every thing cannot be done by me and we do face limitation as a team not able to match the growth.

Whom do you owe your success to?

I was a Scientist in Bhabha Atomic Research Center and there I got my first exposure to research which even today is helpful. Working closely with Visionary Shri Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro and learning inculcation of Ethics, Social approach, Vision from him has made me a shape my personality.

Best thing about your job?

I enjoy what I do. I do what I enjoy. I do with Passion. Passion drives me.

A message from you to all the future entrepreneurs/leaders?

Take leadership position. Spend at least 3 hours daily on research in your area however busy you may be. Follow Ethical Business Practices with 100% compliance of law of the land. Always have Vision for next 5-10 years. Change is constant and every change need 3-5 years to mature. Most great Business houses crash because they feel success is constant and thereby do not foresee in future. Do not run after money.