Featured in Forbes India as one of the nation’s visionary entrepreneurs in education, Dr. Niyati Chitkara has redefined what it means to build schools for the future. As Vice President of Chitkara International Schools, she has created ecosystems where learning feels less like a burden and more like an exploration—where play meets research, where innovation is second nature, and where global exposure is built into the very foundation of education.
In 2014, Dr. Chitkara was recognized as a Bill and Melinda Gates Scholar at TEDActive in Canada, a milestone that cemented her reputation as a forward-thinking reformer on the world stage. It seems only fitting that she was born on Teacher’s Day, a symbolic beginning for a life dedicated to turning education into a mission that transforms learners into leaders.
Her ideas about assessment have been captured in her internationally published book Assessment Quotient, which challenges one-dimensional grading systems and promotes a more human-centric approach. But perhaps her boldest contribution is the pioneering PhD-to-Playway model, a reverse-integrated framework that flips the conventional script of schooling. Instead of saving research, entrepreneurship, and real-world exposure for higher education, she brings them into classrooms from the earliest years. The results speak for themselves: under her leadership, students and teachers have filed more than 18 patents, living proof that innovation flourishes when curiosity is nurtured early.
Dr. Chitkara’s philosophy also goes beyond academic achievement. She advocates for a balance of four quotients—Intelligence (IQ), Emotional (EQ), Skill (SQ), and Happiness (HQ). This holistic model ensures that education does not just produce capable professionals but empathetic, resilient, and joyful human beings. At her schools, this vision takes tangible shape in Knowledge Walkways, Joy Hubs, Learning Studios, and Sustainability Centres—spaces designed to spark creativity, collaboration, and well-being.
Her impact extends far beyond India. She has spearheaded over 250 international collaborations, opening doors for students to engage with global institutions and industries. From introducing empathy and social-emotional learning through UNESCO MGIEP to weaving design thinking with the World Design Council, UK, Dr. Chitkara has consistently placed her students at the intersection of innovation and compassion. Strategic partnerships with global giants like Google, Canva, Adobe, Microsoft, IDP, and Access USA further ensure her learners are ready to thrive in an interconnected world.
At the heart of it all lies her conviction that education is not linear. It is not a race of degrees and diplomas but a living, evolving blueprint that shapes individuals who can imagine, build, and lead. Dr. Niyati Chitkara has built more than schools—she has built a legacy of inquiry, creativity, and resilience. And in doing so, she has shaped a generation of learners who are prepared not only to succeed but to reimagine the future itself.
