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An inspiring leader focused on transforming the education industry by reimagining learning, Sapna Ganeshan leads Red Comet in the key position of President and CEO.
A constant learner at heart and an experienced administrator in the higher education domain, Sapna has a bachelor’s in computer engineering from Mysore University in India and a Master’s in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence from Queen’s University in Canada.
She was awarded the ‘Distinguished Thesis Award’ at Queen’s University for her combined research in mechanical engineering, computing science, and applied psychology. Ms. Ganeshan was the recipient of the National Scholarship Award (India) and the National Science and Engineering Research Council Scholarship from NSERC, Canada. She was invited to Trinity College, Cambridge University, to pursue her PhD in artificial intelligence, but she decided to join the prestigious Bell Northern Research laboratories instead.
Sapna’s Inspiring Journey Towards a Successful Endeavour
Sapna was reared in a little town in India, where her father used to work at a paper mill. At the time, the town had just one public school, and it lacked even lockable doors. During the monsoon season, frogs would hop throughout the classroom. One day, their math teacher was so irate that he picked up a frog from the floor and used it to show students how to use the number line. Based on the way the frog jumped and which number it landed on, students had to yell out the answer. That lesson has never left her mind. Only some people learn best by reading. Most people learn best when information is presented visually, verbally, kinesthetically, or in combination. This method of thinking has always been the cornerstone of Red Comet. Engage the student, and success will follow.
“Thanks to my fundamental primary education, I was able to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a full scholarship to a master’s program in artificial intelligence in Canada. The Natural Science and Engineering Research Council awarded me a scholarship to pursue my doctorate, making me one of the few foreigners in Canada to do so. I previously held leadership positions in numerous technology and telecom companies before pursuing my passion for education. My initial venture into this industry was with a company that conducted practical science experiments with elementary school students. Students found it to be purely enjoyable, and they had no idea that they were following a program that met state standards. After that, my husband Jay and I bought Red Comet in 2010. We got rid of everything, including the curriculum, platform, and technology, and started fresh”, Sapna shared.
Red Comet – A Brief Overview
The educational technology, or EdTech, market is huge with thousands of companies competing for market share. Due to accreditation standards and state laws, there is one important and sizeable area within this market that has high entry barriers. One of the few competitors in this market is Red Comet, which is globally accredited. From kindergarten to grade 12, they provide more than 300 courses for credit. Students can choose from various engaging electives and career-focused courses in addition to essential subjects like math and English.
The Key Differentiating Factors of Red Comet
Red Comet beats the odds. Students from urban, rural, public, and private schools all succeed irrespective of their race, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors. Red Comet partners closely with schools to ensure all students have equitable access to curriculum and technology. Here, the curriculum is inclusive of gender as well as various cultures and traditions. Women’s and minorities’ contributions to literature, arts, math, and technology are showcased wherever possible. Students become more interested in learning when they can relate to the subject. Color, fonts, infographics, and videos can all help those who learn best visually. Those who find visual input distracting can switch to black and white. There are many tools available to support auditory learners. Kinesthetic learners can study using augmented and virtual reality by utilizing a variety of modalities. Due to Red Comet’s exclusive focus on student engagement, they have one of the best student outcomes when it comes to successful course completion.
Innovative Changes by Red Comet
The Red Comet team is redefining what learning will look like in the foreseeable future. Cutting-edge augmented and virtual reality technologies have been incorporated into regular classroom instruction. When pupils are engaged, learning is deeper, and retention is higher. With the help of new technologies, they can dissect a beating heart to better understand how it functions. When students hold an IC engine in their hands and can disassemble it, physics becomes exciting. Preliminary studies have revealed higher levels of teacher and student engagement, and this program has already demonstrated tremendous promise.
Overcoming the Hurdles Along the Way
In response to COVID lockdowns and mandated virtual classes, the field of online learning saw a major backlash. Despite their greatest efforts, many students were left with a negative experience because nobody was prepared for this. While student engagement fell, learning loss reached a historical high. The gap between those who succeed and those who fail in school grew wider. COVID exacerbated the variations in student outcomes by race and ethnicity.
By harnessing exciting technology, Red Comet is reversing this negativity by making digital learning a viable and enticing option. Using curriculum that is embedded with interactive manipulatives, augmented & virtual reality modules, Red Comet is reversing learning loss and promoting immersive learning.
Work Environment at a Glance
It was business as usual at Red Comet on the day COVID prompted the closure of businesses and schools across the country. At Red Comet, everyone has consistently worked from home. It increased productivity because the team did not have to waste time getting ready and driving to work. This approach also lowered costs for the company by eliminating office space rent. Right from the start, Red Comet employed collaboration technology to keep the crew in touch.
The inspiring lady further apprised us, “Our communication platforms are constantly buzzing with activity as teams work together to solve problems or discuss fresh ideas. Our corporate culture is built on a foundation of trust. Nobody cares if you have to take your child to the dentist or take your newborn for vaccinations as long as the work is completed on time. Many of us enjoy enduring friendships because we are all part of one big family. In the past 12 years, the only reason someone left the company was when they retired. That is how solid our culture is.”
Insights on the Leadership
Employees can easily reach out to anyone to report a problem, propose a fresh idea, or simply have a friendly conversation thanks to Sapna and her team’s efforts to break down communication boundaries. Everyone is given a chance to speak freely at the podium. They debate, debate, and battle for their ideas, yet when they come to a decision as a group, they all strive towards a common goal.
Painting the Future Canvas of Red Comet
Sapna stated, “We are a small fish in a tankful of orcas. Almost all of our competitors are much bigger than us and have access to a large sales workforce and lobbyists.” Sapna wishes to see Red Comet used in at least ten other states. They are currently established in two and making inroads in two others. As for her personal goals, Sapna said, “Personally, I would like to get fit to climb up Kilimanjaro for my girls-only engineering class reunion.”
Words of Wisdom by the Leading Lady
As an entrepreneur, you must initially develop your product or service and in addition handle sales, purchasing, inventory management, record-keeping, finance, human resources, contracts, and occasionally even office cleaning. It can be extremely overwhelming if you’ve no experience in any of these other tasks. Sapna has these words for any budding entrepreneur: “Anyone who aspires to become an entrepreneur must try to get as much diverse experience as they can by participating in internships or working for others. Your goal should be to become a Jack of all trades and master of one.”
