Leaders
In recent years, Indian women edupreneurs have emerged as powerful catalysts in reshaping the country's education landscape. These trailblazers combine their passion for teaching with entrepreneurial spirit, creating innovative solutions to address long-standing gaps in educational systems. Sunita Sharma is one such business leader. She is a change-maker, shaping the future of global education. Born and raised in London, Sunita Sharma began her journey as a research biochemist, working with multinational corporations like Glaxo. Despite the fascination with her work, Sunita’s dissatisfaction with its lack of immediate impact led to her yearning for a deeper understanding of the corporate sector and a bold transition into training as a Chartered Accountant.
Ultimately, in 2008, she channeled her diverse experiences into founding Young Scholarz, a Singapore headquartered online education hub that leverages modern pedagogical strategies to create engaging and effective tailored tutoring across all geographies including Southeast Asia, Middle East, Europe, Canada, India and the US. Young Scholarz supports students through their academic journey with K-12 tutoring, standardized testing and university admission.
In an engaging interaction with Women Entrepreneur Review magazine, Sunita shares the details of her journey as one of the most influential women leaders from Singapore.
Can you walk us through your industry experience and what prompted your shift from being a scientist to becoming an Edupreneur?
Before founding Young Scholarz, my career journey was rich and varied, spanning across industries and continents. I spent several years extensively traveling, auditing small businesses and multinational corporations, which provided me with deep insights into organizational development, leadership dynamics, and the operational intricacies of both local and global businesses.
I spent some time in Bangalore where I worked for the Oberoi group which further expanded my corporate knowledge and helped my understanding of the skills and knowledge gap in the education system in the country. Later, when I was back in London, my passion to share my learning led me to lecture at a leading business school, before relocating to Singapore.
It was in Singapore that my journey as an Edupreneur truly began. I started informally teaching science and math, but quickly noticed that despite English being the main language of communication, there was a lack of effective teaching instruction. This realization sparked the creation of Young Scholarz, where I saw an opportunity to merge my creative teaching methods with my analytical expertise, designing innovative approaches to make English more accessible and enjoyable for students.
My objective is to keep pushing innovation to ensure young scholarz realizes its full potential in supporting students from school to university & beyond
Can you share some major milestones in your career that you are proud of?
Throughout my career, I have been privileged to wear many hats, from biochemist to chartered accountant to business owner and successful entrepreneur. Alongside my work in education, I have pursued my creative passion as a scriptwriter and each diverse experience has been instrumental in shaping my perspective and growth.
There are several major milestones including being approached by venture capitalists and other businesses as potential JV partners, which is a testament to the strength of the Young Scholarz brand and the value we deliver. However, my proudest achievements are the development of the people I work with, and building and fostering an exceptional all-female management team who have been a pillar of strength during our growth journey. The excellent year-on-year results achieved by our students also give me immense joy and motivation and endorse the value of our methodologies.
Additionally, I am committed to supporting female education through philanthropic relationships, where we aim to make a positive impact in the lives of young women through partnerships with organizations such as Global Fund for Women, Girl Up and Educate Girls.
What is your vision for the evolution and growth of Young Scholarz?
I aspire for Young Scholarz to be a comprehensive education hub that supports students at every stage, from foundational skills to career preparation. We aim to be a trusted resource, offering not just academic support but also life skills and mentorship, guiding students through all pivotal moments in their education.
Our goal is to expand geographically, create greater brand awareness and establish a presence through franchises and innovative ventures, such as teacher preparation programs and skill development courses. We are open to collaborating with government agencies to deliver targeted training and certification programs, ensuring students graduate with skills aligned to industry needs and are fully prepared for the workforce.
We plan to integrate new services, offering students an even broader range of support for holistic development by collaborating with experts in fields that complement our core strengths.
Ultimately, I envision Young Scholarz as being a well-known, reputable organization that nurtures academic excellence by fostering strong partnerships with parents, students, and education professionals.
Advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs and business leaders:
Start with a vision that genuinely resonates with who you are. Your business should reflect your personal values, strengths, and interests. Entrepreneurship comes with many challenges, and requires deep personal investment, but if your work aligns with your passion, it will fuel your resilience. Also, think strategically about the sector you’re entering. Industries like education, healthcare, and technology have longevity. When you combine personal passion with a thoughtful choice of industry, you can create a business that’s not just successful but sustainable.
Sunita Sharma, Founder & CEO, Young Scholarz
Sunita Sharma is a UK-qualified Chartered Accountant and Biochemistry graduate. She transitioned into education with a passion for nurturing academic excellence. As a senior lecturer, award-winning playwright, and lead English teacher, she specializes in preparing students for IB, IGCSE, standardized testing and university admissions. Fluent in multiple languages including French and German, Sunita brings a rich global perspective to her work.
