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Women in Leadership
Name: Jessica Komanapalli
Role: Academic Coordinator
Company: Lioncrest Academy, Visakhapatnam, India
A bit about you: I am a 42-year-old female who emigrated from the UK to India in 2011. I have worked in schools for five years now. I have three daughters, aged 9, 11 and 13. I originally worked as journalist on women’s magazines.
What is it like working in your company? We have a good company atmosphere because we are all team and vision-focused. We have a supportive community and are committed to growing and learning together. We see our work as a mission to help education in India too, so it is more than just a workplace.
Why did you decide to go into you chosen field? My husband started the school I worked in and asked me to help out but it has grown into a passion as I have embraced his vision to help improve the quality of education offered in our city.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? I actually had no experience whatsoever in teaching, but I have learnt during the years. I am thinking of taking a professional qualification in teaching to help support my career.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? I love seeing the growth and development of our school and I love seeing our students have access to good quality education - it is rewarding.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? I think the biggest challenge has been understanding the cultural thinking that is tied into education here and being sympathetic to it. Also, a challenge has been to train teachers in pedagogies which are new and aren’t supported by their educational knowledge or training - most go against the grain of rote-based teaching which they are used to.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? It’s important because half the population is female. Women are able to succeed and thrive in any job role, and it’s important that young girls see this represented in every workplace.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? If you’re passionate about teaching and education, this is a very rewarding career - especially, if you’re willing to work hard and care for your students.
