School Leadership

The Founder’s Story

One educator. One vision.
One school that the world began to notice.

AWS Chennai exists because Dr. Mohana Lakshmi believed Indian children deserved an American education built around something more honest than test scores — the chance to think, build, ship, and lead. This is the story of how that belief became a school.

Dr. Mohana Lakshmi

Founder & Chief Visionary

Educator, entrepreneur, and global education builder. The architect of Asia’s first entrepreneurial K–12 school — and one of the few Indian school founders to take the stage at the British Parliament as a recognised global leader.

Ph.D. in Educational Leadership — Harvard University
M.B.A. — University of Sunderland, UK
Founder — Kidspreneur (27+ countries)
Founder — KIDx Asia
Global Women Empowerment Award — UK Parliament

01 2014

Before the school, there was the question

In 2014, Dr. Mohana Lakshmi founded Kidspreneur — an experiential learning academy offering entrepreneurship programmes for children aged 5 to 18. What began as a collaboration with Singapore’s Ministry of Education would grow into a global movement: today the Kidspreneur curriculum runs in 27+ countries, impacting thousands of young entrepreneurs.

The deeper question she kept returning to: what would happen if a school built its entire day around this kind of learning — not as an after-school programme, but as the curriculum itself?

Dr. Mohana Lakshmi on the FED 2024 stage with global education leaders

FED 2024 · Future of Education Day

02 2021–22

A school built around builders

In 2022, Dr. Mohana Lakshmi launched American World School Chennai — a bold proposition for Indian families: a 100% American K–12 curriculum, woven through every day with a working entrepreneurial practice. Monday academics. Tuesday mastery. Thursday Xpress. Friday Entrepreneurship.

Not a club. Not a track. The curriculum.

03 Ongoing

From classrooms to capital

Beyond AWS Chennai, Dr. Mohana Lakshmi founded KIDx Asia — a platform connecting young entrepreneurs aged 7 to 18 with investors and mentors. To date, KIDx Asia has empowered 100+ young entrepreneurs who have collectively secured more than $450,000 in investment.

The connection back to AWS Chennai is direct: every Friday on campus is a step on the pathway. The students pitching at KIDx Asia are the students learning to pitch at AWS.

Dr. Mohana Lakshmi receiving the Global Women Empowerment Award at the UK Parliament

House of Commons, London · 2025

04 2025

The world began to notice

In 2025, Dr. Mohana Lakshmi was invited to the British Parliament in London to receive the Global Women Empowerment Award for Creating Young Leaders through Education. On the same trip, two AWS Chennai students — Swarnambika Devi and Nandhini Vijay — received the Young Change Maker Award, delivering their debut speeches before global entrepreneurs at the House of Parliament.

It was not a moment given. It was a moment earned — by an Indian school, in five years, doing the work that schools twice its age have not.

“Every child a hero. That is not the slogan of our school. That is the design principle.”

Dr. Mohana Lakshmi · Founder, AWS Chennai

Senior Leadership

Success Directors — Executive Leadership

Mr. Benzakhir Faizal

Success Director — Head of School

Provides strategic direction and vision for the entire institution — with a clear focus on developing students who are not just academically capable but genuinely ready to lead, innovate, and make meaningful impact.

Oversees academic programmes, Success Coach development, strategic planning, board relations, and community engagement.

Dr. Paul Beresford-Hill

Chairman — AIAASC, New York

Oversees student admissions, enrollment, academic records, and compliance with accreditation standards. Primary liaison with AIAAS, WWASC, and NCTSA accreditation bodies.

Mrs. Lekha Srinivasakam

Success Manager — Principal, Elementary & Middle School

Leads the educational experience for AWS's youngest learners through early adolescence (Kindergarten through Grade 8), integrating rigorous American AERO standards with AWS's signature entrepreneurial curriculum.

Passionate about student agency, social-emotional learning, and the foundational skills that prepare students for High School and beyond.

Academic Leadership

Success Directors & Managers — Curriculum & Academic Excellence

Dr. Bhavanidevi

Success Director — Curriculum

Leads curriculum development across all divisions — ensuring AWS programmes are rigorous, coherent, and aligned with American AERO standards and the school's entrepreneurial mission.

Oversees vertical and horizontal alignment, assessment practices, data analysis, and the integration of entrepreneurship across every subject area.

Mrs. Blessy Prasad

Success Manager — English Department

Leads literacy instruction, literature study, and communication skills development from Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Mrs. Anitha

Success Manager — Science Department

Leads instruction in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and integrated science with emphasis on hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

Mr. Raj Kumar

Success Manager — Integrated Science & Lab

Specializes in cross-disciplinary scientific instruction and oversees all laboratory facilities, equipment, and safety protocols.

Mr. Poovarsan

Success Manager — Mathematics

Oversees numeracy development, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving from Kindergarten through AP Calculus.

Mrs. Divya Swaminathan

Success Manager — French Department

Leads the French language programme developing students' linguistic proficiency, cultural awareness, and global perspective.

Mr. Venugopal

Success Manager — Innovation Hub

B.E. Aeronautical Engineering (PSN College of Engineering and Technology, Tirunelveli). Worked on the design and development of the BRAHMOS hypersonic missile.

Currently Technical Lead & Drone Pilot at Vaayusastra. Leads the AWS Innovation Hub — 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics prototyping, and drone technology — where students turn entrepreneurial ideas into working prototypes.

Mr. Jagadeesh Kanna

Success Manager — Maker Lab & Innovation

CEO and Founder of Vaayusastra Aerospace — pioneering the democratisation of aerospace education for young learners in India.

Brings a unique blend of aerospace engineering and creative arts (stage acting, film direction, theatre, lyricism). Featured in The Hindu Young World Magazine for innovative arts-science integration.

Student Support & Well-Being

Supporting the whole student — academically, emotionally, and personally

Mrs. Gopica Dorairajan

Success Director — Counselling & Community

Leads the comprehensive counselling programme and builds meaningful partnerships with organizations throughout Chennai and beyond.

Mrs. Divya Swapnaraj

Success Director — Child Safeguarding

Leads the comprehensive safeguarding programme ensuring every student learns in a physically and emotionally safe environment.

Ms. Radhika Rupini

Success Manager — Dean of Student Affairs

Oversees student life, discipline, behaviour support, and the overall student experience through restorative practices.

Academic Operations & Assessment

Ensuring Excellence in Teaching & Learning

Mrs. Lavanya

Success Manager — Assessment

Leads the comprehensive assessment system — ensuring student learning is systematically measured, analysed, and used to inform instruction.

Coordinates formative and summative assessment design, MAP, SAT, and AP exam administration, and data-driven instruction across all divisions.

Arts & Enrichment

Developing creative confidence and creative communication

Mr. Ravi

Success Manager — Creative Department & Content Creation Studio

Leads the school's comprehensive visual media, content creation, and digital storytelling programmes. Head of the AWS Content Creation Studio.

Brings professional-grade expertise in video production, graphic design, animation, photography, and brand communication to every student venture.

Mr. Kishore

Success Manager — Photography, ICT & Digital Transformation

Leads AWS's digital arts programme and oversees school-wide technology infrastructure. Teaches photography from composition and lighting to digital editing and portfolio building.

As Digital Transformation Lead, manages the LMS, classroom technology integration, and digital literacy curriculum.

Mr. Seshadri

Success Coach — Music

Leads the Music programme with expertise in both Western and Indian classical music — developing creative expression, discipline, and joy through performance, ensemble, and recording-studio experience.

Specialized Programmes

Success Coaches — Innovation & Technical Excellence

Mr. M.P. Naresh Kumar

Success Coach — Reverse Engineering & Aerospace Technology

B.E. Electronics & Communication Engineering (Stella Mary's College of Engineering, Nagercoil). Aerospace Technical Instructor at Vaayusastra — brings real industry experience directly into the AWS Innovation Hub.

Specialises in reverse engineering — teaching students to take apart existing technologies, understand how they work, and use that knowledge to innovate.

What are you looking for?

One educator. One vision.
One school that the world began to notice.

Dr. Mohana Lakshmi

Before the school, there was the question

A school built around builders

From classrooms to capital

The world began to notice

Senior Leadership

Mr. Benzakhir Faizal

Dr. Paul Beresford-Hill

Mrs. Lekha Srinivasakam

Academic Leadership

Dr. Bhavanidevi

Mrs. Blessy Prasad

Mrs. Anitha

Mr. Raj Kumar

Mr. Poovarsan

Mrs. Divya Swaminathan

Mr. Venugopal

Mr. Jagadeesh Kanna

Student Support & Well-Being

Mrs. Gopica Dorairajan

Mrs. Divya Swapnaraj

Ms. Radhika Rupini

Academic Operations & Assessment

Mrs. Lavanya

Arts & Enrichment

Mr. Ravi

Mr. Kishore

Mr. Seshadri

Specialized Programmes

Mr. M.P. Naresh Kumar

Experience the AWS Difference

School Leadership

One educator. One vision. One school that the world began to notice.

Dr. Mohana Lakshmi

Before the school, there was the question

A school built around builders

From classrooms to capital

The world began to notice

Senior Leadership

Mr. Benzakhir Faizal

Dr. Paul Beresford-Hill

Mrs. Lekha Srinivasakam

Academic Leadership

Dr. Bhavanidevi

Mrs. Blessy Prasad

Mrs. Anitha

Mr. Raj Kumar

Mr. Poovarsan

Mrs. Divya Swaminathan

Mr. Venugopal

Mr. Jagadeesh Kanna

Student Support & Well-Being

Mrs. Gopica Dorairajan

Mrs. Divya Swapnaraj

Ms. Radhika Rupini

Academic Operations & Assessment

Mrs. Lavanya

Arts & Enrichment

Mr. Ravi

Mr. Kishore

Mr. Seshadri

Specialized Programmes

Mr. M.P. Naresh Kumar

Experience the AWS Difference

One educator. One vision.
One school that the world began to notice.