MEET THE STAFF
The subject-gurus at Zoho Schools hail from diverse backgrounds but work as one when it comes to empowering the students by guiding them and nurturing their innate talents. Learn about the enthusiastic mentors at Zoho Schools who are the launchpads for the future generations of Zoho's workforce!
Mentors

Rajendran Dandapani
President
Zoho Schools
A stellar academic performance at school followed by a shocking debacle at college seem to have set Rajendran on a lifelong pursuit for a better way to teach and learn. A product architect almost all his professional life, he has always found the time to indulge in teaching - be it students at a local college, juniors in his team at Zoho Corp, ZS students and alumni, or his own son whom he had home-schooled since 2013. His son graduated from Zoho Schools a few years ago, and has now become his Dad's colleague!
Jayendra Babu
Head
School of Design, Chennai
Since childhood, art has been a fascinating medium of expression for Jayen. Conjuring up creative design as a career was, therefore, a natural progression. His sketches - be they on physical canvasses or digital - come alive with rich tones and distinctive shades. He derives special satisfaction sharing his decades of expertise with the students at the School of Design.

Miraculine J
Head
School for Business, Tenkasi
Miraculine is a dual catalyst helping students at Tharuvai master Zoho Creator, Frontend Development, essential tech tools on the one hand, and sales, marketing, and customer support skills on the other. Passionate about code and the latest tech trends, she brings vibrant energy to every session. Embracing a philosophy of curiosity and collaboration, she cultivates an environment where learning is a shared journey of exploration and growth. Beyond the classroom, she continues her quest for knowledge, constantly seeking fresh perspectives to enrich her lessons. When not coding algorithms or teaching the dark art of Search Engine Optimization, Miraculine unwinds in the intricate world of Zentangle Art where even the simplest patterns bring complex joy!
Prathika Kesavan
Head
School of Technology, Kumbakonam
Prathika started her career at Zoho right after college, as a faculty member at the School of Technology in Chennai. She has spent almost a decade diving into various technologies and has gained diverse knowledge in product development, including SNMP-based applications, Windows and Mac-based apps, ME IT monitoring tools, Android mobile applications, and the latest APIs. She teaches server-based application development, incorporating live product APIs into capstone projects, and actively motivates and supports her students by being a co-learner. Her quest for new horizons has now led her to head the Zoho School of Technology in Kumbakonam.

Priakanth P
Head
School for Advanced Study, Chennai
With over two decades of rich industry experience, Priakanth, in his own words, is a "passionate and compassionate educator". His enthusiasm for teaching ignites a genuine curiosity and fosters a love for learning. He inspires his students to push their boundaries and reach greater heights. He takes pride in creating an engaging and supportive learning environment where each student feels valued and empowered to explore their potential. Beyond the classroom, he embraces his love for adventure and speed, finding immense joy in driving cars and motorcycles.
Rebecca P Khanna
Head of Marupadi
Social Media & Rural Outreach
Rebecca comes from a family of teachers, and education runs in her veins. For over two decades, she has been shaping minds, making programming not just a skill but an art for her students. Known for her warmth and adaptability, she believes that a great classroom isn’t just about learning, it’s about inspiring curiosity and confidence. As the Social Media Manager for Zoho Schools, she leads creative digital campaigns that highlight the achievements and impact of Zoho’s alternative education model. Now, she leads Marupadi, Zoho’s career restart program, empowering women to reclaim their careers with renewed skill and purpose. She also spearheads Zoho Schools' outreach efforts, traveling to rural communities to open doors of opportunity for young minds. When she’s not mentoring or strategizing, wanderlust takes over. Whether it’s a bustling city or a quiet hillside, she finds joy in capturing the world one frame at a time

Santhi T
Head
School of Technology, Tenkasi
Santhi brings over 15 years of teaching experience, offering deep expertise in programming languages, mathematical concepts, and software testing methodologies. Her dynamic teaching approach equips students with critical skills for the tech industry, fostering excellence in programming, mathematics, and software testing. Santhi's comprehensive knowledge and engaging style empower students to build a strong foundation for their future careers.
Sudakar Ramakrishnan
Head
School for Graduate Studies
With two decades of experience in education and the tech industry, Sudhakar now leads the Zoho School for Graduate Studies. Throughout his career, he has taken on various roles, as a teacher, a software developer, and a manager in both leadership and product management. His extensive background and passion for nurturing talent have positively impacted many. At Zoho Schools, Sudhakar is dedicated to nurturing an engaging and supportive learning environment for all.
Uma Maheswari
Head
School of Technology, Chennai
Uma has been with Zoho Schools since its inception, deeply inspired by its vision and mission. She values the unique spirit and principles that define ZS and takes pride in nurturing young minds. As a passionate educator, she teaches Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science, along with Database concepts, equipping students with analytical and problem-solving skills. Beyond academics, Uma is a gifted Veena player perhaps that’s why she has a knack for tuning students to their fullest potential!
Vijaya Ruby Malan
Head
School of Business, Chennai
Starting her career as a software developer right after college, Ruby switched over to the field of Learning and Development, a domain she discovered to be her forte. She goes beyond conventional chalk-and-talk teaching, and prefers being seen as a facilitator of students' learning. She plays badminton and table-tennis with her students when she has time to kill, and wins the odd game too!
Faculty Members
Aarthi V
Faculty
School of Technology
Speak five minutes with her, and you would have heard references to her grandma twice already, her inspiration, her idol, and the person who molded her teaching aspirations at a very young age. Our vision of continuous learning attracted her from the get go, and after spending five years honing her skills in the art of software development, she switched gears to have a role in teaching it. While particularly proud of her contribution to Zoho's AI avatar, Zia, today, she wants to be known as a friendly faculty, a co-learner, and an insatiably enthusiastic person constantly in search of new things to learn.
Anusuja D
Faculty
Marupadi, Zoho Schools
Teaching is more than just a job for Anusuja—it's her passion. Over the past eight years, she has had the privilege of sharing knowledge and inspiring students in many city colleges and now at Zoho Schools. This journey has been filled with countless moments of growth and fulfillment. At Marupadi, she fuses her love for teaching with innovative technology, creating dynamic learning experiences. Anusuja truly believes that when you're passionate about what you do, it shines through in everything you touch.
Adithya Raja
Faculty
School of Design
Adithya S Raja sees design not as an art form that captivates the eye but as a science that can solve even the most complex of problems. A true blue Bulleteer who energizes his creative batteries through regular long rides, Adithya believes in teaching through practice and games. He often takes working samples from industrial designs that are currently trending. Designs found in textbooks are often dated and do not find mention in his classes. He believes that every designer should have a sense of software coding, just as every coder should develop a taste in design.
Bhanumathi S
Faculty
Zoho School of Technology
Starting her career as an employee at a bank in Mumbai, she eventually found her true calling in teaching children, spending over a decade nurturing young minds before joining Zoho Schools, where she currently teaches English and conducts Life Skills sessions to teenage learners. Her goal is to equip students with the tools they need to excel both personally and professionally. Outside the classroom, she enjoys meaningful conversations with students, embracing a holistic approach to education.
Christal Mejella C J
Softskill & Communication Trainer
See that lady walking the corridors with a note and pen in hand? That’s Mejella with her story-spinning wand! A storyteller right from her childhood, she dove into a career in Content Writing after her M.E & lectureship. She is a staunch believer that every person has a unique skill that is waiting for the right push to show itself. And that brought her to Zoho Schools, where she communicates and reflects with students to awaken their inner spark. Outside the classroom, she has a passion for the arts. Weekends find her blogging her thoughts and relishing endless cups of tea in her lovely woodland garden.

Dhivya Priya B
Faculty
Zoho School of Technology
Dhivya began her career as a software engineer, spending six years as a full stack developer, solving problems and building solutions. After a break when she became a full-time parent, she returned with a renewed purpose: to guide and empower students through her teaching. Now, she trains them in front-end development, combining her industry expertise with a love for inspiring and motivating. Her passion lies in kindling innovative thinking and in equipping students to tackle challenges in the world of technology and beyond.

Geetha B
Faculty
Zoho School of Business
An engineering graduate from NIT Trichy with extensive industry experience, she decided to follow her passion for sparking curiosity in students' minds. Her philosophy? Learning should always be exciting! She focuses on hands-on, interactive learning, where students are encouraged to actively participate, collaborate, and engage, rather than just passively take notes. One of her favorite ways to fuel that curiosity is by organizing theme-based events, where students are involved in every aspect, from planning to execution. These events not only teach teamwork, leadership, and communication skills, but also provide an engaging and memorable learning experience. "After all", she asks, "Who said education can’t be both fun and impactful?

Indumathi P
Faculty
Zoho School of Technology
Indumathi is an energetic individual with a passion for exploring whatever feeds her curiosity. She enjoys stage plays, both as a performer and as an observer, and has a deep interest in writing and engaging in lively conversations. Her lifelong love for the English language led her to study literature and won her many accolades along the way. Inspired by her teachers, she developed a strong desire to teach. She is thrilled to have found a job that perfectly combines her passions for literature, teaching, and creativity. Her enthusiasm and innovative spirit is evident in everything she does.

Janani Thakshayani
Faculty
Zoho School of Business
She believes that every teacher is a lifelong student, constantly learning and evolving. Her passion for literature helps her excel at crafting compelling business stories and inspiring others to do the same. She firmly believes that everyone can write and that practice is the key to mastering the craft. She enjoys taking the students in one grand adventure, introducing them to the wonder-filled world of writing.

Kannan B
Faculty
Zoho School of Business
Kannan believes that continuous inspiration is best achieved through teaching. For him, teaching is not just about knowledge-sharing but a mutual learning process that ensures both the student and the teacher stay relevant to evolving industry trends. With 14 years of industry experience, he brings expertise in Software Testing, Product Management, Data Analysis, and Applied Mathematics. His approach focuses on bridging the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world industry applications, enabling learners to stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape.
Layeekha Parveen Y
Faculty
Zoho School of Business
Layeekha Parveen is a faculty member at the Zoho School of Business, a genuine polyglot. She teaches English to students, and supplements it with evening classes teaching spoken Hindi through Tamil as well as spoken Tamil through Hindi! She also assists in soft skills training. In addition, she supports fellow faculty members whenever needed. Passionate about continuous learning, she enjoys reading books, listening to music, and exploring nature and philosophy.

Layeekha Parveen Y
Faculty
Zoho School of Technology
Zoho School of Technology
Mathimithra thinks that good teaching techniques can make any subject interesting for students. She guides students through the complexities of backend development using her extensive knowledge and experience in server-side programming. She brings a genuine passion for teaching and commitment to excellence, as she aims to empower the next generation of developers by equipping them with the skills and insights needed to succeed in the fast-evolving tech industry.
Mahesh Aravinda
Faculty
School for Graduate Studies
Mahesh is a passionate software developer with over a decade of experience in technology. At Zoho Corp, he plays a key role in developing intuitive, user-focused software products. His enthusiasm for technology and knowledge-sharing naturally led him to Zoho Schools, where he got the opportunity to mentor aspiring developers. A true lifelong learner, Mahesh has a knack for breaking down complex concepts and making them both accessible and enjoyable for his students.
Mali
Faculty
School of Design
Mali, as he is fondly called, has been a part of Zoho Corp for more than a decade. He is passionate and meticulous about his work. He is a popular people manager and every design that he and his team produce has been welcomed as brilliant. He has an amazing eye for unique designs. This creative strategist loves photography and is adept at it. He always stays up to date about every current trend in design and photography. And, oh, yes, among the things he watches are watches! He possesses a truly enviable watch collection!
Mehala G
Faculty
Zoho School of Technology
Mehala began her Zoho journey by enrolling as a student at the Zoho School for Graduate Studies. After completing the three-month course, she had the opportunity to work as a Teaching Assistant at the Zoho School of Technology, where she could simultaneously learn and contribute. Eventually, she transitioned into a faculty role, focusing primarily on front-end technologies. Her main responsibilities include assisting students with their projects and helping in clearing their doubts, while also exploring new tools and technologies.

Nadimuthu G
Faculty
Zoho School for Graduate Studies
Having devoted over a decade to academia, as an educator, Nadimuthu is deeply passionate about inspiring students. An ardent learner, he takes pride in being open to learning anything from anyone. His extensive expertise covers a wide range of engineering fields. He is now dedicated to meticulously preparing the students for the crucial first years of their careers.

Prem Viswanathan
Faculty
Zoho School for Advanced Study
Prem is a faculty member at the Zoho School for Advanced Studies, where students explore multiple domains—an approach that deeply resonates with him. He was once a student at the same school and now has the joy of teaching in the very space that helped shape his journey. His interests lie at the intersection of what he fondly refers to as the trifecta of all business: Technology, Design, and Marketing. Naturally curious, he thrives on discovering the new, the unusual, and the slightly offbeat—especially when it comes to learning and exploring fresh paths.

Pushpa Jothi
Faculty
Zoho School of Technology
Pushpa Jothi holds a post graduate degree in the Mathematical Sciences. After completing the prerequisites to become a teacher, she joined a college in Mumbai as a professor of Mathematics, where she taught for four years. She is well-versed in English, Tamil, Hindi, and Marathi. Currently, she is teaching Mathematics at Zoho Schools. To keep her students engaged and active in class, she incorporates puzzles into her lessons. She joins Layeekha in training students to speak Tamil and Hindi. Pushpa is continuously adopting new technologies in her teaching practices. Outside of her professional life, she has a keen interest in crafts and jewelry making.
Rajaji K
Faculty
School of Design
A professional athlete turned teacher, he focuses on imparting not only design skills but also the discipline needed to imbibe excellence in employees. He specializes in simplifying complex subjects and making learning fun. When not in the classroom, you can find him learning about the various design and marketing trends shaping the future of this fast-changing world.
Roohi Fathima S
Faculty
School for Graduate Studies
Driven by her passion for teaching, Roohi transitioned from a successful 7-year career as a Software Developer at Zoho to join Zoho Schools as a faculty member. Roohi has an infectious exuberance and a natural ability to connect with students. Her vibrant personality extends beyond the classroom; If it is not her professional Bharatanatyam dancing that's getting her on stage all decked up, it will be the tradional Parai Drum performance that she dances with gay abandon.

Shreeram RT
Faculty
Zoho School for Advanced Study
Shreeram began his journey in machine learning research and has since explored a range of fields, from data science to design thinking and product development. A jack-of-all-trades with a deep-seated drive to explore, he enjoys learning new tools and technologies — not just for the sake of mastering them, but to find better ways to solve problems and explain ideas. His approach is simple: learn widely, build boldly, and share generously because the best way to grow is by helping others do the same.
Dr.Sujaritha C V
Faculty
Rural Outreach Team
Hang out with her for a couple of minutes and you’ll come back a refreshed person. Filled with amazing energy and a limitless zeal towards life, she brings all that and more to the training she imparts to her students. She is plays a dual role, balancing her time between the Zoho Community Team and the Zoho Schools Outreach team, travelling far and wide to spread the word. A can-do spirit with positive energy is an unbeatable combo. And that’s her forte! The bright smiles on the students’ faces stand testament to her exuberant personality and impeccable work ethic!
Swarna Bhuvaneshwari
Faculty
School of Business
Swarna joined Zoho Schools as a student trainee after graduating from a local public school. Spotted early for her skills in coordination, organization, and managerial skills, she was invited to join an exclusive group of faculties-in-training. And today, she is happy that she is able to give back to the very system that launched her career. She runs various programs for students, alumni, and employees to bolster their communication skills and English proficiency. She also conducts Zoho product technical deep-dives for the students of the School of Business. Her knowledge of Hindi has proved to be an unexpected bonanza as Zoho Schools ventures into teaching using vernacular languages other than Tamil, the local tongue.
Thamaraiselvam S
Faculty
School for Graduate Studies
Thamarai believes that any teacher can make a learner to like a subject only if they adopt the right practices. He believes a teacher's role is to be the bridge between the lesson and the learner, by communicating with authority, authenticity, and clarity. Being a passionate teacher, he aims to impart best-in-class training by inspiring learners through innovative delivery strategies. He comes with a rich mix of industry and academia experience.
Vanitha J
Faculty
School of Business
Vanitha is a curious marketer who believes that while knowledge can be converted into dollars, only intelligence can be transformed into true value. She counts herself as fortunate, having gained over 20 years of rich, real-time business experience in the service industry being in the right place at the right time among the right people. She aspired to build a product, be part of a team that manages products, and Zoho offered her that opportunity. Today, she interacts with future marketers from the Zoho Schools of Learning. Her vision is to nurture marketers who can create a self-sustainable society.
Yasodha Namasivayam
Faculty
School of Technology
Yasodha discovered her passion for teaching when she joined Zoho Schools in 2011, after a fruitful programming career with Infosys, spanning India and the US. The past decade, she has inspired students through her lively web technology classes, blending complex concepts with real-world project use cases. Guided by her teaching mantra — "Be sincere, be regular, and take interest in what you do; success will follow!" — she fosters a hands-on learning environment. Yasodha believes in first principles learning, conducting her classes by coding alongside students from the ground up and debugging with them as they progress.
Teaching Assistants

Abeer Suhail
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Business
Meet Abeer, whose journey flows from the heartlands of Uttar Pradesh to the heart of Zoho Schools. After two years of teaching in Delhi, she embarked on a new chapter in Tamil Nadu, joining the Zoho School of Business. She brings her nurturing spirit to life skills sessions, while at English meetups, she creates a space where students find their voice, turning hesitation into confidence with each passing week.

Aaron A
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Design
Aaron thrives on transforming ideas into intuitive designs that balance creativity and purpose. His passion for brainstorming and product research helps him excel at crafting user-centric solutions. He believes that design is a bridge between imagination and functionality achieved through collaboration and real world insights. "Innovation starts with understanding", he says... "Strive to go beyond the ordinary"!

Arunachalam R
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Technology
For him, life is just one big debugging session—filled with curiosity, discovery, and a touch of magic. Starting as a banker, he became a developer by passion, and today he is a Learner Teacher by profession. Challenges don’t intimidate him—they excite him. He strongly believes that a teacher is the only person who never stops learning—not just from their own mistakes, but from the questions, doubts, and struggles of their students. Ask him, “Do you know this?” and he’ll pause, think, and honestly say “No” if he doesn’t. But ask, “Can you build this?” and without hesitation, he’ll say, “Yes!”—because his greatest strength is his eagerness to learn, explore, and figure things out. He breaks, he fixes, he grows, and he enjoys every twist in this journey.

Edwin Appolin
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Design
Edwin Appolin is a design professional with a strong focus on transforming ideas into functional, innovative solutions. With expertise in product research, ideation, and visual storytelling, he specializes in crafting designs that prioritize user experience and seamlessly blend creativity with practicality. His proficiency in visual design enhances his ability to capture and communicate the essence of concepts, offering a unique perspective that informs and elevates his work. He views design as a collaborative process that integrates real-world insights to drive impactful outcomes. Guided by the principle that "true innovation begins with understanding," Edwin is committed to pushing boundaries and delivering exceptional design solutions.

Gokula Varna B S
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Technology
Gokula Varna is passionate about exploring diverse interests such as vocal music, art, and Mridangam. Throughout his schooling years and during his brief foray into philosophy as an undergraduate student, he has been shaped by the guidance of remarkable teachers and mentors. Gokula is deeply grateful to them and strives to mirror their ability to spark curiosity and a love for learning in others.

Gokula Varna B S
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Design
Moureesh approaches design as a harmonious blend of creativity and storytelling. He is thrilled by how simple animated shapes can convey powerful narratives thus proving that the most compelling communication often emerges from elegant simplicity. Beyond the classroom, he is passionate about photography, capturing meaningful moments that tell visual stories. As a keen learner, he tends to transform his creative vision into tangible reality through 3D designs he cooks up in tools like Blender and AfterEffects.
Mujamil S
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Technology
After completing her engineering degree, Mujamil had the opportunity to sign up as a trainee with the inaugural batch of the Zoho School for Graduate Studies. Upon completion of the program, she transitioned into the role of Teaching Assistant. Two years into the role, she continues to find endless opportunities to learn and explore. Her journey has profoundly transformed her perspectives about teaching. Mujamil primarily focuses on backend technologies, with a particular interest in Java.

Natarajan T
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Technology
An active individual with a passion for learning, Natarajan is always eager to stay motivated and inspire those around him. His journey started at the Zoho School for Graduate Studies where he was a natural at sharing knowledge with friends. This landed him a teaching role at The Zoho School of Technology, where he continues to grow, constantly learning new things, and taking joy in passing that knowledge to others. Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys playing a variety of indoor and outdoor games and capturing the beauty of nature through photography.

Surya B
Teaching Assistant
Zoho School of Technology
A commerce graduate with a specialization in computer applications, Surya's childhood fascination with video games sparked a lifelong passion for programming. His abiding interest in solving Rubik's cubes and Sudoku puzzles has honed Surya's strong analytical skills. Starting as a Teaching Assistant at the Zoho School of Technology in Chennai, he has deepened his understanding of programming, arriving at a fresh perspective, allowing the unlearning of many timeworn college-classroom concepts. Passionate about teaching, Surya aspires to remain a lifelong learner, constantly growing and evolving in the field.
Professors Emeriti

Rajendran Balasubramaniam
Professor Emeritus
School of Technology - Chennai
BR, as he was fondly called, was the founding Dean of Zoho Schools, from way back in 2005. He had been teaching Mathematics at a prestigious college in Madurai for more than 3 decades. A self-taught computer scientist, he switched to teaching Computer Science at an engineering college before joining Zoho to found the School! His devotion to training and dedication to the students have remained matchless! He constantly updated his skills according to the industry needs and remains a guardian angel guiding us with his insights even after his retirement earlier this year.

Praveen Madhavan
Professor Emeritus
School of Technology - Tenkasi
Praveen helped found Zoho Schools in Tenkasi. In a 5-year span under his leadership, Zoho Schools at Tenkasi grew from graduating a meagre 8 students per year to more than 30. Praveen modelled himself after Dronacharya and Pullela Gopichand; master coaches and teachers: demanding, nay exacting; preaching love through discipline. Praveen is spiritually inclined; when he is not listening to music or learning new technology, he can be found roaming the Himalayas, meditating and practising Yoga.

Late Dr.Anand Ramachandran
Professor Emeritus
School of Technology, Tenkasi
Anand has spent 32 years of his life in schools and colleges around the world, both as a student and as a teacher. He believes that a teacher's primary job is to inspire students, then, set them free and watch them create magic. He whiles away time by solving puzzles, admiring infographs of mathematical data, learning anything related to mathematics, collecting geek wisdom and day-dreaming.
HR & Admin
Prasanna P
Associate HR
Prasanna is a seasoned Human Resource specialist with expertise in POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment). A passionate advocate for learning and development, he is deeply involved in managing HR functions, particularly in onboarding and employee management throughout their journey—from entry to exit. With a keen interest in change management and conflict resolution, he dedicates himself to creating positive work environments and fostering continuous personal and professional growth. Guided by the belief that learning is a never-ending process, he seeks to learn from every experience and interaction, continually evolving in the HR field.
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