The GTS team is a small group of individuals from various backgrounds dedicated to a common goal:
to make inspiring, high quality media for children in India which has a large impact on their lives.
Lisa Heydlauff
Director & Founder
lisa@goingtoschool.com
Lisa believes that our imaginations can change the world. She grew up in England, Canada and the US, and now she calls India her home.
Going to School in India was inspired by 7-year-old Oliver who asked Lisa, his teacher, “What is it like to go to school in India?” She promised that if she ever got the chance, she would find out.
B.M. Kamath
Art Director
bmkamat@gmail.com
kamath@goingtoschool.com
B.M. Kamath is a graphic designer, sculptor, painter, illustrator and animator who lives and works in New Delhi, India. His paint brush brings magic to every GTS project - whether it’s the Going to School book or the Girl Star series. In between projects, he paints on his walls, washes them white and starts again.
Amina Kidwai
HR Co-ordinator
Project Developer &
Research: Children’s Workshops
amina@goingtoschool.com
Amina received her masters in Psychology from Delhi University. She is the anchor of GTS, and is the winner of the: Most-Efficient-Multitasker-who-never-gets- Hassled Award.
PS: Her petname is SUPER-MINA!
Smriti Chanchani
Project Developer &
Research: Children’s Workshops
Illustration & Design
smriti@goingtoschool.com
Smriti loves to tell stories through pictures and she received her diploma in Communication Design from the Srishti School of Art & Design in Bangalore. She also holds the record for being the shortest person in the office, although in college her nickname was "Dada" which means "Big Boss".
Mahamaya Navlakha
Project Developer &
Research: Children’s Workshops
mahamaya@goingtoschool.com
Mahamaya (Maha for short) began her career working with displaced communities in post riot Gujarat after which she went on to receive her Masters degree in Social Development from University of Sussex.
Maha is a trooper. When she starts a project she sees it through to the finish, and she doesn’t stop until it is done. She is also always the first to ask: ‘So, when is the next cake coming?’ or ‘Shouldn’t we be having ice-cream today?’
Jyoti Somani
Research: Children’s Workshops
jyoti@goingtoschool.com
Jyoti wants to see the world and more. She started off with a degree in literature, pursued a course in mass communication and thereafter has been traveling for work and pleasure. She works with the people she gets along best with – kids! – and believes that any long lasting change has to begin at the beginning.
Jyot Chadha
Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Be! Fund
jyot@goingtoschool.com
Jyot Chadha is an investment banker who has founded and leads the Be! Fund. Jyot has studied at the Modern School, Vasant Vihar, Delhi and Mount Holyoke College in the USA. A year ago she decided to explore social impact investing. Jyot likes finding new meanings to old words and with wit, is a perfectionist.
Mithun T.M
Graphic Designer
mithun@goingtoschool.com
Amina received her masters in Psychology from Delhi University. She is the anchor of GTS, and is the winner of the: Most-Efficient-Multitasker-who-never-gets- Hassled Award.
PS: Her petname is SUPER-MINA!
Upasana Pathak
Administrative Leader
upasana@goingtoschool.com
Upsana Pathak makes sure that the office and everyone in it, are well organized. If you want our books or films, she is the one to go to! Upasana used to work for Citi Financial but always wanted to explore the social sector and she found a fit with GTS. She is a trained folk dancer and can speak five languages.
Lucy Lou
Princess of the Isle of Skool
Lucy is a naughty little diva who likes to skateboard around the office and play with her rubber chicken.
