The Educator at Byju's

From being a hands-on teacher to spearheading content curation post Byju’s online foray, and now heading all its departments, co-founder Divya Gokulnath has been instrumental in shaping India’s mostvaluable edtech start-up.

- ASMITA DEY

A MOTHER OF TWO, Divya Gokulnath doesn’t have time to binge-watch Neflix or Amazon Prime. The lights are never really offat her workstation. She and her husband Byju Raveendran end up discussing work even during their free time. “We cannot afford to switch off,” says Gokulnath with a smile. But the 35-year-old co-founder makes sure she keeps 30 minutes of the day for herself, largely for exercising — swimming or cycling. “It helps me think deeply, rejuvenate and refresh. Other than that, I spend a lot of time with my children. That’s also a very big stress buster,” she adds.

From draping a saree at 21 to deliver her first lecture to a class of 100 students back in 2008 — the saree was a sartorial ploy to look mature — to co-building Byju’s into the $22-billion edtech start-up that it is today, the journey has been tough, but fulfilling, though certainly not easy for someone who had no inclination to pursue a career in entrepreneurship. “I never knew that I will be a businesswoman,” says Gokulnath.

Seven years back when Byju’s forayed into online, edtech as a concept was hardly recognised in India. The company had to create a lot of awareness and educate the market, recalls Gokulnath.

$22 BILLION Byju’s current valuation

$4 BILLION Funding till date

65% YoY rise in operating income in FY20 at ₹2,110 crore

150% YoY increase in net profit in FY20 at ₹51 crore