What Makes a School Truly Great? | Exclusive Interview | School Correspondent Speaks | Remira Talks

Dr. Anisha Shanmugam is an educator, researcher, and school leader whose journey reflects a unique blend of commerce, management, and a deep commitment to educational transformation. She is the great-granddaughter of the legendary filmmaker and philanthropist A.V. Meiyappan, whose vision was rooted not only in cinema but also in institution-building and service to society. While the family’s contribution to Indian cinema is widely recognised, its commitment to education spans generations. Today, Anisha continues that legacy, dedicating her career to advancing educational excellence and impact A proud alumna of Church Park, Chennai, she was the school topper in both the Class 10 and Class 12 Board Examinations and was awarded the Best Outgoing Student Award, recognising her academic excellence, leadership, and overall contribution to school life. Academically accomplished throughout college at Stella Maria, she was equally passionate about leadership and community service, serving as an NSS Volunteer and President of the Rotaract Club. Following a brief stint as a Junior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Company, she pursued her Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance and Management at the University of Bristol, UK. On returning to Chennai, she joined her family’s school, where she discovered her true calling in education. This inspired her to pursue a PhD in Management from the University of Bristol through university scholarship, with a focus on education. Her doctoral research explored teaching and learning practices in government schools across Tamil Nadu, deepening her commitment to improving educational outcomes. She has also worked as a Senior Researcher at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), contributing to projects focused on education and sustainable development. Today, she continues her family’s educational legacy of over 60 years as the Correspondent of AVM Rajeswari – The School, a CBSE school in Chennai. Through her leadership, she seeks to combine academic excellence, innovation, and holistic development to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. Outside of work, she enjoys cinema, dance, spirituality, energy healing, and spending time with dogs. ______________________________________________________________________ #avmrajeshwari #schoolleadership #educationmatters #inspiringeducators #studentsuccess #schoolcorrespondent #interviewseries #leadershipineducation #futureready #educationjourney