Introduction

Smita Deorah is an Indian entrepreneur, education innovator, and the co-founder and co-CEO of LEAD School, one of India’s leading school edtech companies. She has become a trailblazer in reshaping how millions of children in affordable private schools access quality learning, blending technology with strong pedagogy to bridge education gaps across India.

Early Life and Background

Details about Smita’s early childhood remain private, but her professional and academic path reflects a blend of analytical skills, discipline, and a passion for social change. With a background in commerce and finance, she cultivated a career that combined corporate excellence with a deep social conscience.

Corporate Career at Procter & Gamble

Before venturing into education, Smita spent nearly a decade at Procter & Gamble (P&G), working in both India and Singapore. She held leadership roles in finance, treasury, and strategic planning. Her years at P&G equipped her with international exposure, financial expertise, and a sharp understanding of organizational growth—skills she would later apply to the education sector.

Turning Point – The Move into Education

Smita’s shift from the corporate world to education was inspired by her concern for early childhood learning in underserved communities. She co-founded Sparsh, an NGO that developed a “pre-school in a box” model for Mumbai’s Anganwadis. This initiative gave teachers structured tools and methods to improve the quality of early education, laying the foundation for her lifelong mission: providing equal access to quality education.

Founding LEAD School

In 2012, Smita and her husband, Sumeet Mehta, co-founded LEAD School in Mumbai. They opened their first school near Ahmedabad with just 14 students, guided by a bold vision: to bring high-quality, affordable education to children in affordable private schools (APS) across India.

At LEAD, Smita took charge of curriculum development, teacher training, and pedagogy, ensuring that the system was research-driven and outcome-focused. Unlike typical edtech companies, LEAD positioned itself as a partner to schools, providing them with technology, training, and structured learning programs.

Innovations in Education

Smita spearheaded the creation of the ELGA (English Language and General Awareness) program, which treats English as a skill rather than a subject. This approach helped children, especially from non-English-speaking backgrounds, to quickly catch up and improve their fluency.

Her work ensured that LEAD’s system combined teacher empowerment, digital tools, and personalized learning, making it one of the most impactful education solutions in India.

Growth and Success of LEAD School

Under Smita’s leadership, LEAD scaled rapidly:

• By 2025, it served 8,500+ schools, reaching 3.8 million students and 60,000 teachers across more than 20 Indian states.
• In 2022, LEAD became a unicorn after raising $100 million in Series E funding, valuing the company at $1.1 billion.
• In 2023, LEAD expanded further by acquiring Pearson India’s K-12 business, adding thousands of schools to its network.

Awards and Recognition

Smita Deorah’s contributions to education and entrepreneurship have been widely recognized:

• Honored with the “Woman Ahead” award at the ET Startup Awards.
• Featured among India’s top women entrepreneurs.
• Invited as a speaker at global platforms including the ASU+GSV Summit and WISE Qatar.

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Smita aims for LEAD to reach 25 million students in 60,000 schools by 2026. Her vision is to build a sustainable ecosystem that ensures affordable private schools can provide world-class education at scale, closing the learning gap between urban and rural India.

Personal Life

Smita is married to Sumeet Mehta, her co-founder at LEAD School. Together, they share not only a business mission but also a passion for creating meaningful social impact through education.

Legacy

Smita Deorah’s journey from finance professional to education entrepreneur highlights the power of vision and purpose. By combining technology with research-backed pedagogy, she has transformed the way millions of children learn in India’s affordable private schools. Her legacy is one of innovation, inclusion, and impact—a true example of how one individual’s commitment can spark a movement for educational equity.