Turning a lifelong passion for learning into transformative institutions!

The first time she stepped into a classroom as a teacher, she felt a mix of excitement and responsibility. Education was more than a profession for her; it was a calling formed by years of observing a visionary at work. Dr. Nafeesa Ahmed grew up watching her father, Dr. Nissar Ahmed, build a foundation that would touch thousands of lives. His dedication to expanding educational opportunities left a mark that would guide her own journey.

Soon after college, she joined the family’s legacy with the encouragement of her father. What started as a continuation of tradition transformed into a personal mission. Over 16 years, she has grown into a leader who believes in creating spaces where knowledge meets empathy. Her institutions strive to nurture curiosity, resilience, and critical thinking, ensuring students are prepared for more than just exams; they are prepared for life.

Dr. Nafeesa’s approach blends the values of the past with the needs of the present. She focuses on fostering innovation without losing the essence of time-tested principles. For her, education is not only about academic excellence but about developing individuals who can contribute meaningfully to society.

Every day, she draws inspiration from her father’s example and her own belief that learning can transform communities. She sees classrooms as places of possibility, where young minds are encouraged to explore, question, and grow. In carrying forward a family legacy, Dr. Nafeesa is building more than schools; she is creating environments that empower students to become thoughtful, compassionate, and capable leaders of tomorrow.

Let us learn more about her journey:

Family Values That Shape a Vision

The values that have most profoundly shaped Dr. Nafeesa’s vision as Director of the Presidency Group of Institutions stem directly from her father, Dr. Nissar Ahmed. His belief that education must empower every child, regardless of background, has been the cornerstone of her own philosophy. From him, she inherited the values of integrity, empathy, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence.

He taught her to give selflessly, to deliver nothing short of the best, and to treat every individual with equal respect and dignity. Watching him build the Presidency Group from humble beginnings instilled in her a deep understanding that true leadership is a blend of purpose and compassion.

These lived experiences have profoundly influenced the vision she continues to advance, one that carries forward his legacy while reimagining education through innovation, inclusivity, and global relevance. Her family’s enduring values inspire her each day to create institutions that nurture ethical, empathetic, and future-ready learners for a rapidly evolving world.

Shaping Educational Leadership Through Diverse Learning

Dr. Nafeesa’s academic journey across literature, management, and international education has profoundly shaped her approach to educational leadership. Her study of literature instilled empathy, communication skills, and emotional intelligence, qualities essential for understanding people and nurturing inclusive learning communities.

Management education honed her abilities in strategic thinking, innovation, and organizational leadership, while exposure to international education broadened her perspective through global best practices and cross-cultural insights.

Together, these disciplines have formed her belief that effective educational leadership is a balance of vision and compassion, where creativity meets strategy. This multidisciplinary foundation enables her to lead with adaptability, insight, and purpose, equipping both institutions and learners to excel in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly evolving global education landscape.

Leading the Transition from Face-to-Face to Online Learning

The greatest challenge Dr. Nafeesa encountered during the transition from face-to-face to online learning was maintaining engagement and emotional connection while ensuring continuity in education.

Many teachers initially struggled to adapt to digital platforms, and several students faced accessibility and motivation issues. To address this, she implemented intensive faculty training, redesigned lessons for virtual delivery, and built strong emotional and academic support systems for both teachers and learners.

This experience deepened her understanding of resilience as adaptability grounded in empathy. It involves transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. Leading through this unprecedented shift taught her that true resilience in education comes from combining compassion with creativity, and that clear communication, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose are essential to thriving in times of uncertainty.

Balancing Legacy and Innovation

Balancing legacy and innovation has been both an honour and a responsibility. Dr. Nafeesa’s father, Dr. Nissar Ahmed, founded the Presidency Group of Institutions on the timeless values of integrity, inclusion, and educational excellence. To honour that legacy, she strives to preserve its spirit while evolving its vision for a new era. She believes that change is inevitable, and evolution, not disruption, is the key to sustainable progress.

In this spirit, she actively encourages innovation through AI integration, global collaborations, and sustainability-driven initiatives, ensuring the Group remains at the forefront of educational advancement. Every reform she leads is deeply rooted in her father’s philosophy yet reimagined to meet the demands of today’s learners and tomorrow’s world. To her, honouring his legacy means allowing it to grow, guided always by vision, courage, and compassion.

Equal Opportunity in Diversity in Education

Dr. Nafeesa defines “Equal Opportunity in Diversity” as ensuring that every learner, regardless of background, gender, or ability, has equal access to quality education and opportunities for growth. At the Presidency Group of Institutions, she brings this philosophy to life through scholarships, inclusive admissions, and differentiated learning support. The institution actively promotes gender equity, inclusive education, and social-emotional learning, while celebrating cultural diversity through global programmes and community initiatives.

She emphasizes that teachers continuously engage in professional development to understand and respond to varied learning needs, ensuring that every child feels seen, valued, and empowered. For her, this principle extends beyond policy and reflects a mindset and mission to nurture compassionate, confident, and capable individuals who flourish in a respectful and equitable learning environment.

Leadership Principles for Growing Elite Institutions

At Harvard, Dr. Nafeesa honed leadership principles that continue to guide her work at the Presidency Group of Institutions. The most impactful was adaptive leadership, the ability to balance innovation with tradition while navigating change effectively.

She also embraced data-driven decision-making, leveraging measurable insights to strengthen accountability and outcomes. Harvard emphasized empathy and emotional intelligence as cornerstones of effective leadership, reminding her that growth stems from trust and collaboration.

The concept of distributed leadership, empowering others to take ownership, shaped her approach to leading a large educational network. These principles collectively reinforced her belief that great institutions grow through vision, teamwork, and continuous learning.

Blending Innovation with Holistic Learning

At the Presidency Group of Institutions, staying ahead means blending innovation with holistic education. They have integrated AI-driven, experiential, and competency-based learning aligned with NEP 2020, fostering creativity and critical thinking. Teachers undergo continuous training to adopt new global pedagogies and technology-based tools.

While innovation defines their approach, emotional well-being, ethics, and the arts remain central to their philosophy. Through Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), leadership programmes, and entrepreneurship initiatives, students gain confidence, empathy, and purpose. By combining cutting-edge pedagogy with value-based education, they prepare future-ready learners who are skilled, compassionate, and socially responsible global citizens.

Redefining Success in Education

For Dr. Nafeesa, true success in education extends beyond awards and recognition; it lies in the impact created and the lives transformed. Every time a student discovers their purpose, a teacher feels inspired, or a community grows through education, that is real success.

Being recognized as an Education Icon is an honour, but for her, it represents a responsibility to lead with greater purpose. Success means fostering environments where curiosity thrives, values guide ambition, and education becomes a catalyst for empowerment. At the Presidency Group of Institutions, success is measured not by milestones but by the difference made in shaping future-ready, compassionate learners.

Inspiring Educators Through Empathy and Collaboration

Motivating educators during challenging times requires empathy, trust, and a shared purpose. Dr. Nafeesa leads with transparency and encouragement, ensuring that every teacher feels valued and heard. Regular communication, professional development workshops, and mentorship sessions help maintain high morale while equipping educators with new tools and strategies.

At the Presidency Group of Institutions, the focus is on collaborative leadership, creating spaces where educators can share ideas, celebrate small achievements, and draw collective strength. Public recognition of effort fosters pride and unity. Dr. Nafeesa emphasizes that challenges serve as stepping stones to innovation. The team remains motivated by concentrating on a shared mission: forming confident and compassionate learners.

Bridging Global Educational Divides Through Technology

Technology holds the power to bridge global educational divides by making learning accessible, personalized, and inclusive. AI-driven tools, virtual classrooms, and multilingual platforms can provide quality education to learners regardless of geography or background.

Realizing this vision requires overcoming key challenges, especially the digital divide. Leaders must ensure equitable access to devices, connectivity, and digital literacy while also prioritizing data privacy, content integrity, and teacher readiness.

Technology serves as an enabler of human connection rather than a replacement. When guided by empathy, inclusivity, and ethical leadership, it becomes a powerful equalizer, transforming education into a universal right and empowering every learner to thrive in an interconnected world.

Leadership Through Challenges

One of the greatest tests of her leadership came during a period of organizational uncertainty. Navigating that phase required balancing empathy with decisiveness while keeping the team motivated and aligned with their shared goals. She learned that effective leadership is less about control and more about connection, listening, communicating, and empowering others to find solutions collectively.

That experience redefined her approach, teaching her that resilience grows from adaptability and that challenges serve as catalysts for growth. It strengthened her belief that transparency, collaboration, and optimism are the cornerstones of trust during difficult times. True leadership, she realized, is the ability to turn adversity into an opportunity for transformation and collective progress.

A Vision for Educational Excellence

Dr. Nafeesa’s greatest desire for the Presidency Group of Institutions (PGI) is to see it continue as a beacon of innovation, inclusivity, and excellence, an institution that not only imparts knowledge but also shapes character and purpose. She envisions PGI leading India’s educational transformation through global partnerships, AI-integrated learning, and sustainability-driven initiatives.

For the broader education ecosystem, her aspiration is to see a future where learning is equitable, technology-enabled, and grounded in strong human values. She hopes education continues to nurture creativity, empathy, and resilience, empowering every child, regardless of background, to dream boldly, think independently, and contribute meaningfully to a more compassionate and progressive world.

Leading Through Transitions in IB Programmes

The most challenging transition across IB programmes for Dr. Nafeesa was maintaining a unified philosophy while adapting to the distinct demands of each stage, PYP, MYP, and DP. Each programme called for specific pedagogy, assessment models, and faculty expertise.

She observed that alignment through collaboration is vital. Building a unified vision, fostering teacher training, and encouraging open communication ensured continuity in learning. This experience reinforced that leadership in education requires adaptability, empathy, and strategic planning. It taught her that transitions, though complex, present opportunities to refine systems, strengthen faculty synergy, and create a seamless, globally relevant learning journey for every student.

Influencing Global Education Beyond Academics

Dr. Nafeesa’s role in developing global education extends beyond academics; it is about cultivating empathy, inclusion, and global citizenship. She envisions education as a bridge connecting cultures and values, preparing learners to think critically, act ethically, and lead with compassion.

At the Presidency Group of Institutions, she strives to integrate technology, sustainability, and human-centered learning to create equitable access for all. The challenge lies in balancing innovation with inclusivity, ensuring education remains transformative, not transactional.

Her mission is to empower students to be lifelong learners and responsible global citizens who do not simply adapt to the future; they help form it.

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