Learning has changed
from day-long training to half hour lessons, like cricket has gone from Tests
to T20’
Since he set up e-learning company KNOLSKAPE
in July 2008, Rajiv Jayaraman has worked with over 300 clients in 22
countries. With 125 employees in four countries and funding from Inventus
Capital Partners and The HR Fund, Jayaraman says there is more to achieve. He
tells TOI why he left Silicon Valley to start up in India.
You worked in
Silicon Valley at Oracle. Why did you leave and take the entrepreneurial
plunge?
My day job in R&D at Oracle excited me but it took too long to see the
fruits of my work. I dabbled in theatre and filmmaking, which gave me immediate
satisfaction. I wanted a blend of these worlds and took a break in 2007. I did
an MBA at INSEAD, and as part of the course, played a simulation game. I felt
alive as a learner, filled with curiosity. It was a powerful experience and it
was the blend of tech and storytelling that I was seeking. In 2008, I set up
KNOLSKAPE to offer talent transfor mation through experiential lear ning.
E-learning
has picked up pace in the last few years. What are the changes you have
observed in the last 10 years?
In 2008,
e-learning content was static and non-interactive. I knew this was not
sustainable. Then we saw the emergence of mobile learning, virtual and
augmented reality. What is important is that learners’ needs have changed.
Earlier, the company had control over content, how it is designed and
disseminated. That monopoly doesn’t exist anymore. Everyone has access to high
quality content. The modern learner is constantly distracted and doesn’t have
time for learning. We are looking at how learning can be made an integral part
of the daily schedule so one doesn’t have to take a detour.
There are
many players in this field. How do you differentiate yourself?
We have
created world-class simulations aligned to leadership and professional
development needs. Our omnichannel model gives us a unique play. The learner is
at the centre of our products and we create an ecosystem around the learner.
For instance, our video-based platform creates situations and gets learner
responses. We have attached an AI layer that helps us extract insights based on
15 parameters. The psychometric space has not seen much activity in the past
50-60 years. We are exploring whether it can be replaced with something more
intelligent and contextual and conduct psychometric assessments real time. It’s
also critical for the product to be scalable. Ability to scale experience is
crucial. Like cricket has transformed from five-day tests to T20, learning has
moved from day-long training to half-hour lessons. We need to accelerate
learning without sacrificing scale or experience.
How do you
compare the startup ecosystem in India and Silicon Valley?
I’ve had the
opportunity to work in India, Silicon Valley and Singapore. In Silicon Valley,
a few brilliant engineers from well-funded universities set up the likes of
Facebook and Google. Professors angel invested and helped them take it to a
proof-of-concept stage. VCs came in and large enterprises were willing to work
with small companies. These companies eventually grew to become public and
invested in educational institutions. This created an ecosystem. In Singapore,
they have taken the top-down approach. The government broadly decides which
sector will get impetus, funding and support. It is a carefully orchestrated
ecosystem. There is no right or wrong here. In India, there is a lot of
activity. There are accelerators and the government doing its bit. However, to
create something truly global, there is a missing link, which we have to figure
out.
Your wife
works with you at KNOLSKAPE. How does that work out? What do you do in your
free time?
Our areas
are mutually exclusive. She handles parts that I don’t have the aptitude for,
like finance, and I handle tech. Our worlds are almost separate. Now, she is
playing an active role in the content side. At home, we try not to discuss work
and we manage it. Post dinner, sometimes I use her as a sounding board because
she always has a well-thought-out answer to problems. I love reading. At any
point of time, I read four books. I enjoy spending time with my kids, playing
music with them. I used to be reluctant to travel but my family has slowly
drawn me to it.
What is your
advice to entrepreneurs?
It is
important to have an open mind. When you believe in something, there is
conviction and clarity in your head. When it meets reality, it works out
differently. Stay close to the problem, keep learning, spend time with the
customer and absorb as much as possible. Being an entrepreneur requires the
willingness to constantly lear n.
Source | Times of India | 14th January 2018
Regards
Prof. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library &
Information Science (NET Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge
Repository
Khaitan & Co
Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978
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