The GTS team is a small group of individuals from various backgrounds dedicated to a common goal:
to make inspiring, high quality media for children in India which has a large impact on their lives.
Lisa Heydlauff
Director & Founder
lisa@goingtoschool.com
Lisa believes that our imaginations can change the world. She grew up in England, Canada and the US, and now she calls India her home.
Going to School in India was inspired by 7-year-old Oliver who asked Lisa, his teacher, “What is it like to go to school in India?” She promised that if she ever got the chance, she would find out.
B.M. Kamath
Art Director
bmkamat@gmail.com
kamath@goingtoschool.com
B.M. Kamath is a graphic designer, sculptor, painter, illustrator and animator who lives and works in New Delhi, India. His paint brush brings magic to every GTS project - whether it’s the Going to School book or the Girl Star series. In between projects, he paints on his walls, washes them white and starts again.
Amina Kidwai
Project Developer &
HR Co-ordinator
amina@goingtoschool.com
Amina received her masters in Psychology from Delhi University. She is the anchor of GTS, and is the winner of the: Most-Efficient-Multitasker-who-never-gets- Hassled Award.
PS: Her petname is SUPER-MINA!
Mahamaya Navlakha
Project Developer &
Story Writer
mahamaya@goingtoschool.com
Mahamaya (Maha for short) began her career working with displaced communities in post riot Gujarat after which she went on to receive her Masters degree in Social Development from University of Sussex.
Maha is a trooper. When she starts a project she sees it through to the finish, and she doesn’t stop until it is done. She is also always the first to ask: ‘So, when is the next cake coming?’ or ‘Shouldn’t we be having ice-cream today?’
Jyoti Somani
Project Developer &
Story Writer
jyoti@goingtoschool.com
Jyoti wants to see the world and more. She started off with a degree in literature, pursued a course in mass communication and thereafter has been traveling for work and pleasure. She works with the people she gets along best with – kids! – and believes that any long lasting change has to begin at the beginning.
Mithun T.M
Graphic Designer
mithun@goingtoschool.com
Mithun T.M. is an artist and graphic designer. He is from Kerala and has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA), Mysore. Mithun loves colors and wherever he is, you will find crayons, water colors, brushes and a bowl of water. ‘Freedom to create’ is his motto.
Upasana Pathak
Administrative Leader
upasana@goingtoschool.com
Upsana Pathak makes sure that the office and everyone in it, are well organized. If you want our books or films, she is the one to go to! Upasana used to work for Citi Financial but always wanted to explore the social sector and she found a fit with GTS. She is a trained folk dancer and can speak five languages.
Somesh Kumar
Graphic Designer and Artist
somesh@goingtoschool.com
When Somesh was 5 years old, he drew a sunflower growing out of a pot and has not stopped drawing since then. He says that there is nothing you can hold onto and that all you can do is evolve with the world around you. Somesh lives for the joy of creation. On his work station you will find sketches and illustrations covering the walls around him. He is a Maggi-maker par excellence and to unwind plays football with Lucy.
Lucy Lou
Princess of the Isle of Skool
Lucy is a naughty little diva who likes to skateboard around the office and play with her rubber chicken.
Aditi Anand
Creative Writer
aditi@goingtoschool.com
Aditi moved to America when she was very young and six months ago she moved back to India. Why? Because she wanted to make exciting media for social change. Whether through film or writing, Aditi loves telling quirky stories. She studied anthropology at Yale and previously worked in public policy. She lives for travel and street food, and particularly travel that involves street food.
Anand Prasad
Office Manager
anand@goingtoschool.com
Anand is a man of many talents and is universally acknowledged as the most resourceful person in the office. Whether it’s driving the GTS staff through the jam-packed Delhi roads, or finding the perfect person to run an errand ... Anand always gets the job done with a smile.
Jeevan Minz
GTS Wellbeing
Jeevan pampers everyone in the office, and is incredible at creating efficient systems to make GTS run smoothly. Whether it’s making sure everyone gets the hot beverage of their choice in the morning, or ensuring that Lucy is happy … Jeevan has it all under control.
