Hi, I am Gaurav.
I help proven, non-technical Founders & CXOs master the AI wave via my WaveCaptain program. I also guide driven Founders to become world-class CEOs via my 5D CEO Consulting. My approach is built on a foundation of starting 321 Education at 25 and scaling it to impact 300,000 students across 2,000 schools. Since then, I have also guided over 1,000 leaders from 200+ companies across 10+ countries through my Leadership Academies.
My journey
Pre 321 Education
From when I was 11/12 years old, I started wondering: “What is the purpose of life & what should I do with mine?”. I struggled to find good answers around me so I started reading. I read philosophy, history, poetry, biographies & anything that I felt might help me answer these questions.
But I didn’t find what I was looking for and my teenage years & early 20s were a difficult period. Post school, I got my engineering degree & started my career as a programmer at Accenture.
Then one day I saw an ad in the newspaper. It was for the first batch of Teach for India Fellowship. I immediately quit my job & joined it, incidentally as the first fellow ever.
The first day is still fresh in my memory. A 100 people, all misfits in the conventional world, all with a burning desire to do something for the country.
That’s when I realised what I had been searching for, for all these years: A sense of purpose for something bigger than me.
For 2 years I taught in low income schools across Mumbai & Pune. This experience completely changed my life trajectory.
321 Education
Immediately after the fellowship, aged 25, I started my own organization: 321 Education
First, we started our own school for children in the Mumbai slums.
Then, we scaled our programs to over 2000 schools, 25,000 educators & 300,000 students.
A 2019 independent evaluation showed: we were improving student learning 3 to 4 times compared to the control group.
Over this period our team grew to ~100 people and I raised ₹ 30+ crores for the organization through donations & revenue.
All this made 321 Education, one of the biggest & most successful education not for profits in India.
Click here for our awards & media coverage.
Post 321 Education
After a decade of leading 321 Education, in 2021, I transitioned to Board Chair and dedicated myself to working directly with leaders.
Through my 5D CEO Consulting & Leadership Academies, I've guided over 1,000 Founders and CXOs from 200+ companies & 10+ countries, helping them scale their ventures and their leadership.
Throughout this journey, I've seen how accomplished leaders struggle with each disruptive wave.
Today's wave—AI—is the biggest yet, representing both the greatest challenge and opportunity of our time.
This led me to create WaveCaptain, where I combine my technology background, expertise in designing transformative learning experiences, and deep understanding of senior leadership pressures. It’s a high-touch 12-week journey where I guide proven, non-technical Founders and CXOs to master the AI wave and become confident WaveCaptains. If this resonates, let’s talk.
Me beyond work
Geography
I was born in the beautiful city of Lucknow, known for its great food & polite language. My dad died when I was 1 and my single mother brought me up. For her, the only appropriate adjective is: ‘Remarkable’. We lived with my grandparents in a 15+ person joint family. It was a unique experience.
Some Indian cities I have lived in: Solan, Hyderbad, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi & Mumbai. When I was starting 321 Education, I spent a year studying the best schools in the world. Travelled across India and also visited schools in Finland, USA, UK, Estonia, France, Chile, Malaysia & China. I finally settled down in Mumbai 15 years ago. It’s a crazy & unique city that was kind to me. It gave me some of my best friends & many great memories.
Then in the middle of the Covid pandemic I took 3 life altering decisions.
First, I decided to step down as CEO of 321 Education.
Second, I decided to get married.
Third, I decided to move to Goa.
So that’s where I am in life right now. Living in the most beautiful of places, with my amazing wife and embarking on my life’s next phase.
Hobbies
I have always loved everything water, especially water sports. The journey started with swimming (learnt it as a kid). Then I discovered the wonderful world of diving. I got my basic certificate in Andaman, advanced in Malaysia & since then have dived in various places in India, Kenya & Indonesia (Raja Ampat was out of this world). Have even dabbled in surfing but haven’t gone beyond the beginner stage.
Beyond water, Books have been a big part of my life. Childhood was fiction (mainly detective stories) & teenage onwards was only non-fiction. In the last few years I have rediscovered the joy of fiction. Currently I am on a sci-fi binge. Reading a mix of current hits & past classics (please share recommendations).
To watch, I can never get enough of shows & movies about scams. Ever since I watched the Enron documentary in college (Smartest guys in the room) I have had an odd fascination with understanding scams. Its one of the ways I unwind: reading & watching everything I can about the latest & past scams. If you know of any good ones or are planning to commit one, do let me know 😉.
On lazy Sundays, for me, few things can beat board games at a scenic Goan cafe. I love playing competitive ones with friends and co-operative ones with my wife (only way to maintain peace in the realm). I enjoy discovering new ones almost as much as mastering old ones.