When Shantanu and I enrolled in the “Digital Transformation for Social Impact” course by ILSS in September 2024, we carried with us a decade of pride in our in-person teaching workshops. Aavishkaar’s identity was deeply rooted in the face-to-face connections we built with teachers across the country. The thought of adding a fully digital solution seemed not just daunting but almost contradictory to what made us special.
“But what if we lose the very essence of Aavishkaar in this digital shift?” This question lingered in our minds as we started the course, a reflection of our deep-seated skepticism.
Looking back now, I smile at our initial hesitation. What we didn’t realize then was that digital transformation isn’t just about converting physical content into digital formats—it’s about reimagining possibilities and expanding your organizational identity rather than replacing it.
The Awakening
The ILSS course with the most supportive team – Anirban, Roohi & Shraddha, the rigorous cohort, and Manmeet as our mentor, didn’t just teach us technical skills. It opened our eyes to what was possible. Each session peeled back another layer of limiting beliefs about what we could achieve. We began to see technology not as a substitute for our in-person approach but as an extension of our mission—a way to reach women we might never have accessed otherwise.
After every session, Shantanu and I would excitedly share our reflections with Sandhya – who always was a cheer-leader and also Sarit – who was still a skeptic. These weren’t just information downloads but genuine moments of collective imagination. “What if a woman in a remote area could become a Math educator without traveling for training?”
The PitchFest preparation transformed vague ideas into concrete possibilities. With Manmeet and Sandhya’s guidance, we weren’t just creating slides—we were crystallizing a vision. When we were selected as one of the six finalists, it wasn’t just validation from the jury. It was affirmation that our decades of expertise could find new expression in the digital realm.
The Ripple Effect
What began as a professional development course for two team members evolved into something much more profound. While we had the educational content and vision, Suren & Manmeet’s experience helped us navigate the complex decisions around platform selection, user experience design, and technical architecture. They pushed us to think beyond features to consider the entire user journey, constantly asking, “How will this feel for a woman with limited tech experience in a remote village?” By January 2025, our digital transformation journey had permeated every corner of Aavishkaar.
I remember walking into the newly set up media room and feeling a surge of emotion seeing team members who were also skeptics like us now enthusiastically recording content for our online course. Nehal’s dedication to understanding the platform and ensuring participant success exemplified how individual team members grew through this process, developing skills they never anticipated needing.
I think we were also able to make Sarit believe in us and the product a little 😊
Transformation of People, Not Just Products
The most beautiful aspect of our journey wasn’t the 6-week Numeracy course we created—though we’re immensely proud of it, it was witnessing the personal and professional growth of our team.
Team meetings transformed from discussions about logistical challenges of in-person workshops to creative brainstorming sessions about improving user experience and expanding our digital reach. People who once defined themselves by their classroom presence were discovering new dimensions of their professional identities.
Our organizational culture shifted subtly but significantly. We became more open to experimentation, more comfortable with iteration, more resilient in the face of technical challenges. The language of “cohorts,” “user journeys,” and “engagement metrics” became part of our everyday conversations.
Lessons from Our Journey
If I were to distill what we’ve learned about digital transformation, it would be this:
- Digital transformation begins with a mental shift, not a technological one. The hardest barriers to overcome are in our minds.
- The greatest transformations happen in the people driving the change. The 6-week course is just the visible output of a deeper organizational metamorphosis.
- The process of creation matters as much as the final product. Each step of our journey shaped not just what we built but who we became.
- Digital solutions don’t replace human connections—they extend them. Our mission remained the same; only our methods evolved.
Looking Forward
Today, as I see enrollment numbers growing for our digital program, I no longer worry about losing Aavishkaar’s essence. Instead, I see our essence being amplified and reaching places we never could before.
Our vision of having one woman math educator in every village and urban ward of India feels more achievable than ever. What once seemed like an impossible dream now feels like an inevitable outcome if we continue on this path.
Digital transformation didn’t change who we are—it revealed who we could become. And that revelation continues to unfold, one digital module, one enrolled educator, one transformed team member at a time.
The journey that began with two skeptical participants in a course has blossomed into an organizational renaissance. And we’re just getting started.
– By Prapti, COO
