(February 17, 2026) From her growing-up years to her marriage and beyond, cricket has been a constant in the life of Fatema Agarkar. Her father, brother, and cousin — all passionate and talented cricketers made a mark in the world of cricket. Her marriage to top Team India cricketer Ajit Agarkar — the current BCCI chief selector who represented India in more than 200 international matches across all formats ensured that cricket remained an integral part of her life. Despite growing up and living amidst sportspersons, she was never really into sports, though she fully understands its importance and the positive impact it can have on shaping the lives of youngsters.
But Fatema too is at the top of her game, just in a different field — that of education. Having launched three educational startups, her passion for teaching and learning has defined the different roles she has crafted as an edupreneur, educator, and mentor over the last two decades. “I am actively working towards setting up a sports-focused school, integrating academics with athletic excellence,” informs Fatema, highlighting the importance of sports integration in the school curriculum as she settles down for a chat with Global Indian.
As an educationist and lifelong learner, Fatema — the founder of Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE) has come a long way in intertwining modern methods of learning, teaching, and customizing education as per students’ intellectual needs, thus eradicating stress that stems from the education system.
With three educational startups and ACE, Fatema has worked across the entire spectrum from playgroup to high school, creating lesson plans, SOPs, financial models, and mentoring educators directly. “My inner calling was always education. I equipped myself with formal teaching qualifications to ensure that every institution or model I built was academically sound, financially viable, legally compliant, and administratively robust,” says the UK-educated Fatema, who was adjudged as one of EducationWorld’s Top 50 Educators (2020) and has been appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club.
Startups and ACE
Fatema’s journey as an edupreneur started with her first venture, which was rooted in early childhood education, focusing on developmentally appropriate, stress-free learning environments and strong foundational systems. This was followed by her second startup in the K–12 space, where she worked closely with promoters and trusts to conceptualise, launch, and stabilise schools, contributing across academics, governance, financial planning, compliance, and leadership structures.
The third startup evolved as a customised education solutions platform, supporting existing institutions in pedagogy enhancement, teacher mentoring, leadership development, and academic transformation. “Each startup addressed a distinct gap in the ecosystem and together shaped what is now the Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE),” says Fatema, a recipient of several honours, including the Indian Achiever’s Award (2021).
Vision to execution
Speaking of ACE, Fatema says it is a comprehensive education consultancy that partners with boards and leadership teams to build institutions from vision to execution. “Through ACE, I have been involved in setting up close to 50 preschools and K–12 institutions, including a school for children with special learning needs,” says the edupreneur. A natural risk-taker, Fatema focuses on developing innovative educational modules, and her in-depth academic expertise truly defines her ceaseless passion.
Mumbaikar
Fatema grew up in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, in a close-knit family of four. Her father, Moize Ghadially, a double master’s degree-holder, owns Cambridge Time Spares, which deals in watch and jewellery tools. The company was launched by Moize’s father, the late Esmail Ghadially, and has been passed down through generations. Presently, Moize and his son Mazhar run the company.
What began as a family business importing watch parts from Switzerland and other parts of Europe, the company established itself as an exporter of watch, clock, and jewellery tools and equipment worldwide. “My elder brother, Mazhar, inherited the sporting genes, while I gravitated toward books, reading, and writing,” says Fatema, who lives in Mumbai with her husband Ajit and their son Raj. “Mumbai remains both my home and my heart.”
Moize Ghadially, a passionate cricketer, played for Mumbai University and was also on the committee of the Cricket Club of India (CCI). Mazhar made his debut in first-class cricket in the 1994–95 season and played for Mumbai and Railways in domestic cricket. Her cousin, Muffazal Lakdawala, a leading surgeon in the country, still reckons his pace and skill as a bowler. Fatema’s husband, Ajit Agarkar, a former Indian cricketer and commentator, currently heads the BCCI selection committee.
Rooted in values
Fatema’s schooling began at Queen Mary’s School, Mumbai, which celebrated its 150th year in December 2025. “Being part of such a legacy institution instilled discipline, resilience, and a deep respect for hard work — values that continue to guide me,” says Fatema, who later pursued her undergraduate studies at Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, where her interest in business, finance, and leadership flourished.
She was deeply involved in extracurricular activities — serving as Editor of the college magazine, Rapport, and actively participating in student-led initiatives. She graduated as a university topper in Economics. “It reinforced my belief in consistency and intellectual rigour,” says Fatema, who received the ‘Mumbai’s Top Women Leader’ Award at the 10th edition of the CMO Asia National Awards.
Broadening her perspective in the UK
Fatema went on to complete her MBA in Birmingham, UK, which proved transformative. “Personally, it taught me independence, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity. Professionally, it strengthened my problem-solving abilities, time management, and strategic decision-making,” says Fatema, pointing out that interacting with peers from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia broadened her worldview and directly influenced the versatility she brings into education design today.
After gaining global exposure, she returned to India to work with Commerzbank, The Times of India, and Egon Zehnder International. “These experiences shaped my strategic thinking and professional discipline. Education wasn’t a sudden career switch; it was a conscious evolution,” says Fatema.
Awards and accolades
She was honoured by the Giants Group for her outstanding contribution to education (2012), received the Young Achiever’s Award (2017), the Singapore-based Best of Asia’s ‘Enterprising Educator’ Award (2018), and the ‘Best Edupreneur’ Award (2019). She also received the ‘Best Leadership’ Award from Progressive Academic Excellence India (Maharashtra, 2019) and serves as a jury member for the Cambridge School Recognition Awards 2025.
India vs the West
Fatema, who has been diligent in bringing comprehensive reforms to the education field in India, feels the country’s education ecosystem is evolving beautifully. “We now offer a strong blend of national and international curricula, greater application-based learning, and immense academic depth.” Rather than imitating the West, India is increasingly creating its own benchmarks, backed by strong teacher resources and contextual learning opportunities, says Fatema, who firmly believes that childhood learning thrives on peer interaction, diversity, and social engagement.
Advisory roles
Having been associated with leading high school brands like DRS International (Hyderabad), NSS Hill Spring International (Mumbai), The Gera School (Goa), D Y Patil High School (Talegaon, Pune), SVM (Ratnagiri), The Excellere World School (Gurgaon), and JBCN International Schools (Mumbai), Fatema has set up close to 40 preschools and high schools from the grassroots level, including a school for special needs.
As Advisor and Mentor to Finland International School, her role focuses on future-ready strategies, pedagogical innovation, and creating meaningful learning experiences. She also serves on advisory boards including EduTech India, Wockhardt Foundation, and the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), and as a National Council Member – Financial Literacy & Management (WICCI). She is also the Vice President of the Early Childhood Association (ECA) and the Mumbai Territory Head for the Association for Primary Education & Research (APER) in India.
Eliminating child abuse
As the Special Advisor of the NGO Child Chapter Association (CCA), Fatema’s mission is to spread awareness and eliminate child abuse, including child sexual abuse. “My role includes providing advice and guidance for special outreach programmes for schools and teachers that tap into the child psyche and help them raise their voice against abuse,” says Fatema, who firmly believes that effective parenting enables children to benefit the most. She played an instrumental role in the development of the CCA comic books and characters for their global campaign on child abuse awareness and prevention.
Expansion plans
Fatema aims to expand ACE across the Middle East, where she is all set to launch a sports-focused school. She says her family stands as a classic example of how sports play an important part alongside the regular curriculum.
“Ajit often says sports taught him discipline, teamwork, patience, and acceptance,” says the educator, who was not much into sports in her growing-up years, while Ajit started playing competitively at the age of 12 and went on to represent the country at 19 — the highest honour for any sportsperson. Her father used to define his religion as cricket and even played a club match at the age of 60 when his team was short of one player. “Mazhar too played cricket all his life before joining the family business.”
Sharing knowledge
As a TEDx speaker and an avid blogger, Fatema is passionate about sharing her knowledge and inspiring stakeholders — be it teachers, parents, or students. Her vision includes setting up soup kitchens, foster homes, and a community centre for the elderly under the Agarkar Foundation.
“Sharing knowledge whether through mentoring, blogging, or public speaking remains close to my heart,” says Fatema, who otherwise enjoys gardening, walking, reading, travelling, and writing.
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