Alumni News

For Pratap Chahal, Kodai International School was more than a place of learning — it was where a way of seeing the world quietly took root. Through everyday life at KIS, shaped by diversity, shared responsibility, and deep human connection, he learned respect, resilience, and curiosity. Food became central to those years, not just as a source of nourishment, but also as a memory, a ritual, and a means of community.

Years later, after a career shaped by classical training, relentless kitchens, and immersive supper clubs, Pratap recognises how deeply those early experiences continue to inform his values: care for people, integrity in work, and an understanding that meaning often lives in the unseen. Kodai remains not something to recreate, but something to carry, intact, formative, and quietly enduring.

From her formative years at Kodaikanal International School to leading Parle Agro as its CEO, Schauna Chauhan’s journey is rooted in curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning. Her boarding school experiences shaped her confidence, independence, and leadership, lessons that continue to guide her approach to business, people, and purpose. Under her leadership, Parle Agro has driven innovation, sustainability, and a strong “Make in India” vision, while her definition of success remains simple and powerful: never stop learning. Her story is a testament to the lasting impact of community, values, and education in shaping meaningful leadership.

KIS alumni Valerie Newsom Guarnieri (Class of 1984), now Assistant Executive Director of the World Food Programme, traces her lifelong commitment to humanitarian service back to her days on the hill. Inspired by Kodai’s spirit of community and service, Valerie has spent over three decades leading global efforts to fight hunger and uphold humanity in the world’s most challenging contexts.

From launching a pioneering agri-food company to championing community-led environmental initiatives, Murali Sundar has built a career at the intersection of commerce, curiosity, and care for the land. As founder of Marcatus QED, he transformed supply chains by uniting competitors, farmers, and global brands through collaboration and education. Murali credits Kodaikanal International School with shaping this ethos: “KIS trained my eyes and mind to see the good in differences.” Today, he remains a strong supporter of the Centre for Environment and Humanity (CEH), envisioning it as a living model of sustainable education and community empowerment. His journey reflects not just entrepreneurial grit, but a deep-rooted commitment to giving back to the ecosystem's natural and educational that shaped him.

From corporate life to the creative studio, Joanne Maneckji (Class of 1991) has built a powerful second career in collage art, one defined by experimentation, resilience, and storytelling. Drawing inspiration from global craft traditions and the strength of the female experience, her work transforms paper, texture, and text into deeply personal reflections on love, loss, and renewal. Through projects like Letters to My Grandfather and That Blessed Mood, she explores art as both expression and healing, a reminder that creativity can flourish at any stage of life.

Meet Dr. Rajamanikam, scientist and community educator at the Centre for Environment and Humanity. From his PhD research on wetlands to waste management initiatives in Auroville and Kodaikanal, his work has always focused on connecting local communities with their environment. Today, he leads the Junior Naturalists Action Network (JNAN), a 23-week programme that introduces middle schoolers from 17 local schools to ecology, biodiversity, and sustainable living. For many of these students, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, JNAN is more than a course; it’s a pathway to future careers in conservation and environmental leadership.

When Max Meynecke arrived at KIS, he was shy, unsure, and struggling with English. What he found instead was confidence, community, and a passion for creating impact. Inspired by supportive teachers and friendships that stretched across cultures, Max carried forward a mindset of curiosity and responsibility that shaped both his studies at the National University of Singapore and his career.

Today, he is the co-founder of Bambubuyog, a social enterprise turning bamboo beehives into sustainable livelihoods for farmers in the Philippines and beyond. Built on KIS values of resilience, connection, and bold thinking, Max’s journey shows how education and empathy can fuel ventures that are both profitable and transformative.

Niyati’s two years at KIS transformed her worldview from seeing nature as scenery to experiencing it as a teacher. Inspired by mentors and immersed in a global community, she discovered that science is about people and context, a lesson that shaped her career in public health. Now a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at NYU, Niyati champions experiential learning and cultural sensitivity, values rooted in her Kodi experience. Through her work with NYU and KIS’s Centre for Environment and Humanity, she continues to inspire students to engage deeply with communities, embrace curiosity, and grow through global connections.

Divya Maben (Class of 2007) has built a career at the intersection of design, branding, and digital media as the co-founder of Now Media (http://www.nowmedia.in) and Bleep. Her journey into content creation began with casual photo shoots in Canada and has since evolved into a values-driven career rooted in creativity and authenticity. Looking back, she credits her years at KIS for giving her the independence and curiosity to explore different paths and qualities she carries into her work today.

Current high school student, Yaksheta, talks to Prasanna Ghose (Class of 1980), owner of Pastry Corner. She gets behind the scenes to understand how Kodai's favorite bakery has become a staple in the community for decades. Ghose's commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and community care makes Pastry Corner a shining example of being environmentally conscious.