Kiran Bir Sethi

Who Is Kiran Bir Sethi?

Kiran Bir Sethi is a visionary designer turned educator and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Design for Change and The Riverside School in India, initiatives that integrate design principles to foster the “I Can” mindset in children. Her groundbreaking work empowers students, teachers, and communities to co-create a sustainable and inclusive future.

What is her Background?

After graduating from the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, Kiran Bir Sethi successfully led her own graphic design firm for over a decade. In 2001, she founded The Riverside School, a pioneering educational laboratory that promotes transformative learning experiences and community-centered education. In 2009, she launched Design for Change, a global movement that has reached over 65 countries, inspiring millions of children and educators with its empathy-driven, action-oriented methodology.

Kiran also created ‘aProCh,’ an award-winning initiative that advocates for child-friendly cities. Her contributions have earned numerous accolades, including the Ashoka Fellowship, the “Call to Conscience Award” from Stanford’s King Centre, and the Rockefeller Foundation Youth Innovation Award. In 2017, she signed a landmark agreement with the Vatican to implement Design for Change in over 460,000 Catholic schools worldwide.