Dhanusha Ganakal Sreekantaiah, an architect turned educator, is the Founder-Managing Director of Naavi Early Years—a preschool inspired by her passion for nurturing young minds during their most formative years. Her transition from architecture to education stems from a deep belief that, much like designing spaces, shaping young learners requires thoughtful planning, creativity, and a strong foundation. 

Guided by the principle that “children must be taught how to think, not what to think,” she envisions a learning environment where curiosity and independent thinking are at the core. Her philosophy is grounded in the understanding that early childhood is a critical stage for shaping foundational skills, values, and attitudes. With this vision, she aims to create a strong base for a future K–12 institution by building trust, a clear educational philosophy, and a community-centered approach from the start.

Her approach is deeply influenced by Jerome Bruner’s theory of active learning and the principles of social constructivism, where collaboration, dialogue, and exploration shape the classroom experience. Her focus is on holistic development, playful inquiry, and language-rich experiences. 

Under her leadership, at Naavi, children are seen as active participants in their own learning journey.
She is committed to offering a nurturing, inclusive, and internationally benchmarked education at an accessible cost—empowering every child to grow into a confident, values-driven lifelong learner.