Dedicated to Excellence
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Safari Kid Leadership Team

Shahdokth Mudakavi,
Chief Executive Officer

Shahdokth Mudakavi,
Chief Executive Officer

Shy has been involved in the field of education since her college days. After moving to California in 2000, she maintained relentless focus in skillfully educating children in very diverse areas as a math tutor, swimming instructor, dance instructor, and fashion show coordinator. She later founded Safari Kid for preschool and after-school students in a modest location in Newark with five children enrolled.

Since then, through her consistent vision, enterprise, and sterling leadership, she grew Safari Kid to a global chain of international preschools, maintaining the highest standards for the program. Through all this growth, Ms. Shy has been like a best friend to all of her teachers, directors, and students. Ms. Shy is an active philanthropist through her non-profit organization. Shy has a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and a bachelor’s in Law from India.

Deepak Mudakavi,
Chief Financial Officer

After completing his Bachelor in Business Studies and Law degree, Deepak moved to the US in 1997 and studied Computer Science at UC Berkeley. He later joined BMC software and worked there for 15 years. While working at BMC Software, he also co-founded Safari Kid in 2005 with Ms. Shy, where his focus was on accounting and finance. With the tremendous growth of Safari Kid and Safari Kid Franchising, he decided to pursue his career with the company full time. He realized that his passion for making a difference in every child’s life was completely aligned with Safari Kid’s vision.

He is a proud father, and both of his children have been attending Safari Kid since preschool. He enjoys working with children and teaches chess and computers at Safari Kid as a hobby.

Deepak Mudakavi,
Chief Financial Officer

Arihant Jain,
Chief Revenue Officer

Arihant Jain, Chief Revenue Officer

Arihant Jain serves as Chief Revenue Officer for franchise development at Safari Kid. As the CRO, he works with our partners and internal teams to develop go-to market strategy. His singular focus is to evaluate potential franchise owner candidates and then ensure that the Safari Kid franchise owners are set up for success by identifying the right trade area, optimal location and ensuring a smooth journey through business building efforts, launch events, and steady operations thereafter.

Before joining Safari Kid, Arihant had 25+ years of diverse experience as an executive and business owner, through which he built and managed sales, enabled partnerships, developed services, handled support, and headed operations for both early stage startups like Speedera Networks, Inc., Reltio, Inc. and public companies like Tata Communications , Akamai Technologies etc. with revenues ranging from 20 million to over 3 billion USD. Arihant lives with his family in San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Arihant holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Shivaji University.

Aparna Parashar,
Head of Operations

Aparna Parashar,
Head of Operations

Aparna comes from a family of educators. Soon after completing her post-graduate studies, she started teaching as a lecturer at various graduate and post-graduate colleges, leading to her appointment as a Lecturer of English Literature at the prestigious IKSV University in India. Aparna pursued early childhood education with passion, completing over 50 units in the field and earning the California Program Director Permit. She took on roles of increasing responsibility as a preschool teacher, director of preschool and after-school programs, regional director, and member of the Safari Kid corporate team.

In her current capacity, she oversees administration, regulatory compliance, quality, and summer-camp readiness for Safari Kid. She enjoys guiding new franchise owners through their bootstrapping process and putting them on a glide path to success. In addition, Aparna is passionate about organizing inter-Safari competitions. She is proud to have contributed to the rapid growth of Safari Kid and to its recognition as a leader in quality childcare education.

Nima Kapoor, Head of Sales and Marketing

With over 15 years of experience in Customer Service, Product Training and Sales & Marketing Operations, Nima is responsible for creating a brand strategy for Safari Kid and ensuring all aspects of the Safari Kid’s marketing and activities align with the ethos and goals of the Safari Kid brand. She is in-charge of planning and managing strategic marketing campaigns for promoting the company’s brand and services. Further, developing and sustaining strong working relationships with Safari Kid’s franchises is Nima’s forte.

Nima Kapoor,
Head of Sales and Marketing

Piroja Montgomery,
Curriculum Designer

Piroja Montgomery,
Curriculum Designer

Piroja started her career teaching in a California public school after receiving her master’s in education in 2001. Due to her recognized innovation in creating valuable, original lessons, she was recruited as a lead teacher to help develop curriculum for a private school in Orange County and later a charter school in LA County. In 2010, she entered the corporate setting, developing the content for web-based products which are being used by elementary school districts throughout the country to help them prepare for high-stakes standardized testing.

In 2016, she was offered the chance to be part of the Safari Kid corporate team and create a custom curriculum. Piroja jumped at the opportunity! She is pulling in many of her talents and past experiences to develop an evolving curriculum that is as progressive as it is effective. She enjoys working for a company with its heart in the right place, and people who strive to make a difference in the lives of children.

Shahdokth Mudakavi,
Chief Executive Officer

About

Shy has been involved in the field of education since her college days. After moving to California in 2000, she maintained relentless focus in skillfully educating children in very diverse areas as a math tutor, swimming instructor, dance instructor, and fashion show coordinator. She later founded Safari Kid for preschool and after-school students in a modest location in Newark with five children enrolled.

Since then, through her consistent vision, enterprise, and sterling leadership, she grew Safari Kid to a global chain of international preschools, maintaining the highest standards for the program. Through all this growth, Ms. Shy has been like a best friend to all of her teachers, directors, and students. Ms. Shy is an active philanthropist through her non-profit organization. Shy has a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and a bachelor’s in Law from India.

Arihant Jain,
Chief Revenue Officer

About
Arihant Jain serves as Chief Revenue Officer for franchise development at Safari Kid. As the CRO, he works with our partners and internal teams to develop go-to market strategy. His singular focus is to evaluate potential franchise owner candidates and then ensure that the Safari Kid franchise owners are set up for success by identifying the right trade area, optimal location and ensuring a smooth journey through business building efforts, launch events, and steady operations thereafter.

Before joining Safari Kid, Arihant had 25+ years of diverse experience as an executive and business owner, through which he built and managed sales, enabled partnerships, developed services, handled support, and headed operations for both early stage startups like Speedera Networks, Inc., Reltio, Inc. and public companies like Tata Communications , Akamai Technologies etc. with revenues ranging from 20 million to over 3 billion USD. Arihant lives with his family in San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Arihant holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Shivaji University.

Deepak Mudakavi,
Chief Financial Officer

About

After completing his Bachelor in Business Studies and Law degree, Deepak moved to the US in 1997 and studied Computer Science at UC Berkeley. He later joined BMC software and worked there for 15 years. While working at BMC Software, he also co-founded Safari Kid in 2005 with Ms. Shy, where his focus was on accounting and finance. With the tremendous growth of Safari Kid and Safari Kid Franchising, he decided to pursue his career with the company full time. He realized that his passion for making a difference in every child’s life was completely aligned with Safari Kid’s vision.

He is a proud father, and both of his children have been attending Safari Kid since preschool. He enjoys working with children and teaches chess and computers at Safari Kid as a hobby.

Aparna Parashar,
Head of Operations

About

Aparna comes from a family of educators. Soon after completing her post-graduate studies, she started teaching as a lecturer at various graduate and post-graduate colleges, leading to her appointment as a Lecturer of English Literature at the prestigious IKSV University in India. Aparna pursued early childhood education with passion, completing over 50 units in the field and earning the California Program Director Permit. She took on roles of increasing responsibility as a preschool teacher, director of preschool and after-school programs, regional director, and member of the Safari Kid corporate team.

In her current capacity, she oversees administration, regulatory compliance, quality, and summer-camp readiness for Safari Kid. She enjoys guiding new franchise owners through their bootstrapping process and putting them on a glide path to success. In addition, Aparna is passionate about organizing inter-Safari competitions. She is proud to have contributed to the rapid growth of Safari Kid and to its recognition as a leader in quality childcare education.

Nima Kapoor,
Head of Sales and Marketing

About
With over 15 years of experience in Customer Service, Product Training and Sales & Marketing Operations, Nima is responsible for creating a brand strategy for Safari Kid and ensuring all aspects of the Safari Kid’s marketing and activities align with the ethos and goals of the Safari Kid brand. She is in-charge of planning and managing strategic marketing campaigns for promoting the company’s brand and services. Further, developing and sustaining strong working relationships with Safari Kid’s franchises is Nima’s forte.

Piroja Montgomery,
Curriculum Designer

About
Piroja started her career teaching in a California public school after receiving her master’s in education in 2001. Due to her recognized innovation in creating valuable, original lessons, she was recruited as a lead teacher to help develop curriculum for a private school in Orange County and later a charter school in LA County. In 2010, she entered the corporate setting, developing the content for web-based products which are being used by elementary school districts throughout the country to help them prepare for high-stakes standardized testing.

In 2016, she was offered the chance to be part of the Safari Kid corporate team and create a custom curriculum. Piroja jumped at the opportunity! She is pulling in many of her talents and past experiences to develop an evolving curriculum that is as progressive as it is effective. She enjoys working for a company with its heart in the right place, and people who strive to make a difference in the lives of children.

Safari Kid Locations

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Safari Kid Awards

Awards

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About Us

Safari Kid is a Global Chain of Preschools and After School Programs, founded by Ms. Shy Mudakavi in the heart of Silicon Valley in Newark, California. Over fifteen years, 35,000 children going through the program have shown consistent excellence in elementary and middle schools.

Franchising Award 2023
Top Franchises for Women Award 2023
Top Franchises Culture Award 2023
Most Innovative Franchises Award 2023