Tesseract - Director - Artificial Intelligence

Description :

Role : Chief Executive Officer (CEO), EdTech

Position Title : Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Business Unit : Executive Leadership

Reports To : President

Role Overview :

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will serve as the single, accountable leader responsible for scaling RIL from a validated pilot into a profitable, market-dominant national enterprise. With 15+ years of proven leadership experience, the CEO will define the companys long-term strategy, drive execution excellence, and establish RIL as a category leader in the Indian EdTech ecosystem.

This role is critical in steering the company through a high-growth phase, ensuring operational rigor, and delivering commercial success while maintaining the agility and innovation of a startup within a large corporate framework.

Key Responsibilities :

- Set Vision & Strategy : Define and champion the companys long-term strategic plan, making critical decisions on market positioning, product roadmap, and competitive differentiation.

- Own the P&L : Assume full financial ownership of the organization. Drive sustainable unit economics, manage budgets, and secure necessary capital from the parent company.

- Drive Go-to-Market at Scale : Lead national expansion efforts, overseeing commercial teams to build and execute a repeatable, efficient GTM engine across B2B, B2G, and channel sales.

- Build a World-Class Team & Culture : Act as the chief architect of organizational culture and talent. Recruit, mentor, and retain a high-performing leadership team to foster accountability, agility, and innovation.

- Lead Product & Innovation : Guide high-level product vision and ensure RILs learning ecosystem remains a category-defining, technology-driven solution with a strong competitive moat.

- Manage Key Stakeholders : Serve as the primary interface with the Board, executive leadership, and key external partners. Manage relationships with government bodies, strategic partners, and major players within the Indian education ecosystem

Must-Have Qualifications :

Experience :

- 15+ years of professional experience with a proven record as a CEO, General Manager, or Divisional Head with full P&L accountability.

- Demonstrated success scaling a technology-driven business from early-stage to significant scale (e.g., from <$10M to $100M+ in revenue).

- Experience leading organizations with complex B2B and B2G sales cycles.

- Proven ability to manage large, cross-functional teams across product, technology, sales, and operations.

Education :

- MBA or equivalent postgraduate degree from a Tier-1 Indian or global institution (IIMs, ISB, etc.).

- Undergraduate degree in Engineering or a related technical field preferred.

Domain Knowledge :

- Deep understanding of the Indian market landscape and business models involving both hardware and SaaS components.

- Prior EdTech experience is a strong advantage but secondary to demonstrated ability to scale and operate complex ventures.

Technical Exposure :

- Must be technologically fluent, capable of engaging in high-level discussions on tech stacks, cloud architecture, product scalability, and digital platform strategy.

Nice-to-Have Skills

- Direct C-level experience within the EdTech or education ecosystem.

- Proven success launching and scaling a new venture within a large corporate conglomerate.

- Established relationships with Indian central or state education ministries.

- Experience in capital raising (internal or external) and M&A.

Leadership & Business Skills :

- Strategic Acumen : Ability to develop bold, long-term strategies while making decisive calls in dynamic market environments.

- Execution Excellence : Unrelenting focus on metrics, operational discipline, and tangible results.

- Corporate Navigation : Political and social intelligence to effectively manage senior stakeholders and leverage resources within a complex ecosystem.

- Inspirational Leadership : Charismatic communicator who can attract, align, and inspire high-caliber talent toward a shared mission.

- Commercial & Financial Rigor : Strong command over P&L, financial levers, and multi-year planning.

Strategic Goals for the First 12 Months :

First 6 Months :

- Strengthen and structure the senior leadership team.

- Validate and refine the national scaling strategy and execution roadmap.

- Establish a predictable operational rhythm (reviews, governance, financial cadence).

- Achieve early scaling milestones and demonstrate traction in key districts/regions.

By 12 Months :

- Operate as a predictable, high-growth machine with clear processes and accountability.

- Deploy a repeatable GTM playbook across multiple geographies.

- Deliver against key success metrics - ARR, customer/school acquisition, and gross margins aligned with the board-approved plan.

- Secure the next phase of strategic investment and board confidence for continued expansion.

Ideal Candidate Profile :

We seek a Corporate Entrepreneur - a leader with the polish and strategic depth to operate at board level, combined with the relentless energy and ownership of a startup founder.

Background :

- Former GM/BU Head from a major Indian or global technology company who built and scaled a new business line.

- Proven CEO/COO from a venture-backed technology company that scaled from Series B to pre-IPO stages.

Strengths :

- Strategic Vision : Capable of setting direction in ambiguous environments and rallying teams around a shared purpose.

- Operational Drive : Translates strategy into measurable execution outcomes.

- Stakeholder Management : Skilled at balancing corporate priorities with entrepreneurial agility.

- Talent Leadership : Builds and mentors world-class teams.

- Financial Acumen : Expert in scaling unit economics and driving profitability.

Motivators :

- The challenge of building a massive business with the autonomy of a startup and the resources of a corporate.

- Desire to define a lasting legacy in the Indian education sector.

- High ownership and accountability for measurable enterprise value creation.

Cultural Fit :

- Resilient & Decisive : Thrives under pressure, comfortable making high-stakes decisions.

- Statesman & Operator : Commands a boardroom presence, engages government officials, and dives deep into execution when required.