About the founder

Sashirekha Natarajan

Founder, AntarDeepLifelong LearnerEducational CoachLeadership Facilitator

For 35 years she has served as an educator and school leader with the Good Shepherd mission, at Good Shepherd School, Chennai, and across its Asia Pacific network.

Sashirekha Natarajan smiling, in a green sweater, seated outdoors
35 yearswith the Good Shepherd mission
Each person is of more value than a world.The belief of the Good Shepherd mission

That belief has shaped all of Sashirekha’s work: seeing the person before the task, listening before speaking, and creating safe spaces where people can grow.

She has mentored students in advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals, trained teachers, youth and students in facilitation, and leads mentoring at the Sugun Thomas Foundation, walking with young people as they move from education into employment.

She is a Belbin and Theory U practitioner and a safeguarding trainer.

AntarDeep grows out of these years of practice. She has learnt that when people are truly heard and valued, they find their own light, and then help others find theirs.

Roles of service

Educator, leader and mentor

Based in Chennai, working with educators and young people across India and the Asia Pacific region.

  1. 2022–now

    Chairperson, Good Shepherd Educators Committee

    Asia Pacific

  2. 2021–now

    Convenor, Team for Wholeness

    Good Shepherd East India / Nepal

  3. 2015–now

    Lead, Mentorship Programme

    Sugun Thomas Foundation

  4. 2002–now

    Academic and Administrative Coordinator

    Good Shepherd Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai

  5. 32+ years

    Teaching high school students

    Good Shepherd School, Chennai

Work that shaped AntarDeep

Years of practice, in classrooms and beyond them

Young advocates across five countries

Coaching young adolescents in advocacy and facilitation with the Good Shepherd International Justice and Peace Office, New York. Girls and boys from schools in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Indonesia have become effective advocates for climate action and girls’ rights.

A community of educators

Working with educators across the Asia Pacific region through regular online sessions, building a community aligned with the shared identity of Good Shepherd education and committed to holistic education that respects the SDGs.

Mentoring, education to employment

Leading the Sugun Thomas Foundation mentorship programme for over a decade, where deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds are supported, mentored and guided from education to employment and beyond.

Strategy for education and formation

As part of the Good Shepherd strategic planning team, creating a strategic plan for education in its schools and for formation, and monitoring, evaluating and overseeing the process.

Learning by doing

Starting experiential learning through adventure and camping for students of grades 10 and 12, a programme that continues to this day, and making learning joyful through integrated, activity-based teaching.

Outreach and service

Starting outreach programmes such as Sampoorna and Santa, and student engagement across communities that supports students from families below the poverty line.

Impact over the years

Confident people who walk the talk

  • Confident, courageous young womenHelping shape girls who walk the talk.
  • A voice for the voicelessStudents, teachers, parents and alumni sensitised to advocate for their rights and the rights of others.
  • Every learner, every strengthEncouraging students to excel in their own fields of interest, whatever their academic abilities.
  • Mentors and mentees who give backConfident people who contribute to society in a responsible way.
  • Partnership beyond bordersDriving engagement and partnership across the Good Shepherd network.

Practice and learning

Tools of the trade

Practitioner and trainer

  • Belbin Team RolesPractitioner
  • Theory UPractitioner
  • SafeguardingTrainer
  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)Certified

Education

  • Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)Annamalai University
  • Bachelor’s degree in MathematicsEthiraj College for Women, Chennai
  • Diplôme en Français (C1)Alliance Française de Madras

Let’s start a conversation

Bring AntarDeep to your people

Sashirekha works with schools, colleges, workplaces and community organisations, in person or online.