Some people hope for ‘Change’ and there are some who make it happen! Dr Cdr Kartikay Saini is the catalyst who relentlessly challenges ‘clichés’ to bring a revolution in society.
Here is a brief sketch of the leader who is on a headlong pursuit to make education, not only an inclusive proposal but also endeavours to stake a claim in the holistic future of learning.
An ex-commander of the Indian Navy, Dr Cdr Kartikay Saini has spent more than two decades of his distinguished career serving the Country in the Defence. As Dr Cdr Kartikay Saini, Founder, Chairman-Scottish High asserts, “Education is a powerful influence. Through it, we aspire to nurture responsible students who will lead with integrity and make meaningful contributions to both their communities and our nation.”
Brought up in National Defence Academy and Armed Forces in fields of Engineering, IT and logistics, Dr Saini proudly holds the degrees of Bachelor of Science(B.Sc), Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Master of Business Administration(MBA), a Doctorate in entrepreneurship and management and completing a second PhD in disability.
With an unwavering focus on this core belief, Dr Cdr Kartikay Saini has continuously guided Scottish High with exceptional quality and a comprehensive vision. His leadership, impressive credentials, initiatives, and visionary background have laid the foundation for Scottish High’s tremendous success.
From an empathetic initiative to a mature reality, Dr Cdr Kartikay Saini’s idea of compassion and co-existence has made its way into a transformative Education movement, and Scottish High International School, Gurugram, is a community committed to levelling the playing field for all. The school provides an inclusive environment for students to connect with the specially-abled and less privileged and strives to integrate them into the mainstream.
Dr Cdr Saini has pioneered a program providing holistic education and integrated development for children with intellectual disabilities. Through his sustained efforts, the school has gained significant support from the national and international community and is recognised as the ESPN Unified Champion School of Special Olympics, one of the very few in the country.
Dr Cdr. Kartikay Saini has served as the Chairman of Special Olympics India and the Chairman of the Unified Sports Advisory Board of the Asia Pacific. He has also been a Board member of Special Olympics International in Washington.
Dr Saini is pursuing his second doctorate in disability studies, and his contributions to inclusive education have earned him widespread recognition from the media and various organisations, making him one of the foremost educationists in India. He recently featured in the Nov 2024 Edition of TIME magazine.
Dr Saini has been selected to participate as a distinguished speaker and awardee at the Global Achievers’ Summit & Awards 2025, scheduled to take place in October 2025, at the prestigious Library of Congress, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
He was invited by Oxford University, UK, to deliver keynote addresses to academia and Scholars. He is also the SUNFO Goodwill Ambassador of Sri Lanka to India for the UN Sustainable Goals 2030. Additionally, he was awarded for his work in Inclusive Education by the President of Mauritius, His Excellency Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun.
Dr Cdr Kartikay Saini was invited for a TEDx Talk at Man Sagar Lake, Jaipur, to speak on disability and inclusion in “Leading by Example”. Dr Saini also recently spoke at a Podcast on ‘Are Schools Abandoning Disabled Kids?’ on the YouTube channel Schoolcast with Avyakt.
Dr Saini is a highly decorated educationist who has received over 200 national and international awards, including recognition from Forbes, Hindustan Times, the Derozio Award by ICSE, House of Commons-UK, Education Today, Economic Times, and Education Evangelista by Chetan Bhagat, as well as the Times of India Group, among others. His initiatives to nurture and inspire youth leadership in this country towards self-inspired learning and inclusion brought him to the forefront, leading many conferences in the Asia Pacific region, as well as globally, in countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Spain, Azerbaijan, and the Dominican Republic. Thousands of youth across the world have gained immensely from his workshops, emphasising holistic growth, inclusive sports, social responsibility, and Inclusive leadership.
Dr Saini was honoured as the Educationist of the Year by Forbes at the UK House of Commons in 2019, alongside sitting members of the British Parliament. In 2024, he received the Education Stalwart Award from Education Today at the Maharashtra Education Summit in Mumbai. Dr. Saini continues to make significant advancements in both education and inclusion, and his impact has been nothing short of remarkable!
A LEADER WITH MANY STRENGTHS-
Having the undertones of an accomplished leader, every sort marks out Dr Cdr Kartikay Saini’s multilateral appeal! Adding to his persona and distinctions are his manifold interests and pursuits that are simply an act to his credit.
His exceptional oratory skills and proficiency in music and drama distinguish his versatility and across-the-board character. Not to forget his passion for Golf, which he says is “a meditation of the body and mind”.
His skills in writing and poetry reflect his creative side, setting him apart from the rest. A keen writer who has contributed to several journals and magazines, including the US Proceedings, Dr Saini is a researcher with numerous publications to his name. He is the author of chapters in six books published by reputed publishers, including Taylor & Francis and IGI Global, and has written numerous articles in renowned academic journals such as the Journal of Management and the Academy of Marketing Studies Journal. Dr Cdr. Kartikay Saini truly embodies the qualities of a well-rounded leader, possessing all the makings of a true statesman.
