The Entrepreneur who is building a new standard for education across the Middle East

The Middle East's education landscape has undergone significant transformation, driven by a series of strategic partnerships and innovative approaches to curriculum development. Chetan Sehgal, an entrepreneur largely unknown outside education circles, has played a pivotal role in shaping this evolution. Sehgal co-founded Panworld Education in 2009, which has since become McGraw Hill's largest distribution partner globally, an achievement he built autonomously without external financing.

Starting from a modest operation, Sehgal expanded Panworld's reach to three countries across the Middle East and Asia, forging key relationships with ministries and public-sector bodies along the way. The turning point in Sehgal's career came with a strategic partnership with McGraw Hill, a global publishing giant. Despite the challenges of convincing such a legacy Western publisher to prioritize the Middle East as a central market, Sehgal's perseverance paid off, leading to McGraw Hill recognizing Panworld as its largest partner worldwide.

In Saudi Arabia, the hub of the region's next transformation, Sehgal's focus has shifted to aligning curricula, teacher training, and workforce needs with the kingdom's Vision 2030 reforms. Sehgal's journey stands out due to his disciplined bootstrapped model, steering the company towards long-term contracts with public-sector bodies rather than the rapid scaling often associated with venture-backed firms.

Building on this success, Sehgal co-founded KODEIT, a curriculum and learning technology company aiming to develop comprehensive K–12 learning ecosystems. Unlike many education technology firms, KODEIT prioritizes teacher-centric solutions, focusing on AI tools that enhance teacher efficiency rather than replacing instruction. Sehgal's broader vision extends beyond these two companies, aiming to establish the Middle East as a global leader in education innovation, proving that internationally respected educational standards can be achieved on Middle Eastern terms.

Through resilience and a teacher-first approach, Sehgal is redefining the future of education in the region and beyond.