LEAD Academy joins Stanford Seed Transformation Program 2024

LEAD Academy, a prominent ed-tech startup in Bangladesh, has achieved a coveted position in the Stanford Seed Transformation Program, Class of 2024, emerging as the sole ed-tech platform in this region. This noteworthy accomplishment propels LEAD Academy towards advancing its dedication to elevating business excellence and transformative leadership in the region to unprecedented heights.
The Stanford Seed Transformation Program, recognised for its top-tier curriculum and innovative insights from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, is specifically designed for CEOs and founders of established businesses in Africa and South Asia. Spanning 10 months, this comprehensive programme aims to furnish participants with the essential skills, tools, and mindset required for business growth and scaling, all while fostering a robust peer-to-peer support network.
What sets LEAD Academy apart in its domain is its distinction as the first and only Bangladeshi online learning platform providing both local and internationally accredited certifications. LEAD Academy, headquartered in Dhaka, originally established as a training organisation under the acronym LEAD (Leadership Excellence and Development) in 2015, transitioned into an ed-tech platform in October 2022. With a portfolio that now comprises 65 published courses and an additional 100 courses in development, they have broadened their educational offerings. Their STEM education vertical, Dreamers Academy, focuses on teaching coding to children aged 7 to 16 years old. Presently, they are engaging a student community of 1200, participating in live coding classes.
The inclusion of LEAD Academy in the Stanford Seed Transformation Program marks a significant milestone in its journey, underscoring the institution's unwavering dedication to excellence in education and business development.
Ashfaq Zaman, the founder of LEAD Academy, expressed: "We are thrilled to have been chosen for the Stanford Seed Transformation Program. It is a remarkable opportunity to further elevate the impact of LEAD Academy. Personally, I am excited to learn from the best of the best because as we all know Stanford has the best minds in business."
Expressing his thoughts on the news, LEAD Academy's instructor, Rubaiyat Shaimom Chowdhury, who is also an assistant professor at Bangladesh University, stated, "As a professor, I know there is an Academia-Skill gap in Bangladesh, and LEAD Academy is a crucial platform to mitigate this gap. I am happy that LEAD Academy got selected for the STP Program, and this will help LEAD Academy propel its journey in mitigating the gap with cutting-edge education."
Additionally, SM Arifuzzaman, LEAD Academy's another instructor, who is also the head of the School of Business at the Canadian University of Bangladesh, expressed, "In a short time, LEAD Academy has made a remarkable presence in the ed-tech landscape of Bangladesh. I strongly believe that LEAD Academy will lead the way forward for shaping the future of education in Bangladesh based on this prestigious programme's values & thought leadership." The collaboration between LEAD Academy and the Stanford Seed Transformation Program is anticipated to have a significant impact on the landscape of leadership and business development in Bangladesh.
Lead Academy has also recently been featured in the HundrED Global Innovation Collection 2024. This annual compilation, now in its 7th edition, showcases 100 noteworthy initiatives with a focus on future skills, ICT, and preparedness. HundrED, a global non-profit organisation that has been operational since 2016, emphasises the importance of innovation in education. While impactful innovations abound worldwide, HundrED recognises the gap in awareness among educators beyond their local spheres. The Global Collection serves as a bridge to disseminate knowledge and insights. LEAD Academy's inclusion in HundrED's Global Collection 2024 underscores its commitment to shaping the future of education through innovative solutions.