CAREER

My professional journey has never followed a straight line—it has unfolded like a tapestry, woven with threads from media, entrepreneurship, education, and child psychology. I started out in India, co-founding a youth culture platform that gave me an early window into how young people think, create, and connect.

The real shift happened when I started working closely with children and educators. That was when I realized something profound: true innovation doesn’t start in strategy decks or boardrooms—it starts in classrooms. And one of my biggest learnings has been the power of listening. Listening not just to numbers or reports, but to what children are feeling, what parents are hoping for, and what teachers are struggling with.

Life took a new turn when I got married and moved to Japan. Living in a different culture opened my eyes to new ways of thinking about education, learning, and community. It was here that I began to shape the vision that would eventually become Mirai Minds.

The seed of Mirai Minds was born from a simple but unsettling realization: somewhere along the way, our systems begin to trade children’s boundless curiosity for compliance. I wanted to create a space where curiosity is safeguarded, empathy is nurtured, and creativity isn’t just welcomed but celebrated. Mirai Minds grew out of that intention—to stand as an alternative to rigid, one-size-fits-all systems, and to build a platform where every child feels seen, heard, and supported at every stage of their growth.

My pregnancy was another turning point. It made me pause, reflect, and reimagine my own relationship with interdependence. It reminded me that raising a child, much like reimagining education, is not a solo effort—it takes a community. And that belief continues to guide everything I do with Mirai Minds: creating learning experiences that are holistic, human, and rooted in empathy.

BUSINESS

At Mirai Minds, we believe education must go beyond academics—it must prepare children for the complexities of the 21st century. Our programs (for ages 3-18) focus on developing communication, creative problem-solving, and emotional intelligence through project-based and play-based learning. Children don’t just learn facts; they learn how to collaborate, reflect, and think critically.

Our work is deeply connected with educators. We co-design workshops with them, facilitate regular training sessions, and create reflective spaces where teachers share experiences and best practices. This collaborative model ensures that innovation isn’t imposed—it grows organically within classrooms. Alongside this, we actively engage with global education leaders and psychologists, embedding research-backed methods that strengthen both cognitive and emotional development in children.

VISION

Looking ahead, Mirai Minds is growing its footprint across Japan with an eye on global expansion. Our focus is on building a strong community of empowered educators, introducing a dedicated platform for parents, and pioneering Japan’s first nationally recognized empathy-driven curriculum for tangible skill development.

To succeed in our mission at Mirai Minds, we would like to connect with multiple stakeholders across the education and innovation ecosystem. First, we seek partnerships with forward-thinking schools—particularly international and progressive private schools—that are open to integrating 21st-century skills, such as design thinking, coding, AI literacy, and creative expression, into their regular or afterschool curriculum. These schools can serve as testing grounds and innovation hubs for our modular programs.

Second, we aim to collaborate with local governments and educational boards that are actively seeking inclusive, future-oriented education solutions to bridge opportunity gaps and support diverse learners. Grant-based partnerships or subsidized pilot programs can create pathways for scale and equity.

Third, we welcome engagement with Japanese and global EdTech companies that align with our vision of child-centered, tech-enabled, playful learning. We are especially interested in content distributors, LMS platforms, and robotics/AI hardware partners who can support the digital infrastructure behind our offerings.

Fourth, we want to build long-term relationships with teacher training institutions and educator communities, to strengthen capacity building through professional development and workshops.

Finally, we would like to connect with impact-driven investors, foundations, and social innovation networks that are passionate about reimagining education and supporting sustainable, scalable models that blend business with purpose.

PROFILE

Tanya Malik is the Founder and CEO of Mirai Minds, a Japan-based educational platform offering holistic learning experiences for children aged 3–18. A graduate of UCL in Entrepreneurship and a trained child psychologist, Tanya combines her global professional experience with deep cultural sensitivity to reimagine education for the 21st century.

Nationality : Indian – New Delhi, India
University : College of London

▼ Mirai Minds website
https://miraiminds.jp/

▼ Linkedin
https://jp.linkedin.com/in/tanyamalik