Mentors are for life—a statement that finds true meaning in the journey of Dinesh Lahoti, a passionate STEM educator, teacher trainer and certified career coach who, over the last decade, has dedicated his life to transforming how children learn and choose their future paths.
An alumnus of IIT Guwahati, Lahoti could have easily taken the conventional route into a high-paying corporate career. Instead, driven by purpose, curiosity and impact, he chose a road less travelled. After completing his education at the premier institute, he founded Edugenie in 2012, an education organisation focused solely on joyful, hands-on learning.
“For me, education is not about finishing chapters or courses; it’s about sparking curiosity. When students discover concepts on their own, learning becomes natural and lasting,” Dinesh says while speaking to East Mojo.
Through Edugenie, Lahoti has led a series of innovative initiatives designed to make math and science more engaging, effective and practical for students.
His efforts have reached over 1,00,000 students and 5,000 teachers across India through programmes such as the WOW Maths and Science Show, Puzzlothon – a Puzzle Marathon, hands-on mobile exhibitions, community math festivals, STEM workshops and summer camps.
“Math and science should never scare students; these subjects are meant to be experienced through puzzles, experiments and real-life connections,” he adds.
Lahoti’s contributions extend beyond private learning spaces into government education systems.
Over the years, he has worked closely with government departments in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Kerala and Maharashtra, helping strengthen teaching practices and classroom delivery in government schools.
“When teachers feel confident, classrooms become powerful. My work with government schools has always been about empowering educators with simple, practical tools that make learning come alive,” he says.
His creative approach and consistent impact have earned national recognition.
In 2025, he was honoured with the Math Promotion Award by the All-India Ramanujan Math Club—a prestigious award presented to just one educator from across India each year. Reacting to the recognition, Lahoti said, “This award is not mine alone—it belongs to every student who dared to ask questions and every teacher who believed learning can be joyful.”
Beyond STEM education, Lahoti is deeply committed to career mentorship, a field he believes is crucial in today’s fast-changing world.
He serves as an Ambassador of the Global Math Project and holds certifications as a Global Career Counsellor from UCLA and as a Career Coach from the Career Development Alliance, USA. Notably, he is recognised as the first internationally certified career coach from Assam.
“Over time, we have seen that career selection has become a challenging task for children and their parents and guardians. To address this and clear confusion, we at Career Spark provide thorough career counselling along with psycho-socio counselling,” Lahoti explains.
“Separate counselling sessions are also held for parents and guardians to help them understand opportunities in unconventional fields such as design, art and sports.”
Lahoti believes early and proper guidance can change the entire course of a life—not just for the child, but for the family as well.
He has mentored over 1,000 students, guiding them to crack competitive exams such as IIT JEE, NEET, SAT, CAT, GMAT and banking exams, and secure placements at the University of Edinburgh, Max Planck Institute, IITs, AIIMS, IISERs and IIMs.
“My goal is not to push students, but to help them discover their strengths and weaknesses and support them in reaching their goals.”
According to Lahoti, a teacher is often the first mentor a child trusts. If teachers are equipped with career guidance tools, lakhs of students can be supported within their own schools.
For him, mentoring is not limited to classrooms or exam results—it is a lifelong role that shapes confidence, clarity and character. “A mentor’s job is not to create toppers, but to build confident learners who can face life with courage.”
A forever guide
“Dinesh sir has shaped my life. When I first joined Career Spark, he asked me to track everything, believing that if we can’t track something, we can’t excel at it. Over the years, he has guided me in a way that has made me far more confident in my abilities,” said Mukund Asawa, one of his students and the first from Guwahati to crack the IIM Rohtak post-Class 12 examination.
He added, “Even after joining college, I still call him for every issue. He is always ready to help and guide me—not like a teacher, but like a friend.”
One of his colleagues, Darshana Saikia, a psychologist in the organisation, describes the work environment as deeply transformative.
“Working here for the past three years has shaped me immensely. Every day has been a learning experience, both within my field and beyond. Lahoti sir’s transparent and approachable leadership ensures that our inputs are heard and valued, which truly strengthens the team,” she says.
Darshana credits Lahoti for helping team members grow beyond their core expertise. “Beyond my role as a psychologist, I have gained valuable skills in planning, student coordination, organisational management and other essential competencies.”
What she admires most is his grounded nature despite his achievements. “With him, every conversation becomes a learning experience. I am extremely thankful to be part of a team that genuinely supports meaningful learning and growth.”
Happy Parents
Ujjal Protim Sarmah, a parent satisfied with the counselling session, extended his sincere appreciation to Dinesh Lahoti and his team.
“A thoughtful, well-structured and highly student-centric counselling session. He took the time to understand my child’s strengths, interests and long-term aspirations. His clarity on career pathways, academic planning and alternative options helped us gain a much clearer perspective,” he said.
Also Read: Global risks, local futures: What Age of Competition means for India and Nagaland
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI