Emergence of India's very own multi-lingual business learning platform

Today, to counter the ramifications of COVID-19 on the world economy, there is an urgent need to adopt an open talent economy based on intellectual and skill collaborations. While many techpreneurs around the globe are testing such platforms, SpeakIn has already become a trendsetter with experts from over 12 countries in Asia and Middle East, including India, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel, and Indonesia. Here is a brief interaction on SpeakIn’s journey with Deepshikha Kumar, Founder SpeakIn.

Founded in 2018 by Deepshikha Kumar Anand, an alumnus of the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, the Wharton School of Business and an ex-consultant at EY, SpeakIn is an interface between knowledge holders and knowledge seekers across a variety of industries. Started as a physical forum to connect businesses/individuals with industry experts, thought leaders and change agents, it successfully transformed into an effective technology-based platform after the corona outbreak. The fast and successful transformation in SpeakIn’s modus operandi, i.e., from physical to digital, implicitly validates that the faster a business adapts to change, the better it gets rewarded by time and consumers alike.

Immediately after the lockdown, Deepshikha decided to shift her entire business online. Leveraging on their massive expert network, SpeakIn transitioned to delivering online learning and interface for business organizations and their employees with experts. The objective was not just thriving in this untoward phase but also helping others sail through the high tides. “We were already working on hybrid formats combining online learning with offline in-person sessions, but when March arrived. Absolute transition became imperative.” Says Deepshikha. The foremost initiative by Deepshikha was the launch of a new series of Live Learning Sessions where some of the world’s most credible industry leaders discussed timely solutions and futuristic opportunities. Under this new series, #ManagingChange, SpeakIn has already organized over 200 such learning sessions featuring leaders like - Mr. Manoj Kohli (Country Head, SoftBank), Mr. Aditya Ghosh (Board Member, Oyo), Ms. Harriet Green (Fr. Chairman, IBM APAC), Mr. Shridhar Venkat (CEO, Akshaya Patra Foundation), Dr. Muhammad Yunus (Nobel Peace Laureate and Founder Grameen Bank) and more.

The next gainful move of Deepshikha was going back to SpeakIn clients and showcasing them the depth and impact of how these online engagements can help them to harness current challenges as well as opportunities. The target region for such specialized business learning programs of SpeakIn is primarily India and Middle East. Also, to maximize the reach of the SpeakIn Expert Live Learning sessions, the start-up formed strategic partnerships and alliances with corporates and industry insiders in more than five countries.

“Recognizing that "learning does not have to stop", SpeakIn launched an e-learning app with vernacular content developed and delivered by its top most experts in the region. Given that the logistics involved in bringing experts to the client – travel, flights, and accommodation, were out of the picture, SpeakIn virtually reached out to more regional experts for the creation of modules in regional languages across sales, marketing, digital transformation, customer management and more. Thus building an unmatched repository of content in multiple Indian languages which could train professionals across levels and regions.”

The most distinguished feature of SpeakIn’s business transition is instant decision-making by the Captain of the ship, Deepshikha. She rightly anticipated the situation and without consuming too much time in planning and brainstorming, ventured for a radical change on the very first day of lockdown 1.0. She emphatically affirms that had it been any later, the situation would have taken a turn for the worse. The prompt actions by SpeakIn team have given the startup a first-mover advantage. The effectiveness of this move can probably be summed up by the fact that SpeakIn is able to raise funds even during the pandemic, as investors found its model of e-learning well-timed and absolutely aligned to the market needs.