Ashwin Fernandes, QS

Introduce yourself in three words or phrases

Purpose-driven. Globally curious. Relentlessly optimistic.

What makes you get up in the morning?

Every day is different, and that’s what excites me. The work I do has a visible, real-world impact, whether it’s shaping global education or creating opportunities back home through community initiatives beyond QS.

Tell me about a defining moment in your career

One of the most defining moments was meeting both Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Prime Minister Modi, both leaders who have reshaped their nations. Those conversations gave me a deeper sense of responsibility and purpose.

What do you like most about your job?

The people. I get to engage with leaders, students, and changemakers across continents, and every conversation adds meaning to what I do.

If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?

Arabic. I have already learned some, but I’d love to perfect it. It would help deepen relationships in a region that’s very close to my heart and work.

Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for his humility and vision. Too many forget humility once they gain a position or power.

Among those around us today, I’d say Ghassan Aouad, whose leadership is both grounded and inspiring.

Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?

Apart from my own book India’s Knowledge Supremacy: The New Dawn, which captures India’s evolving role in global education, I’d recommend Ikigai. It’s a reminder to align passion, mission, and purpose in whatever we do.

Describe a project or initiative you are currently working on that excites you

I’m deeply involved with Goa Super 100 through PACT Foundation, which is a scholarship program that supports underprivileged Goan youth in accessing higher education.

It’s personal, and it’s just the beginning. In the professional space at QS, it is the work with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB), which I have been supporting in building excellence through ranking metrics for a few years now.

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