Principal, Lead Consultant

Rajwantie Sahai

I am a dynamic and strategic education leader dedicated to creating data-informed, equity-driven programs that harness technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to unlock opportunities and empower students, families, and communities. With over a decade of experience directing scalable initiatives across K–12, college access, and workforce pathways, I offer a grounded, cross-sector perspective and a firm belief in the transformative power of people, partnerships, and purposeful design.

I’ve led a national virtual college advising program, designed educator development initiatives, and supported global evaluations of education and youth development efforts. At every step, I’ve sought to make systems work better for the people they serve, with a commitment to equity and operational excellence. I’m currently open to collaborations and opportunities with teams working on bold solutions in education, youth development, social impact, or strategy, where a grounded, high-capacity collaborator can help bring those visions to life. I’m passionate about building systems that help communities thrive. Over my 15 years of professional experience, beginning as a classroom teacher and evolving into senior leadership roles with reputable non-profit organizations, I’ve been able to translate strong visions for achieving equitable life opportunities for all children, their families, and educators into scalable, sustainable, and visible impact.

My academic background sits at the intersection of child and youth psychology, public policy, and economic development. I’ve focused on designing and evaluating programs that expand access to opportunity—especially for communities historically left out. In the most recent 8 years of my career, I’ve developed a strong passion for identifying ways for technology to bridge gaps in access and capacity, especially in the process of learning, training, and practice, and in school settings and training or tutoring interactions.

I’ve been trained in both quantitative and qualitative methods, including survey design, data analysis, and field-based evaluations to assess the impact and scalability of programs. That work is always grounded in an understanding of the systems that shape academic and life outcomes, particularly how inequities are created and sustained.

I care deeply about community and believe in the power of partnership, family and community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration to drive change. I approach every project with a sense of responsibility and a commitment to using data, voice, and shared learning to create lasting impact.

Professional History

Matriculate

Senior Director, Advising Fellowship Experience & Impact

I led the national strategy for a multi-state virtual college advising program serving 3,000+ high school students annually through 900 undergraduate volunteers, ensuring high-quality advising and maintaining enrollment rates above 94% across diverse sites, even during pandemic disruptions. Stepping into a newly created role, I built and scaled the program delivery team from the ground up, doubling team size and managerial capacity while centering data-informed, equity-driven implementation.
I developed real-time monitoring dashboards to track stakeholder engagement and advising milestones, partnered with cross-functional teams to enhance digital safety compliance and volunteer management systems, and integrated just-in-time training content and Slack-based peer problem-solving communities to increase volunteer retention and learner outcomes. This work required fast iteration, resourcefulness, and cross-functional coordination to build scalable systems in a resource-constrained environment while maintaining impact, accountability, and continuous learning.

Global Cities, Inc. – A Program of Bloomberg Philanthropies

Education Program Manager

At Global Cities, I crafted digital professional development content for educators using web-based coaching tools aligned with high-quality instructional materials and culturally relevant pedagogy. I partnered with government education agencies and leaders to support program implementation across 50+ schools, both domestically and internationally, building collaborative relationships that advanced program objectives.
I developed and analyzed surveys from over 13,000 students and 600 educators, utilizing tools like SurveyMonkey and Salesforce to generate actionable insights that informed program design and stakeholder reporting. This role honed my ability to translate data into meaningful program improvements while supporting educators to implement best practices in diverse learning environments.

GO Project

Director of Academics and Enrichment

I directed operations across five elementary and middle school service sites, ensuring high-quality learning environments and positive student outcomes for 650+ students. I recruited, trained, and supervised 150+ part-time educators, increasing staff retention from 40% to 80% while designing a professional development framework that emphasized data-driven instruction, social-emotional learning, and enrichment subjects.
Leading academic strategy, I developed curriculum, assessments, and monitoring systems, and guided site directors to design program scopes and sequences using backward design, rubric-based assessments, and adult learning best practices. This work strengthened instructional quality and built a culture of continuous improvement across the organization.

Social Impact, Inc.

Senior Program Associate

At Social Impact, I managed 10+ USAID and State Department contracts valued between $140,000 and $1 million, delivering education and economic development outcomes across multiple countries while ensuring adherence to donor expectations. I co-authored evidence-based reports presenting data from mixed-methods research, including the widely referenced “Eastern and Caribbean Youth Assessment,” providing actionable recommendations for program improvement and sustainability.
I oversaw program evaluation projects, facilitating cross-sector collaboration and ensuring that findings translated into practical improvements for education and youth development initiatives globally. This experience strengthened my ability to manage complex projects, analyze diverse data sets, and contribute to global learning agendas.

Teaching Experience

Teach For America – Greater New Orleans, 2008 – 2010

West St John High School (Edgard, LA), Grades 8 – 12 Social Studies, 2008 – 2010

Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy (Washington, D.C.), Grade 6 World Geography, Public Policy, 2010 – 2012

I began my career as a classroom teacher, leading instruction across elementary and secondary grades with a commitment to building rigorous, affirming learning environments for diverse student populations. I focused on aligning curriculum to standards while integrating culturally responsive teaching practices, designing lessons that fostered critical thinking, curiosity, and student voice.
In addition to classroom instruction, I collaborated with colleagues to analyze student data, adapt instructional strategies, and contribute to school-wide initiatives that advanced student learning and well-being. My teaching experience grounded my belief in the power of high-quality education and has remained central to my approach as a program designer and leader—centering student needs, ensuring equity, and partnering with educators to drive meaningful outcomes.

Education

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Master of Education (M.Ed.), 2012

Discipline: International Education Policy

Boston College

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), 2008

Major: Psychology || Minors: Sociology, Economics

Certifications

AI in Education: Leveraging ChatGPT for Teaching

University of Pennsylvania

July 2025