Name: Sage Ruparelia

Title: Director

Oranisation: Tuitionworks Ltd

Being brought up in an Indian Family in Uganda, we were given 90 days from Idi Amin to leave the country with £50 in our pockets. We had British passports and settled in Kent. My Father and Mother worked hard to make ends meet. My Father's first job was in John Lewis in the heart of London at £7 per week - this was to support a family of 7. In turn, my mother worked in an oil factory in Kent for many years. As a child, I often worked in the factory during the Summer and Christmas holidays to allow our family to have a decent meal on the table for festivals like Diwali.

We were offered free university education so I pursued my passion for mathematics and studied and passed my Degree with honors - I was in the top 1% of the UK female Indian population to have a Mathematics Degree and graduated in 1994. My passion was to allow refugees who came to the UK to have the same opportunity of free education to follow their dreams. I then graduated from Birmingham University with a Mathematics and PE Teaching Certificate in Education.

Now, after many years of working in UK schools, raising a family, and being compliant the the British values I have my own business - running for 10 years, successful and with over 150 students including teachers in the local area and globally I can help any inspire anyone who has a passion for mathematics and teaching.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Sage's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Inspiring and developing the younger generation to follow their dreams and there is no better message than to teach the youngsters that your dream may come true - in my case being a mathematics teacher.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Teacher Leading Mathematics Teacher Tuitionworks Limited - owning my own business

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I wake up early, have a coffee, and then straight to work (hybrid). I gather 10 minutes during the day for time to myself, then am around to parent my children. I go to bed between 11 am - midnight.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Follow your educational dreams and if you have passion for your work, you will naturally enjoy the job you do and how it can make a difference to your life. It's with no effort.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Run like a girl - Danielle Brown Women of different races, heritage and cultures can succeed in a predominately male leader environment

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Go with your gut instinct

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Marry the right person, my husband and father-in-law have supported me to get where I am. Stay grounded. Life is about being a good person.