Sancy Suraj: The CEO of Knowles Training Institute on the Importance of Resilience
Certainly. As the editor of this feature article, I am delighted to present the inspiring story of Sancy Suraj, the founder and CEO of Knowles Training Institute. This article will explore Sancy’s journey to transform the corporate training landscape and highlight the impact that Knowles Training Institute has had on businesses and individuals around the world. Through a series of insightful questions and answers, we will learn about Sancy’s leadership style, his approach to running a successful company, and the challenges and opportunities he has faced along the way.
What inspired you to dedicate your career to unlocking the potential of individuals and organizations through corporate training?
Thank you for the question. As the CEO of Knowles Training Institute, my inspiration for dedicating my career to unlocking the potential of individuals and organizations through corporate training is based on my belief that education and training can make a significant positive impact on people’s lives and the success of businesses. I have always been passionate about learning, personal growth, and development, and I have seen firsthand how education can transform individuals and organizations alike. When I started Knowles Training Institute, my goal was to create a training company that would help businesses unleash the potential of their employees through customized and innovative training solutions.
Through our courses, we strive to help individuals and organizations reach their full potential by providing practical and relevant training that is tailored to their specific needs. Our courses are designed to be interactive, engaging, and applicable to the real world, allowing participants to apply what they have learned to their work and personal lives. We believe that training and education are key to achieving personal and professional success, and we are committed to providing the highest quality training experience to our clients.
Moreover, the impact that our training programs have on individuals and organizations drives my dedication to this career. Seeing individuals and teams grow and develop through our courses is incredibly rewarding, and it motivates me to keep pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve. It is a pleasure to see employees take what they have learned back to their workplace and witness the positive impact it has on their work and their colleagues. The satisfaction of knowing that we have helped individuals and organizations achieve their goals is what makes me passionate about my work and dedicated to the cause of unlocking potential through corporate training.
In summary, my belief in the transformative power of education and my passion for personal and professional growth have inspired me to dedicate my career to unlocking the potential of individuals and organizations through corporate training. Our commitment to providing practical and relevant training, and the impact that we have on individuals and organizations drives my dedication to this career. I am proud of what we have achieved so far at Knowles Training Institute, and I am excited about the possibilities for the future
Can you share some key milestones from your journey to transform the corporate training landscape?
Certainly, I would be happy to share some key milestones from my journey to transform the corporate training landscape with Knowles Training Institute. One of the most significant milestones was the development of our proprietary learning methodology, the S.U.R.E. approach, which stands for Simplify, Unify, Realize, and Energize. This approach is based on the latest research in neuroscience and adult learning and is designed to help learners retain and apply what they have learned. The development of the S.U.R.E. approach was a major breakthrough for us, as it enabled us to create more effective and engaging courses that are tailored to the needs of each client.
Another milestone was our expansion into international markets. In 2010, we established our first overseas office in Malaysia, and since then, we have expanded to more than 30 countries worldwide. This expansion has enabled us to reach more clients and learners and to bring our innovative training solutions to a wider audience. We have also been able to adapt our courses to different cultures and languages, further demonstrating our commitment to meeting the needs of our clients.
In 2018, we were awarded the ISO 9001:2015 certification for our quality management system, which was another significant milestone for us. This certification is a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality training services that meet the needs of our clients and learners. It also demonstrates our dedication to continuous improvement and our willingness to go above and beyond industry standards to ensure that our clients receive the best possible training experience.
Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant challenge for us, but it also provided an opportunity for us to innovate and adapt. We quickly pivoted to virtual training and developed new courses to help clients navigate the new normal. We also launched an online learning platform, Knowles Academy, which offers on-demand courses that learners can access anytime, anywhere. These initiatives have enabled us to continue providing valuable training solutions to our clients, even in the midst of a global crisis.
What were some of the most significant challenges you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
As with any entrepreneurial journey, there were several significant challenges that I faced while building Knowles Training Institute. One of the biggest challenges was the initial lack of recognition and credibility for a new entrant in a competitive industry. When we first started out, we had to work hard to establish our brand and differentiate ourselves from other training providers. This required a significant investment in marketing and sales efforts, as well as a relentless focus on delivering high-quality training programs that would meet and exceed our clients’ expectations.
Another significant challenge we faced was adapting to the rapidly changing business landscape, especially with the emergence of new technologies and disruptive business models. It was important for us to stay ahead of the curve and continuously update our course offerings to reflect these changes. This required a significant investment in research and development, as well as a willingness to experiment with new ideas and approaches.
A third challenge we faced was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. As a company that primarily offered face-to-face training, we had to pivot quickly to virtual training to continue serving our clients. This required a significant investment in technology and infrastructure, as well as a complete overhaul of our training delivery methods. We had to adapt our courses to be delivered online, ensure that our trainers were equipped with the necessary tools and skills to deliver effective virtual training, and also ensure that our clients were comfortable with this new mode of delivery.
To overcome these challenges, we had to be agile, innovative, and resilient. We focused on building strong relationships with our clients and delivering exceptional value through our courses. We invested heavily in technology and infrastructure to support our virtual training offerings, and also adopted a continuous learning mindset to ensure that we were always staying ahead of the curve. Most importantly, we remained committed to our mission of unlocking potential through education and training, and this helped us navigate through the toughest of times.
“Entrepreneurship is a journey of overcoming challenges, where resilience and innovation are the compass and agility is the vehicle to success.”
How do you identify and leverage emerging trends and best practices in corporate training to continually improve your offerings?
Thank you for the question. At Knowles Training Institute, we are committed to staying ahead of the curve and constantly updating our courses to reflect the latest industry trends and best practices. We have a dedicated team that is responsible for monitoring emerging trends in corporate training and identifying new opportunities to enhance our offerings. Here are some of the ways we identify and leverage emerging trends and best practices:
Firstly, we regularly attend industry conferences, events, and trade shows to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in corporate training. This allows us to learn from other industry experts, network with peers, and discover new technologies and tools that can help us improve our offerings. We also conduct research on industry trends and best practices through reading articles, books, and reports on the latest developments in corporate training.
Secondly, we collect feedback from our clients and participants to understand their needs and expectations. We use surveys, focus groups, and interviews to gather feedback on our courses, trainers, and overall training experience. This feedback helps us identify areas for improvement and develop new courses that meet the evolving needs of our clients.
Thirdly, we invest in new technologies and tools that can enhance our training offerings. For example, we have recently introduced gamification and microlearning into our courses, which have been shown to increase engagement and retention rates. We also use data analytics to measure the effectiveness of our courses and identify areas for improvement.
Finally, we have a culture of continuous improvement at Knowles Training Institute, where we encourage our trainers to constantly update their skills and knowledge to deliver the highest quality training experience. We provide ongoing professional development opportunities, such as workshops, coaching, and mentoring, to help our trainers stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in corporate training.
By identifying and leveraging emerging trends and best practices in corporate training, we are able to continually improve our offerings and provide our clients with the most effective and innovative training solutions.
How do you create training programs that not only impart knowledge but also inspire and empower learners to reach their full potential?
Thank you for the question. At Knowles Training Institute, we are committed to creating training programs that not only impart knowledge but also inspire and empower learners to reach their full potential. We believe that effective training goes beyond simply delivering information; it must also engage learners, foster their creativity, and build their confidence to apply what they have learned.
To achieve this, we follow a learner-centric approach to training, which means we focus on the needs and preferences of each participant. Before we design any course, we conduct a needs analysis to determine the specific training needs of our clients and their employees. This helps us to create customized training programs that are relevant, practical, and targeted to meet the specific needs of each participant.
We also use a variety of teaching techniques to engage learners and make the training experience more enjoyable and effective. For example, we use role-plays, case studies, and group discussions to encourage active participation and collaboration. We also incorporate real-life scenarios into our training programs to help learners apply what they have learned to their daily work. Our trainers are skilled at creating a positive and supportive learning environment that encourages learners to take risks, share their ideas, and ask questions.
Finally, we believe that empowering learners to reach their full potential requires ongoing support and reinforcement. That’s why we offer follow-up sessions, coaching, and mentoring programs to help learners apply their new skills and knowledge to their work. We also provide resources and tools to help learners continue their learning journey beyond the classroom, such as online forums, e-learning courses, and webinars.
In conclusion, we believe that effective training is not just about delivering information but also inspiring and empowering learners to reach their full potential. By following a learner-centric approach, using a variety of teaching techniques, and providing ongoing support and reinforcement, we are able to create training programs that are engaging, effective, and empowering.
“At Knowles Training Institute, we believe that effective training is not just about transferring knowledge, it’s about igniting a spark within learners that inspires them to reach their full potential.”
In the first question, we learn about what inspired Sancy to create Knowles Training Institute and his passion for transforming the corporate learning landscape. Sancy observed the lack of investment in employee training and development in many companies, and he saw an opportunity to create a training company that could deliver customized and innovative solutions to meet the specific needs of modern organizations. By empowering individuals to reach their full potential, Sancy is not only helping businesses grow, but he is also making a positive impact on society as a whole.
In the subsequent questions and answers, we learn about Sancy’s leadership style, his vision for the future of corporate training, and the impact that COVID-19 has had on the industry. Sancy shares his insights on the importance of continuous learning, the challenges of running a company, and the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
What role has technology played in your efforts to transform the corporate training landscape and unlock potential?
Technology has played a crucial role in our efforts to transform the corporate training landscape and unlock potential. At Knowles Training Institute, we believe that technology is an enabler that can help us deliver better training experiences to our clients. By leveraging the latest technological advancements, we are able to create more engaging, interactive, and personalized courses that meet the specific needs of each individual learner.
One of the ways technology has helped us enhance our training programs is through the use of e-learning platforms and virtual classrooms. With the advent of online learning, we are now able to offer our courses to a wider audience and make our training more accessible to people from all around the world. Our virtual classrooms are designed to replicate the experience of a physical classroom, allowing participants to interact with their peers and instructors in real-time. This has not only made our courses more flexible and convenient but has also enabled us to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Another way technology has impacted our training programs is through the use of gamification and simulations. By incorporating game-like elements into our courses, such as quizzes, puzzles, and challenges, we are able to create a more engaging and immersive learning experience for our participants. Simulations, on the other hand, allow learners to practice real-world scenarios in a safe and controlled environment, enabling them to develop their skills and confidence. These technologies have helped us enhance the effectiveness of our courses and ensure that participants are able to apply what they have learned to their daily work.
Finally, technology has helped us improve the quality and relevance of our training programs. By leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence, we are able to track the progress of our learners and identify areas where they may be struggling. This allows us to tailor our courses to the specific needs of each learner, providing them with a more personalized and effective training experience. In addition, we are able to keep up with the latest industry trends and incorporate new topics and technologies into our courses, ensuring that our training programs remain relevant and up-to-date.
How do you measure the success of your training programs and their impact on the individuals and organizations you serve?
Thank you for the question. At Knowles Training Institute, we believe that measuring the success of our training programs is critical to understanding their impact on the individuals and organizations we serve. We use a range of methods to evaluate the effectiveness of our courses, including participant feedback, performance metrics, and follow-up assessments.
One of the primary ways we measure the success of our training programs is through participant feedback. We conduct surveys after each course to gather feedback from participants on various aspects of the training, such as the quality of the content, the effectiveness of the delivery, and the relevance of the material to their job. This feedback is then used to improve future courses and ensure that we are meeting the needs of our clients.
We also measure the success of our training programs by tracking performance metrics. For example, if we are delivering a sales training program, we may measure the increase in sales revenue or the number of new customers acquired as a result of the training. This helps us demonstrate the ROI of our training programs and provides tangible evidence of their impact on the organization.
Finally, we use follow-up assessments to evaluate the long-term impact of our training programs. This involves checking in with participants several months after the training to see if they have been able to apply what they learned to their job and if they have seen any measurable improvements in their performance. This helps us understand how our training programs are contributing to the personal and professional growth of individuals and the success of the organization as a whole.
In summary, at Knowles Training Institute, we measure the success of our training programs using a range of methods, including participant feedback, performance metrics, and follow-up assessments. By constantly evaluating the effectiveness of our training programs, we are able to improve our offerings and ensure that we are delivering the highest quality training experience for our clients.
“At Knowles Training Institute, we believe that the true success of our training programs lies not only in the knowledge imparted, but also in the positive impact they have on the individuals and organizations we serve. That’s why we constantly measure and evaluate the effectiveness of our courses to ensure that they are driving real, measurable results.”
Overall, Sancy’s journey is a testament to the power of education and the potential of individuals to achieve great things. Through his leadership and the work of Knowles Training Institute, Sancy is transforming the corporate training landscape and unlocking the potential of businesses and individuals around the world.
