Testimonials

“Sumana is passionate and driven to establish a culture of debating in UAE. Competitions and programs she has curated have helped students develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills and an open and culturally diverse mindset.”

Miha Andric
Director -Educational Center Argument,
International Debate Education Association, Board of directors,
International Public Policy Forum, Advisory board
Slovenia

“Sumana’s contributions to general and professional education could well be summed up as building bridges. Not only is Sumana able to come up with creative ideas to help people whom she serves become more independent, but she also supports them in reaching and meeting their goals and dreams. We acknowledge Sumana’s contributions as Communication Advisor to our academy.”

David Wilmar
Advisory Board
Eagle Vivia International

“Sumana’s dedication as a coach is remarkable. She not only helps students to perform to the best of their abilities but also helps them become their best self. My son Jihoo has immensely benefitted from her workshops and he has become a very effective communicator and debater. I am truly grateful to Ms. Sumana for nurturing my son.”

Jaeyeon Lee
Parent of Jihoo Lee
South Korea

“Ms.Sumana Chatterjee first became a champion of the World Scholar’s Cup in 2009. She demonstrated great faith in our mission at a time when we were still finding our way -and then she helped us to define and refine it, stepping forward with her extensive debating experience and strong network to host our first-ever regional event in the United Arab Emirates. With her as one of its leaders, our community in the UAE has become one of the most vibrant and international; we often note that our local round in Dubai is essentially a global round in miniature. It would not have become that without Sumana’s contribution and leadership.

Over the last decade, Sumana has mentored dozens, sometimes hundreds of students each year -both at her own school and without hesitation the other schools that have requested her help. Her teams have included Global Round Champions and just as importantly, students who are just starting out, whom she has motivated to overcome their fears and obstacles in public speaking and debating. In 2017, we honored her with Coach of the Year Award but she has deserved that title across her years with us both before and since.”
Daniel Berdichevsky
Founder and Chief Executive
World Scholar’s Cup

“In my 37 years as an educator, I am yet to see a more dedicated teacher who is committed to her craft and her calling in life, her Ikigai.”

Nargish Khambatta
Principal
Vice President Education
GEMS Modern Academy
Dubai

“I am extremely grateful to Ms. Sumana for her influence on my life over the past 6 years. I can say with certainty that I would not be the individual I am today if it were not for her help in embedding critical thinking and debating skills to advance my journey as a debater. I consider myself lucky to have been one of the many students she has enriched with her teaching and I am sure I speak for every other student she has coached throughout her journey. She is a real inspiration. I am genuinely thankful to her for everything she has done for me.”

Varun Pabreja
IB Valedictorian -GEMS Modern Academy ,Dubai
Class of 2022
University of California , San Diego, USA , Class of 2026

“Passion for community service is in Sumana’s DNA. She has indeed been a role model to all her students and also her daughter Divaa. It was incredible seeing them both being so instrumental in the outreach program for refugee kids in Germany by offering online classes in “English as a foreign language”. The foundation was however laid well in advance by Sumana during her visit to Germany in 2016. She started the first interaction with refugee students from Syria studying for their IB Diploma programme through sponsorship from the German government for unaccompanied refugee children in the country. Over the years she has developed a great relationship with schools in Germany where she trains students the 21st Century Skills of Debating and Public Speaking.
The IG Group-Germany was therefore honored to present her with the IG Award for excellence in International education 2022.”

Dr. Naresh Seetharam
Head- International Education/Healthcare and Nursing
The IG Group, Germany

“The ease with which Ms. Chatterjee navigates being a teacher, mentor, and friend is uniquely hers. That she creates a comfortable space for learning was only one thread in the role she has played in my growth as an academic and worldling. Her ambition and vision have relentlessly driven me to find my voice, assert my person, and succeed in the way I want to. My trajectory to becoming the President of the Debate Society at GEMS Modern Academy, representing the UAE at the World Schools Debating Championship and serving on the board of the Columbia Debate Society, had humble beginnings. I was, for a large part of my teenage years, bookish, reticent, and unsure of myself. Of course, I still harbor these qualities, though to a dramatically reduced extent; Ms. Chatterjee was an indispensable part of this arc. She recognized a potential where most would see none; in her classic provocative style, she pushed me out of my comfort zone to travel, to talk to people I wouldn’t have otherwise, to carve out my individuality and to become the debater I am today. “

Adiba Ejaz
Columbia University
USA

“Ms. Sumana Chatterjee has been a guiding force and an inspiration for my daughter, Vishnumaya Deepakchandran in her formative years, both in developing her communication tool kit and by being an empathetic teacher who guided her from the heart and substantially influenced her personal development trajectory as a student.
My daughter came under Ms. Sumana’s guidance in middle school when she found a space to express herself freely and channel ideas in a free-flowing yet impactful manner. Ms. Sumana has patiently helped her learn the foundational principles of communication – how to transform an idea into a well thought out opinion backed by analytical reasoning that aims to convince the audience. Ms. Sumana has inspired my daughter to challenge, rather than blindly accept information she receives. She has moulded her into someone who enquires with an open mind and values the answers she receives. I believe this to be an invaluable skill she carries with her as she steps out now into the world of professional education.”

Anuradha Vijayakrishnan,
Senior Director, Risk and Data Solutions, CEMEA
Visa Inc
Parent

“Ms. Sumana Chatterjee has been an excellent guide, mentor and coach. Not only has she inspired thousands of students to become passionate critical thinkers, debaters, and communicators but has also shown them the right path every step of the way. As my son’s debate coach for over 6 years, Ms. Sumana has not only identified his potential at a very early stage but also nurtured his talent in a systematic manner, eventually transforming him into a leader and mentor himself. From personal experience, I have seen several students’ lives change with Ms. Sumana’s guidance.. I am extremely grateful to her for her unstinting support and guidance of my son.”

Divyaa Sudarsan
Parent of Siddhaarth Chakravarthy
President -Modern Debating Society 2020
Member -UAE National Team 2022

“Ms. Chatterjee has changed my view of what it means to be a teacher. She doesn’t only impart knowledge, though she has lots to share. Rather, her philosophy as an educator is that of holistically helping her students develop and grow. In all the years that I have known Ms. Chatterjee, I have always felt as if I was being mentored and guided, not just taught.

Her drive as a debate coach is unparalleled. I’m always grateful for her tenacity and unwavering determination. The sheer effort she puts into ensuring that her students always have access to a myriad opportunities is truly commendable. Her work in bringing thousands of students into debate rooms and stage podiums across the globe has touched many lives. She has always kept us on the right track, promoting discipline and humility.

“Personalized education” is a phrase that is often used, but rarely implemented. Ask any student of Ms. Chatterjee, and they will agree that she embodies it. She truly cares about each and every student and is skilled at adapting her teaching and coaching to each of their needs and personality. She refuses to rest until she is sure that all of her students are confident. It is this passion, dedication, and kindness that makes all of us so thankful to have her as our coach.”

Shreyas Sharma
Head -Emirates Debate Society
Student of GEMS Modern Academy-Batch 2022
Class of 2026 Stanford University

“I will never be able to express how much Ms. Sumana means to me, how much she has done for me and how much she has helped me evolve as a perceptive individual in the last seven years.

Today, I think I can confidently say that I’ve never met another coach who exudes so much energy, optimism, dedication, passion, and dynamism as her. I will never be able to thank her enough for the extra effort she has put in, to make me a confident speaker and communicator. I would never have been able to muster the self-confidence to participate in the Tournament of Champions of the WorldScholar’s Cup if it were not for the belief and the trust, she had on me.

In the winter of Grade 8 when I found myself in the Woolsey Hall atYale University among three thousand students and a thousand adults, I realized that participating in an international competition abroad was no mean feat. I still remember the pride, the contentment, and the tears of joy on Ms. Sumana’s face when our team was declared the champion team internationally.

The late-night debate trainings, the early morning quiz practices, the daily stay-backs after school– I really don’t have words to thank her. Her heartfelt dedication to her work has constantly fueled us to delve into the joy of learning and aspire for the best.

When I fulfil my dream of becoming a professor, I promise I will try to impact my students in the same holistic way as she has been impacting us for so many years.“

Anwesha Mukherjee
Grade 12 student
GEMS Modern Academy, Dubai