At TCS’ quarterly Board of Trustee’s meeting in October 2019, the board voted unanimously to include Bela Gandhi as its newest member. Gandhi is the founder of Smart Dating Academy and a media guru in the dating and relationship world. With a long history of business success, her expertise is a natural fit to support TCS Education System.

After graduating with dual degrees in finance and German from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gandhi worked in mergers and acquisitions for Arthur Andersen in Chicago. She then joined her family’s chemical and manufacturing company (CCC), dividing her time between Chicago and Europe to help business expansion. When the Gandhi family sold its business to Akzo Nobel, she was asked to remain its leader and became Akzo Nobel Non-Stick Coating’s global vice president of housewares.

Chairman of the Board Edward Bergmark, Psy.D., reiterates how important it is to bring new voices to the board. “The board has to be a living, breathing organism for the organization. The key is bringing diverse backgrounds and industries to the table, all aligned with taking TCS to the next level—whatever that may mean.”

Making the leap to start her own company in the relationship world was an exciting new venture, combining her passion and strategic experience. “I’d always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and after seeing success in my family’s business and beyond, I was ready for a new chapter. Smart Dating Academy came about because I saw a need that no one was filling,” Gandhi says. “I knew I had expertise and insight into online dating and relationships, but no one could hire me to do this because no one was doing it this way—with a personal touch. So I paved my own way.”

As The Community Solution in Higher Education, TCS Education System seeks to bring educational opportunity and value to communities throughout the world. Gandhi echoes this principle throughout her business and personal interests.

“At Smart Dating Academy, we get to help people with the most vulnerable aspect of their lives: dating. It’s a kindred devotion to strategic risk-taking and progressive ideals that excites me to serve on the TCS board,” Gandhi says.