Biswamohan Mishra : Bridging Teaching & Technology For A Futuristic Learning Landscape
Biswamohan Mishra
Founder & CEO
Biswamohan Mishra started his career at IIT Limited in Delhi, serving international markets from India while gaining experience in business development, instructional design, and client relations. He oversaw big teams as the Global Vice President of Operations at Aptara before starting SME Learning Solutions 11 years ago.
His executive approach and hands-on development leadership have allowed SME Learning Solutions to grow with a distinctive company model. The business still offers cutting-edge e-learning solutions today, which reflects Mishra's dedication to advancing the sector's expansion while ensuring confidentiality and maintaining quality in corporate operations.
In a close interview with us, Biswamohan shared his interesting journey and also his future plans.
With over 30 years of experience, how has your journey to success been, and what principles or strategies have guided you along the way?
Years of practical experience in a variety of leadership positions, such as CDO, CEO, or VP, where I oversaw operations and actively assisted the sales team in problem-solving, have influenced my success. My ability to find the best solutions for clients in a variety of industries and business demands has been facilitated by my level of involvement. My operational background allows me to confidently set realistic pricing, timelines, and quality standards that meet client expectations.
Understanding business concepts taught in schools is not enough to succeed in this career, you also need to be well-versed in the
specifics of the e-learning and training sector. Sales teams frequently present solutions that might not match the needs of the customer leading to missed opportunities. By bridging the gap between operations and sales, I can make sure that we deliver solutions that are valuable and feasible at the appropriate time, cost, and quality.
CEOs, by design, tend to focus more on sales and company expansion. However, due to my experience and involvement in operations, I am well-versed in handling both sales and operational responsibilities. This enables me to consistently meet, and often exceed, customers' expectations in every transaction.
In an ideal organization, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) should focus on operations and product delivery, while the Head of Sales should concentrate on driving sales. However, close cooperation between the two departments is essential to ensure organizational success.
What are the latest technologies your organi- zation has implemented to create engaging e-learning experiences?
AI is becoming a crucial component of several businesses, including the creation of e-learning. The fundamental tools for producing e-learning content, such as Articulate Storyline and Articulate Rise, are still in use today, including within our company. In addition to these, we use subscription-based AI powered technologies such as Vyond and others that create animations and films from given scripts.
Although ChatGPT and Copilot are useful tools for content production, they serve more as starting points than finished products. Our instructional designers polish AI-generated content to make it instructionally rich and audience-specific because we specialize in creating IP and copyrighted content for customers. AI can generate basic scripts and raw content, but to truly engage learners, the language, structure, and presentation must be manually customized.
How would you describe your leadership style? What principles or methodologies guide you as a leader?
Setting a good example is the foundation of my leadership approach. Whether it's client management project management, or sales, I think it's
CEOs, by design, tend to focus more on sales and company expansion. However, due to my experience and involvement in operations, I am well-versed in handling both sales and operational responsibilities. This enables me to consistently meet, and often exceed, customers' expectations in every transaction.
Success lies in under standing your product, aligning it with client needs, and nurturing internal talent
In an ideal organization, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) should focus on operations and product delivery, while the Head of Sales should concentrate on driving sales. However, close cooperation between the two departments is essential to ensure organizational success.
What are the latest technologies your organi- zation has implemented to create engaging e-learning experiences?
AI is becoming a crucial component of several businesses, including the creation of e-learning. The fundamental tools for producing e-learning content, such as Articulate Storyline and Articulate Rise, are still in use today, including within our company. In addition to these, we use subscription-based AI powered technologies such as Vyond and others that create animations and films from given scripts.
Although ChatGPT and Copilot are useful tools for content production, they serve more as starting points than finished products. Our instructional designers polish AI-generated content to make it instructionally rich and audience-specific because we specialize in creating IP and copyrighted content for customers. AI can generate basic scripts and raw content, but to truly engage learners, the language, structure, and presentation must be manually customized.
How would you describe your leadership style? What principles or methodologies guide you as a leader?
Setting a good example is the foundation of my leadership approach. Whether it's client management project management, or sales, I think it's
important to show best practices in every area of the company. I expect my functional leads and AVPs to be informed, hands-on, and ready to engage actively, without relying on scripted responses. To set a standard, I mentor my team in project execution, proposal writing, and client relations. I also foster a people-centric culture by treating colleagues like family and nurturing a positive work environment.
What are your future goals and the direction you are striving towards?
Our future roadmap focuses on scaling the business to rank among the top 10 e-learning content providers globally. We expect a 30-fold increase in revenue over the next five years as a result. Our dedication to excellence and strategic direction are guided by this goal.
Given your extensive industry experience, what guidance would you offer to emerging leaders in the field?
Emerging leaders need to have a thorough under standing of the fundamental functions of their orga nization in addition to having business or sales skills. Understanding how goods and services are created allows for more efficient customer interaction and solution alignment, which is the foundation of true leadership. To make wise choices and establish trust, get involved in the production process rather than just sales.
Additionally, to ensure long-term growth and retention, invest in developing new people rather than depending solely on industry hiring. Our organization places a high priority on developing young workers, which results in almost 0 percent attrition. Resilience is also necessary for leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we made calculated changes to address the worldwide labour shortage. Understanding your prod uct, matching client needs with workable solutions, cultivating internal talent, and remaining flexible in a market that is changing quickly are all essential for success.
Biswamohan Mishra, Founder & CEO, SM E-learning Solutions
With more than 32 years of experience, Biswamohan Mishra is a seasoned leader in the e-learning sector with expertise in digital learning solutions, instructional design, and company development. His inspiring leadership continues to drive innovation, scalability, and global reach in the e-learning industry.
What are your future goals and the direction you are striving towards?
Our future roadmap focuses on scaling the business to rank among the top 10 e-learning content providers globally. We expect a 30-fold increase in revenue over the next five years as a result. Our dedication to excellence and strategic direction are guided by this goal.
Given your extensive industry experience, what guidance would you offer to emerging leaders in the field?
Emerging leaders need to have a thorough under standing of the fundamental functions of their orga nization in addition to having business or sales skills. Understanding how goods and services are created allows for more efficient customer interaction and solution alignment, which is the foundation of true leadership. To make wise choices and establish trust, get involved in the production process rather than just sales.
Additionally, to ensure long-term growth and retention, invest in developing new people rather than depending solely on industry hiring. Our organization places a high priority on developing young workers, which results in almost 0 percent attrition. Resilience is also necessary for leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we made calculated changes to address the worldwide labour shortage. Understanding your prod uct, matching client needs with workable solutions, cultivating internal talent, and remaining flexible in a market that is changing quickly are all essential for success.
Biswamohan Mishra, Founder & CEO, SM E-learning Solutions
With more than 32 years of experience, Biswamohan Mishra is a seasoned leader in the e-learning sector with expertise in digital learning solutions, instructional design, and company development. His inspiring leadership continues to drive innovation, scalability, and global reach in the e-learning industry.