As the founding CEO of Innoventures Education, a leading pre-K-12 international private education company based in Dubai, UAE, Poonam has played a pivotal role in the establishment and leadership of some of Dubai’s leading schools and nurseries. These include Dubai’s first IB continuum school – Dubai International Academy at Emirates Hills and at Al Barsha, Collegiate International School, Raffles World Academy, Raffles International School and the Raffles Early Childhood Centres. Today, Innoventures Education educates over 9,500 students from more than 120 countries and has over 1,700 teaching and support staff from around the globe.

Prior to her career as an educationist, Poonam worked in international technology specialising in the Financial Services Industry across India, USA, the Benelux, Hong Kong, Oman, Sweden and the UAE with global organisations such Tata Consultancy Services, Philips and ABN AMRO Bank.

Poonam has had the honour of being recognised as ‘Education CEO of the Year’ as well as ‘Indian Female Entrepreneur of the Year’ by ITP. Poonam has featured again in the Forbes Middle East 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2025 and was awarded the Gulf News Being She’s Excellence Award for Education in 2024.