Dr Appu Kuttan
Founder & Chairman
National Education Foundation (NEF) | McLean, Virginia, USA
Janam Bhumi:
Kollam, Kerala, India
Dharma Bhumi:
Kollam, Kerala, India
Karma Bhumi:
McLean, Virginia, USA
Serving Success, Acing Impact
The ‘Dr Kuttan’ Factor: “Discipline and compassion are the seeds of freedom and success. Once you embrace them, life’s results start working in your favour.”
THE MAN
What do tennis legends like Andre Agassi and Monica Seles, and world leaders, including US Presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi have in common? Dr Appu Kuttan was their mentor and/or adviser at one point.
Dr Kuttan was always meant to be shaping lives, be it in sports, politics, or education. Born in 1941 in Kollam, Kerala, Dr Kuttan inherited a sense of purpose and duty from both his parents. His father was a star football player of the bare-footed India national football team that defeated the British Army team, and his mother was an obstetrician who never hesitated to rush to a patient’s aid, even in the middle of the night.
Dr Kuttan’s parents also taught him the importance of discipline and physical and mental wellbeing. “As a child, I practiced yoga and meditation with my mother, who encouraged my critical thinking process. I also completed rigorous daily workouts with my father.”
Growing up in a large family with three brothers and a sister, Dr Kuttan also developed sensitivity to individual needs—an asset that would later enhance his understanding of society.
THE JOURNEY
To maintain excellence in both academics and sports, Dr Kuttan would often finish his syllabus during the summer prior to a school year so that he could devote time to football and athletics, acing both during the school year. His academic brilliance only soared as he pursued a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kerala and completed it in 1963. Soon after, he moved to Bombay in search of opportunities and applied to elite companies, including Larsen & Turbo (L&T). “The Danish manager was impressed with my credentials and made me the first management trainee six months before the programme officially began.”
Perhaps, the manager also saw Dr Kuttan’s intellectual curiosity, a driving force since his student days. Two things happened to him in school. First, he read an article about Walt Disney and wrote to him. Walt responded to him with enchanting pictures of Disneyland, and that he says, “made up my mind to move to America.” Second, he read Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography that inspired him to give back.
The American dream was realised with the prestigious Tata Scholarship for higher studies in the United States. He completed his Master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1966, followed by a PhD, in Industrial and System Engineering, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1968. He then wrote a book on ‘Management By Systems’. Systems thinking became his foundation that helped him build robust ecosystems that brought predictable and sustainable excellence, using the 4 Ps for success, namely Purpose, Plan, Passion and Perseverance.
In 1970, he helped to reduce traffic deaths in Puerto Rico by 20 percent. He also helped to secure accreditation for the University of Puerto Rico’s Industrial Engineering programme in record time and became the youngest tenured professor in the US.
His belief in the systems approach led Dr Kuttan to create the Total Tennis System, when he acquired the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, in the mid ’80s. “The goal was to develop not just excellent players, but world champions in focus and resilience,” he explains. Under his mentorship, future legends such as Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, and Jim Courier honed their craft, became world champions, and rose to global prominence.
When he sold the academy, Dr Kuttan, instead of squirrelling away the nest egg, invested most of it into funding the National Education Foundation (NEF), the nonprofit organisation that he founded in 1989.
The NEF is dedicated to bridging academic, digital, and job-skill divides, especially for disadvantaged students and adults. Under his leadership, NEF has helped thousands of US schools modernise their learning environments. The man credited with coining the term ‘CyberLearning’ has always been ahead of the curve – on a mission to ensure equal access to quality education across the globe.
Dr Kuttan has also been an adviser to several world leaders, including US Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. In India, he worked closely with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on conceptualising India’s IT Vision in the 1980s.
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
Dr Kuttan’s father once received an offer to play football for the British army team, which he rejected. “Later, my father realised that he could have become the top commander of the Indian Army, had he accepted the offer,” Dr Kuttan recalls. His father, therefore, always advised him to take advantage of any unique opportunities that came his way. It became a mantra of life for Dr Kuttan who has never missed an opportunity to grow, excel, and give back to society.
Through NEF, he has launched many large-scale philanthropic initiatives, including the twin job readiness visionary programmes, Get America Jobready (GAJ) and Make India Great (MIG). He also developed the Mind–Body–Soul (MBS) philosophy, a practical guide to happiness. Dr Kuttan is the process of creating the Appuji MBS Centre initiative to help children and adults nurture mind, body and soul in a happy environment.
THE LEGACY
The mentor to tennis stars and adviser to world leaders draws his constant strength from his six decades long “magical and prosperous” partnership with his wife, Claudia. He says, “Claudia has made my life easier. With the foundation handling multiple schemes simultaneously, she has allowed me to focus on my work, always with a smile and with no complaints.” Claudia; their son Raj, a US Presidential Honouree with a JD-MBA from Stanford; and their daughter Maya, a US Global Warming representative with a JD from UCLA, all serve as Vice Presidents at NEF.
Just as philanthropy is a family endeavour, so is practising meditation and yoga, which has perpetuated values of discipline and spirituality that will be passed along to future generations. Dr Kuttan shares his wisdom freely and in abundance. His advice is simple. “To be happy, nurture your mind with positive, creative thoughts; your body with healthy food and enjoyable activity; and your soul by showing love, care, and compassion to others.”
Through his books and initiatives, he empowers anyone seeking career guidance or personal growth. His book, ‘Happy Executive – Nurturing Mind, Body and Soul’, is freely accessible at www.nationaleducationfoundation.org to anyone who wants to achieve holistic success.
Dr Kuttan was born to be a mentor, and a remarkable one he is!
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“As a child, Bharat to me was family, values, and community spirit in my hometown. Today, Bharat is a global IT, innovation, and culture leader. The foundation is the same, compassion and resilience, but the reach has expanded to the world.”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“No matter where I went, I carried with me the Bharatiya values of compassion, ‘dharma’, and discipline. These values are not bound by geography; they adapt and flourish wherever we go.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“Our children and grandchildren growing up abroad embody a new Bharatiya identity. They are global citizens who combine modern opportunities with timeless Bharatiya principles of family, respect, and service. This balance gives them strength and clarity in life.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“I take immense pride in Bharat’s progress, from a land of great traditions to a global innovation hub. What drives this journey is the spirit of Bharat: the will to give, the courage to dream, and the perseverance to transform challenges into opportunities.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“My dream is for every young Bharatiya to be job-ready, globally competitive, and rooted in compassion. The future of Bharat lies in its youth, if they gain high-demand skills, especially in AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Management Systems, etc., and nurture their mind, body, and soul daily– they can lead not just India, but the entire world towards progress with purpose. Remember, India has the largest youth population in the world.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
As a young boy, I revelled in simple joys of fresh coconut-based dishes and homemade healthy snacks.
NOW
Today, I prefer healthy, balanced meals that fuel my body and mind.
Sport Spirit
THEN
Growing up, football and athletics were my passion, and I pushed myself to be the best in both school and university.
NOW
I channel the same spirit into my daily 84-minute workouts, (I am 84), yoga and meditation, and into motivating youth to achieve their goals.
Music Tastes
THEN
I grew up enjoying movie music and classical Indian melodies that echoed through our home.
NOW
My playlist blends timeless ‘ragas’, American and world music such as pop, hip-hop, country and salsa that inspire happiness, peace and focus.
Holiday Life
THEN
It meant family gatherings, temple visits, and the simple pleasures of Kerala’s backwaters.
NOW
They have become moments to reflect, travel with family, and continue my mission of service wherever I go.
Leisure Habits
THEN
As a child, it meant playing football with friends or reading schoolbooks ahead of time.
NOW
Leisure is writing, mentoring, ‘making a difference’ activities and sharing my books and experiences to guide and inspire the next generation.
AKA
Indian American philanthropist | Creator of Cyberlearning and MBS
