EMBA entrepreneurship class sparks idea for kids’ center

When Executive MBA Mumbai student Bharati Mohan was in Professor Doug Villhard’s Entrepreneurial Mindset class, he encouraged the class to solve a problem close to them.

At the time, Mohan was grappling with how to keep her 4-year-old twins engaged and active without becoming addicted to screens. Solving that problem led her to co-found a specialized kids’ activity center, The Motley Otters, which opened in Mumbai earlier this year.

What’s unique about The Motley Otters?

We don’t believe in molding children or asking them to conform. We celebrate individuality. Just as every child is unique, so is every class. Our teachers — including trained psychologists — create a safe, nurturing space where kids can simply be. Shy, playful, decisive, curious — it’s their space to show up as they are, without judgment.

We make it easy for children (and parents) to explore. No lock-ins, no rigid tracks. A child can be an artist one day, a storyteller the next, and a gamer the third. With nine different activities — from art and dance to Krav Maga and puppetry — and many more to come, every day brings a new chance to discover, experiment, and grow.

Indian parents, whom we want to approach, have worked hard, often sacrificing so much, to give their children every possible advantage. It’s natural to want them to excel, to compete, to stand out. But excellence doesn’t always come from early specialization. Research shows that children who explore widely, trying different skills, sports, arts, and ways of thinking, build stronger problem-solving abilities, creativity, and confidence. They develop the “range” to adapt, compete, and lead in the future.

How did your EMBA experience shape your business?

The learnings from EMBA continue to guide me in the way I tackle challenges every day. From applying contribution margin concepts from Cost Accounting to refining our business model with insights from Competitive Strategy, the academic learnings have been invaluable. Just as importantly, the program has shifted my mindset, from looking at problems as constraints to seeing them as opportunities to innovate. 

What has the response to The Motley Otters been?

Parents are gradually beginning to grasp the idea we’re presenting — that giving children the freedom to explore different activities isn’t a compromise, but a path to becoming future-ready. We are now seeing some of our sessions run at full capacity.

What are your plans to grow your business?

By mid-2026, we expect to have at least three centers across the city. Over the next five years, our goal is to expand into India’s top four or five cities, with the aspiration that children everywhere will proudly call themselves “Motley Otters.” 

Why did you call your business The Motley Otters?

Otters are fun, sweet, and a little mischievous, just like children. And true to our philosophy, we don’t want kids to conform; we want each child to bring their own unique identity to our sessions. Together, they form a joyful motley group, hence, The Motley Otters.