Asha Haji: Building the World’s First On-Demand Business School for Startups

Spiffy here! I’m back with the scoop on the entrepreneurial leaders of Planet Earth. As the only Interplanetary journalist stationed on this blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Asha Haji, co-founder of Framework. Let’s see what she’s doing to make a positive impact in the world and UN SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth. Are you ready to be inspired?

Spiffy: Welcome, Asha, it’s great to have you! What challenges are you addressing through your startup, Framework?

Asha: Thanks for having me, Spiffy. We are building the world's first on-demand business school specifically for people navigating their careers at fast-growing tech startups. This community is underserved as most solutions don't address their key pain points: lack of time, lack of guidance, and being overwhelmed by choice. We're developing a comprehensive mobile learning app tailored to their needs.

Spiffy: I’d love to hear more! What motivated you to do it?

Asha: I've been passionate about technology nearly all of my life. I believe technology startups are uniquely positioned to make a huge impact on the world. And it's important that the people who work in these companies can do their very best work and live out their full potential.

Spiffy: How would you say that Framework is going to help create a more equitable world? 

Asha: The secrets to success in the tech sector have not been equitably distributed. Far too often those that get ahead are primarily cisgender white men from a certain socioeconomic background. By providing a learning solution that is accessible to a much wider audience, we can create more opportunities for people from significantly wider backgrounds to accelerate their careers in this space, which is desperately needed.

Spiffy: What are some new initiatives that you’re tackling?

Asha: After getting significant backing from top tech operators (including Founders Forum), we've launched our new website and prototype and are hiring more roles on our team to help us bring Framework to life.

Spiffy: Before we sign off, I always ask entrepreneurs how they handle failure. What about you, Asha? When did you face failure and what did you learn from that experience?

Asha: Well, Spiffy, it’s not necessarily a failure, but we had to navigate all of the trials and tribulations of the pandemic last year when we were running our original program (Founders Academy), which was an in-person alternative MBA. We quickly pivoted to delivering the program virtually and worked with our participants and partners to navigate all of the uncertainty that laid ahead. It required a lot of resilience, but I'm proud we kept cool heads every day and made it through.

Spiffy: So am I! I can’t wait to share this interview, and your insights, with the world. Thanks for speaking with me Asha, it’s been an honor!

Asha Haji, co-founder of Framework, is a computer scientist turned Harvard MBA who has spent her career developing transformative experiences at the intersection of people, technology, and education. After her first chapter as a software engineer, she’s spent the last 10 years working in a variety of leadership roles tackling innovation in education. (Nominated by Pathway Ventures. First published on the Ladderworks website on October 7, 2021.)