MUMBAI: Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organisation behind the television show Sesame Street has announced that Laura Smith and Palak Solanki have joined as VP of Formal Learning and VP of Business Planning and Analysis respectively.
Smith will report to executive VP of Education, Research and Outreach Dr. Lewis Bernstein, while Solanki will report to chief strategy and administrative officer Susan Kolar.
 
Smith will help the Workshop define and provide a transformative educational experience for pre-schoolers in formal classrooms and centers across America using Sesame Street‘s educational assets. His work will focus on how Sesame Street can best provide effective and delightful instructional materials for children, professional development for teachers, and new ways to engage parents and families to learn together at home.

The responsibilities include conducting research and analysis to inform strategic direction, coordinating a cross-functional project team to design and launch key programmes and securing internal and external support and investment from diverse audiences.

Solanki will be responsible for identifying and developing long term strategic business opportunities and evaluating potential acquisitions and other investments. In addition, she will be responsible for facilitating company-wide strategic planning activities and conducting business analysis for key initiatives and ventures.

Sesame Workshop president and CEO Gary E. Knell says, "We are thrilled to add Laura Smith and Palak Solanki to our team as part of our efforts to expand Sesame Workshop‘s educational reach by providing quality content for children in schools and communities. Laura and Palak will be shaping new paths for the Workshop in today‘s environment where the models for education and business are evolving with the success of digital technologies."