Dr Selva Pankaj: Celebrating 25 Years of Regent Global

August 2024 marks a significant milestone for me and my wife, Tharshiny, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Regent Global. This journey has been one of dedication, growth, and unwavering commitment to a vision we both hold dear.

The Start of the Journey
While the official story of Regent Global began in 1999, its roots trace back to 1996 when I first met Tharshiny, my partner in life and business. Both of us arrived in the UK during the 1980s as refugees fleeing the civil war in Sri Lanka. We were united by shared values—determination, consistency, and an unyielding work ethic. Two years later, we married and began laying the foundation for what would become Regent Global.

At that time, I was building a career in the City, working with renowned financial and investment institutions like Fortress Investment Group and Prudential Financial Inc. Despite my long hours, Tharshiny and I found ourselves struggling to make ends meet.

In 1999, we began offering A-Level Accountancy tuition from our home, charging just £20 per session. These early lessons, conducted around our dining table, were the spark that ignited 25 years of educational excellence.

By 2000, we officially established Regent Global. What began as a modest tutoring initiative in our home quickly expanded into a dedicated facility in Rayners Lane, northwest London.

While I continued my career in the City, Tharshiny took charge of Regent Independent College (RIC), managing the business while also caring for our home and our eldest daughter, who was born in 2002.

Joint Leadership and Expansion
As RIC thrived, the demands on Tharshiny were immense, especially with the arrival of our second daughter in 2007. By 2009, we made the mutual decision that I would leave my City career behind and take on the role of CEO of Regent Group (as Regent Global was then known). This was a turning point for us, as we worked together to transform Regent Global into a dynamic, multi-divisional operation.

The Present Day
In 2024, we rebranded Regent Group as Regent Global to reflect our evolution into a global entity with a focus on education, impactful investment, and economy building.

Our achievements are a testament to our skills and persistence, but they are also a reflection of the opportunities that have expanded our horizons. This awareness drives our commitment to providing resources and initiatives that foster continuous learning and growth. Our most recent initiative, Public Learn, offers Sri Lankan citizens free access to education. Additionally, all Regent students benefit from the exclusive Thinking into Character™ programme—a series of 12 online lessons that I developed to accelerate personal and professional success.

Looking to the Future
By 2030, Tharshiny and I aim to lead Regent Global as a British unicorn—a privately-held company valued at one billion dollars. We also aspire to establish Regent Hill University, a new British institution focused on unlocking human potential through transformative mindset shifts.

A quarter of a century since its inception, Regent Global stands as a testament to what can be achieved through hard work, resilience, and a commitment to growth. As we look to the future, I am filled with excitement and determination to continue this journey with the same passion that has brought us this far.

SP