Archana Surana is the Founder & Director of ARCH College of Design & Business, Jaipur. She has pioneered specialized undergraduate and postgraduate design programs with international and national certifications. She is also the Founder & Chairperson of Women Mentors Forum, impacting more than 1500 women entrepreneurs and professionals.
A Vital Voices Lead Fellow and U.S. State Department alumna, she has served as Vice President of the CUMULUS Executive Board (2022–25) and has been re-elected as a Board Member for the 2025–28 term. She plays an active role in shaping the future of design through her contributions to the CII National Committee on Design, the CBSE Committee on Skill Development, and global networks such as IFFTI and WDO. Her mission through the Design Culture initiative is to foster Design Ability amongst young people to become design Leaders.
Born in Mathbanga, Cooch Behar, and raised in Siliguri, Archana Surana grew up as a quiet yet observant child. Breaking free from traditional expectations, she discovered her path in creativity when she first explored fashion through a summer course. From there, her love for textiles and crafts blossomed, leading to a diploma in Fashion Design. What started in a small apartment with borrowed equipment became ARCH College of Design & Business, a nationally and internationally recognized design institution. Today, Archana carries forward a 30-year journey as a design educator, mentor, and entrepreneur, inspiring thousands of learners worldwide.
Born amidst the pastoral landscapes of Mathbanga in Cooch Behar, Archana Surana- then Archana Kundalia-began her journey in a family of jute traders. Her formative years unfolded in Siliguri, a town in North Bengal where her Rajasthani family had settled. Growing up in this serene yet industrious environment, she found herself engaged in sports and inspired by the rhythms of daily life. These early experiences instilled in her a natural curiosity and an appreciation for both discipline and creativity -qualities that would later shape her leadership.
Although Archana is now celebrated as a bold and outspoken leader, her childhood was defined by a quiet and shy. She preferred observing to speaking, taking in the subtle nuances of people and the world around her. This habit of deep observation became one of her most enduring traits. The leadership qualities she embodies today were seeded during her school years, slowly maturing as she discovered her individuality and aspirations.
Growing up, Archana felt constrained by the traditional expectations placed upon girls in her community. She noticed the freedom and opportunities available to boys and questioned the inequality. Determined to chart a different path, she sought to break these boundaries. A turning point came at age 15 when she received an award from Kiran Bedi for her academic achievements. Meeting India's first female police officer, a trailblazer in a male-dominated field, lit a spark in Archana. From that moment, she embraced her identity as a woman not as a limitation, but as a source of strength and inspiration for her future journey.
Her leadership formally began during her school years, when she became Head Girl at St. Thomas Sr. Secondary School. Yet her path was not without challenges. A defining moment came when she forgot her prepared speech on stage during a school function. The incident left her shaken, but instead of retreating, she chose to adapt. From that day forward, Archana never relied on written speeches again. She trained herself to speak spontaneously, with authenticity and conviction. Whether addressing international conferences in Antwerp or inspiring students as a chief guest in Jaipur, this ability became her hallmark-revealing a leadership style built on confidence, adaptability, and inner strength.
What is today recognized as the ARCH College of Design & Business began in modest circumstances. With just a three-room apartment, some donated equipment, and the unwavering support of her family, Archana laid the foundation of an institution that would soon transform design education in India. Her vision, determination, and belief in co-creation were the catalysts that propelled ARCH from its humble beginnings into a nationally and internationally acclaimed design school.
Interestingly, Archana's foray into fashion and design was not part of her childhood plans. "I had never even picked up a needle and thread during my adolescence," she recalls. Her interest was sparked unexpectedly through a summer course in fashion design-her first real encounter with creativity and self-expression. This experience ignited a passion for design, textiles, and crafts, leading her to pursue a diploma in Fashion Design at the South Delhi Polytechnic. Graduating with distinction, she was invited to return as a teacher. Later, she continued teaching at JD Institute in Jaipur and Deepshikha College of Fashion Technology, solidifying her role as a mentor and educator.
Archana's journey from a shy observer in Siliguri to a pioneering design educator and entrepreneur in Jaipur is a story of resilience, vision, and transformation. Rooted in her belief in entrepreneurship, sustainability, collaboration, and global exchange, she continues to inspire generations of students to create with confidence and to design not only products but also purposeful futures.