About Us

Ratnakar Poduri, Co-Founder and Chief Instructor of Brilliant Education Group, is a teacher, author, and an engineer with a mission to help students advance their lives through education. Having aced the ACT and SAT himself, he knows how important solid standardized test scores are for college admissions. After earning his Masters in Mathematics from Indiana University, Poduri spent nearly two decades preparing students for college entrance exams. During this time, he also pursued a full-fledged career in management consulting with major corporate companies such as HP, Accenture, and Capgemini. By using a comprehensive approach that goes far beyond that of traditional test prep programs, Poduri has personally prepared over 4500 students for their SATs and ACTs. When he works with his students, he not only teaches them the required skills and strategies to score well on the exams, but he also gives them the confidence needed to excel in any endeavor. When he’s not geeking out, he likes to spend time with his two beautiful daughters, watch all kinds of sports, and solve crossword puzzles.

Robert Schombs is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Brilliant Education Group. He is a graduate of Cornell University, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Master of Arts in Science and Technology Studies. While at Cornell he designed and taught First-Year Writing Seminars and taught SAT prep for the Princeton Review. After graduation, he founded Reason Prep, an SAT/ACT test prep company, and helped thousands of students improve their scores. He also built a test prep YouTube channel that has been viewed for almost 10 million minutes. His teaching philosophy is based on three practices: constant improvement, self-knowledge, and a relentless drive for fundamentals.

Murli Manickam is the Co-Founder and Strategy Advisor for Brilliant Prep. He has spent 25+ years in executive and management positions for Global 50 firms and startups. He uses his experience as an entrepreneur and startup consultant towards the growth and future of Brilliant-Prep. His successes earned interest from multiple global technology conferences where he was invited to present/publish white papers. He has spent years as a mentor, teacher and coach for higher education students at places like Blinn College and others. He has held board and advisory roles at companies like Cliqr (acquired by Cisco), Innowera, RCI, Pinnacle Seven, Gems (acquired by EDS/HP) and others. He has the heart of a technologist and the mind of a businessman, which is reflected in all his ventures. He earned his MS in Computer/Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Prasad is a passionate engineer, mathematician, and technologist with a deep commitment to problem-solving and innovation. He thrives on sharing his extensive knowledge with the next generation, actively teaching and mentoring students and young engineers. As a strong advocate of STEM programs, Prasad not only encourages but also trains young math enthusiasts for competitive math competitions. He leads the academic and AP programs at Brilliant Prep, ensuring students excel in their studies.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Prasad is an avid soccer fan and a promoter of Carnatic music. He is also a devoted father of three, spending quality time with his children on various science and fun projects, fostering their curiosity and love for learning.