My unique experiences growing up inspired me to build a nonprofit organization dedicated to help people discover their purpose in life and develop essential life skills. My name is Maryam Sharifi, founder of Global Enlightenment Academy and Community. Growing up as the “odd one out” in Iran, I saw the world differently from my siblings, which shaped my perspective and later guided my journey. My vision was ignited at a women’s seminar in 2008 when the speaker challenged us to reflect on what we truly want in life. As you’ll discover in The Calling, this vision has deep roots in my childhood.
After the 2008 financial crisis led to my layoff from a corporate job, I seized the opportunity to reevaluate my life and embarked on a journey of self-mastery. Since then, I have organized workshops, seminars, and Meetup groups with weekly masterminds, sharing valuable insights with my community. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to learning the tools needed to become the leader my vision deserves. I attended a holistic school in San Diego, where I embraced Eastern philosophy, and completed 13 months of coaching with Bob Proctor, J.T. Foxx, Everest, and George Morris. I also studied at Leadership Academy with Tony Robbins and engaged in masterminding with the Noble Goldman Community.
Through this journey, I realized that knowledge alone isn’t power; it becomes powerful when shared and applied. At Global Enlightenment Academy, my goal is to bring this knowledge to those who may not have had the resources or time to learn it. I aim to collaborate with other inspiring coaches, teachers, and mentors who are committed to elevating human consciousness.
My vision is to create a community of eager learners, visionaries, and life learners equally interested in creating a better world and serving others. Although I do not regret all the life challenges that made me who I am today, I do not want others to feel as I did; hopeless, alone, without guidance, mentors, and resources.
Growing up, my passion for learning and books helped me discover a different way of looking at the world. It was this passion for learning that drove me to pick myself back up after my divorce, my business failure, and relationship breakups, and continue on the path toward building a welcoming and joyous community of equally interested life learners. In the era of Artificial Intelligence, we need more specialized knowledge and skills to live up to our true human potential. That’s why I wanted to improve the education system to provide a better background of information and understanding of the world and to extract the true potential of each student and clarify their desire and purpose in life. I want to help children make good decisions that prepare them for situations they will go through later in life and provide women with the skills and knowledge to take care of themselves and be more resourceful.
My vision is to make a positive difference in the lives of people and the new generation and leave a lasting legacy behind. I envision our academy as a lighthouse that guides our future children to follow their dreams and grow into compassionate, mindful, and purpose-driven individuals. I am passionate about getting back to nature and bringing ourselves closer in touch with our mother Earth, creating a harmonious community that inspires collective growth and transformation.
