Raya Bidshahri | Education Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur. Educator. Futurist.

Raya

Bidshahri

In a world where millions of learners are underserved and
disengaged from their education, there is a critical need for
alternative models.

Raya’s vision is to create a globally recognized education
system that transcends borders, fosters human flourishing,
and promotes progress toward a sustainable future.

Education for
human progress

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Bio

Raya Bidshahri is a serial entrepreneur, keynote
speaker, and award-winning educator. She is the
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of School of
Humanity, an innovative online high school with an
interdisciplinary curriculum. Raya collaborates with
public and private education providers globally to
develop education systems that better serve the
needs of today’s world.

Originally from Iran, Raya grew up in Dubai and
completed her degree in Neuroscience at Boston
University. She then decided to pursue her mission
of reimagining education.

Featured by the BBC as one of the most influential
and inspiring women globally, Raya is a global
thought leader on the future of education.

About

School of
Humanity

School of Humanity is an award-winning online
high school where learners develop their skills by
having a positive impact on the world. Licensed in
the United States, the school is internationally
accredited by the Western Association of Schools
& Colleges.

School of Humanity replaces exams with real-world
projects and offers an interdisciplinary curriculum.

With full-time learners from 27 countries across 6
continents, it is designed to be the High School for
the World.

Awards

BBc 100 Women

NGFP Award

Raya has been named in BBC’s list of 100 most influential and inspiring women for her work in the education industry.

Raya was the main award winner for the Next Generation Foresight Practioner’s Award, organized by the School of International Futures.

Forbes 30 under 30

Raya was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2025 (North America), in the Education Category.

Written Works

What can schools learn from startups?

An education without exams: Is it possible?

Interdisciplinary perspectives: Science education

At School of Humanity, we've been operating at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship.

What are the issues with traditional standardized exams? What are more meaningful alternatives?

A case study of how we teach science as a way of thought and embed interdisciplinary perspectives.

Facilitating internships, mentorship & real-world learning

The Future of Educators: Navigating the new era

Cosmic Perspectives, Essay in Rays of Truth

While we must guide young minds to embrace uncertainty about the ever-changing workforce, we also need to create opportunities for exposure to the workforce.

Being a teacher is more than a job; it's shaping the future. Every lesson, question, and challenge helps sculpt the leaders, thinkers, and creators of tomorrow.

Embracing a cosmic perspective in education is not just about understanding the universe; it's about adopting a long-term view of our existence and our place within the cosmos.

“She owned the state and was a pleasure to listen to and work with throughout the production stage. We are hugely pleased and proud to name her one of the BBC 100 women of the year.” Valeria Perasso, Senior Journalist, BBC World Service

“Her knowledge for education combined with her vision for the future made her an ideal keynote speaker at the summit and one that attracted many of the local media.” Anthony Mesmar, Event Manager, Global Education Supplies & Solutions

“We were so excited to have Raya speak at our event and she did not disappoint, offering thought-provoking insights for our audience of school leaders and education professionals.” Victoria James, Event Director, Bett MEA

Reimagining the future of education

Raya has spoken at more than 60 conferences in over 15 countries, including COP28, the World Government Summit, Expo 2020, EduTech Asia, the G20/Y20 Summit, the Global Education Forum, and the GESS Summit. She has been sharing her expertise as a keynote speaker for over 14 years, bringing a much-needed forward-looking perspective to discussions about the future of education.

Watch

Written and directed by Andrew Morgan and hosted by futurist Ari Wallach, the series challenges the dystopian framework of popular culture.

DXB Today is a lifestyle-based show highlighting different aspects of life in Dubai. Raya joins a panel discussing the rise of online learning.

How can we redesign our education systems for today’s world? Raya shares a practical vision at EduTech Singapore.

PBS Documentary Feature

Dubai One Interview

Keynote at EduTech Singapore

History of the Future

The Rise of Online Learning

Reinventing Education

Press

Watch

Read

GESS talks to Raya Bidshahri about her talk on the power of interdisciplinary thinking, following her keynote on the leadership stage.

Raya was named in BBC’s list of 100 most influential and inspiring women from around – alongside Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, American Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio Cortez, and other trailblazing women.

As the Founder & CEO of School of Humanity, Raya was listed on the Forbes 30 under 30, class of 2025 for “bringing access and opportunity to the classroom and beyond.”

GESS Talks Interview

BBC 100 Women

Forbes 30 under 30

The Power of Interdisciplinary Learning

Celebrating the Female Future

Class of 2024

Contact

Connect with Raya

Please fill out the form below to inquire about speaking engagements, press opportunities, or potential partnerships.