Entrepreneur. Educator. Futurist.
Raya
Bidshahri
Education for human progress
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.
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 learners and alumni from over 30 countries across 5 continents, it is designed to be the High School for the World.
Awards
BBc
100 Women
Raya has been named in BBC’s list of 100 most influential and inspiring women for her work in the education industry.
NGFP
Award
Raya was the main award winner for the Next Generation Foresight Practioner’s Award, organized by the School of International Futures.
Bett MEA
Award
Raya has been a finalist in three different categories at the Bett MEA awards: Innovation, Collaboration, and Leadership.
Evolving
Education
School of Humanity was the main-award winner at the ETech evolving education award for innovation in education.
Written Works
What can schools learn from startups?
At School of Humanity, we've been operating at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship.
An education without exams: Is it possible?
What are the issues with traditional standardized exams? What are more meaningful alternatives?
Interdisciplinary perspectives: Science education
A case study of how we teach science as a way of thought and embed interdisciplinary perspectives.
Facilitating internships, mentorship & real-world learning
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.
The Future of Educators: Navigating the new era
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.
Cosmic Perspectives, Essay in Rays of Truth
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.
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.
“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.”
|
“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.”
|
“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.”
|
Press
PBS Documentary Feature
History of the Future
Written and directed by Andrew Morgan and hosted by futurist Ari Wallach, the series challenges the dystopian framework of popular culture.
Dubai One Interview
The Rise of Online Learning
DXB Today is a lifestyle-based show highlighting different aspects of life in Dubai. Raya joins a panel discussing the rise of online learning.
Keynote at EduTech Singapore
Reinventing Education
How can we redesign our education systems for today’s world? Raya shares a practical vision at EduTech Singapore.
GESS Talks Interview
The Power of Interdisciplinary Learning
GESS talks to Raya Bidshahri about her talk on the power of interdisciplinary thinking, following her keynote on the leadership stage.
BBC 100 Women
Celebrating the Female Future
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.
School of Humanity Team Interview
Creating the High School for the World
School of Humanity was founded from a place of inspiration of what education could be. Raya shares her vision and origin story for the online high school.
Connect with Raya
Please fill out the form below to inquire about speaking engagements, press opportunities, or potential partnerships.
