I truly believe that I have had a lot of miracles in my life so far. I also know that I’ve chosen to see those miracles in my life without resisting them. I’ve instead, invited into uncertainty and expansion beyond my wildest imagination. This is my story.
I started my life in a tight-knit Indian American community in San Diego, California. You could have described me as the typical “good” student. After attending UC Irvine as a biology major, I began to question my career goals of becoming a doctor. What sparked this change in me? It was actually while on an unplanned trip to India, I had an epiphany. I saw young children begging on the streets in villages in Northern India, and they had no access to local schools in their town. This shook me to my core.
It was then I realized something. I was here on this earth for something greater than the simple, limiting career options that were normalized by my community. Upon my return, I spontaneously applied to Teach For America, also an experience I never thought I would have, which changed the course of my entire life. I stepped into my power - I was a teacher. I knew it in my soul and I never looked back.
Through Teach for America, I taught 6th and 7th grade underserved middle school students in Richmond, CA for five years. The minute I stepped into the classroom, I realized I had found my calling, and over those years, I developed a fiery passion for teaching, leading, and supporting others in their own experiences of personal growth. I formed deep relationships with my students, and I learned to empower them through a culture of conscious connection and intentional action. I also worked with diverse teachers, inspiring them to lose control and personalize their learning curriculum and classroom settings for their students’ benefit.
But I wasn’t fulfilled. I wanted more from the educational system. I realized I didn’t agree with the way the public system assesses student and teachers’ growth and success. I realized I didn’t agree with standardized testing and grades. So, after gaining all I could from this opportunity- particularly insight into effective school leadership and well-run organizational settings- I set out to bring a business lens to the education space. To achieve this goal. I attended the USC Marshall School of Business for my MBA and gained technical skills in finance, operations, data analytics, and strategy.
In my second year, I was elected as President of the Full-Time MBA Class of 2020, allowing me the opportunity to lead and serve Marshall’s greater community towards holistic well-being. What is more, my MBA experience helped me identify my life goal, being to leverage my passions for education and business to shift the paradigm in our education system by creating a conscious, alternative school that is solely for the purpose of one thing – a child’s consciousness.
Alongside my MBA studies, I intentionally furthered my own consciousness journey through being an active Kundalini yoga practitioner for over two years, alongside other meditative practices. And now, I feel charged to bring these spiritual practices and learnings to the world of education utilizing these ancient tools of healing.
After graduating from my MBA, I decided to embark on a new journey of building my business as an educational consultant. I didn’t know exactly where my business would take me, but I knew one thing. “Action breeds clarity.” Instead of trying to seek perfectionism, I moved into a place of experimentation, and trying new ideas to see if they would stick.
At the same time, I felt called to write a book about my vision for education. It was here that I joined a book program (another miracle, you might say), and embarked on a year-long journey to bring my vision to life. I had the rare opportunity to interview over 70 educators and thought leaders from around the world. Through building relationships and steady action, I published my book, Raise Your Hand! A Call for Consciousness in Education, in September 2021.
My mission is that collectively, whether you are a parent, teacher, or former student, push for an education system that sees the child for who they are, rather than who they will become. A system that will cultivate the innate gifts of children versus their academic achievements. It is a place where we can cultivate conscious children who become conscious adults. I am excited to have you on this journey with me!
“I HAVE A DREAM OF CULTIVATING A NEW GENERATION OF HUMANITY THAT CONSISTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE COMMITTED TO EVOLVING AND TRANSFORMING BY DISCOVERING THEIR HIGHER SELVES AND THEIR TRUE PURPOSE.”
You can reach me at consult@thekomalshah.com, or follow me on Insta @consultkomal or LinkedIn @consultkomal
Or check out my website at www.thekomalshah.com
Komal Shah