about us

Our mission is to get every driven individual who feels:

“there’s got to be more to life than this”

on the path to a remarkable career.

For Those Who Dare

Nomad Academy was founded to bring the best of those people together, to create meaningful careers and do things that make them feel alive – despite the risks and hardships involved.

More and more of us are rejecting conventional careers. They don’t give us meaning and hold us back from doing remarkable things.

Our Story

Once upon a time...

Like millions of others we found ourselves stuck in conventional careers, bored and slowly losing our motivation.

Refusing to settle for that mediocre life, we set off in search of better careers… journeying through the startup world, the MBA scene and backpacker lifestyle.

And then...

We discovered that everyone who had created a fulfilling career  had something in common… They were all pursuing something that they found truly meaningful and almost unrealistic.

And they were constantly pushing themselves to their limits in that pursuit, growing as people faster than ever and feeling alive for it.

And then...

Excited, we went to see who was out there that focuses on meaningful careers, and the mindset needed to create them…

...and found nothing.

That’s when we launched
UPRISE ACADEMY

We take finding meaning, and achieving all that we can in our short lives, seriously.

our story

Summer, 2017

Nomad Academy launches, as “Nomad MBA”

Summer, 2017

Our first program went to SE Asia, with 20 select young professionals from across the world.

Spring, 2018

Our second program went to Latin America – Peru, Colombia and Chile – while studying and pivoting their careers

Autumn, 2018

Our third program went through Namibia, South Africa & Mauritius –while studying UX Design, Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Spring, 2019

Two tribes went to SE Asia at the same time, on our first programs after rebranding to Nomad Academy. The tribes focussed on pivoting into entrepreneurial careers

Autumn, 2019

Two tribes went to Latin America recently, launching new careers and finding what makes them come alive

THE TEAM

Harry

Strategy

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After beginning his career in management consulting, Harry dived into the world of startups in search of something more meaningful. He spent over 5 years there, going from intern to first employee to manager; but still something was missing. So he backpacked the world, then did an MBA – and realised that there are so many others also in search of meaningful careers. Obsessed with personal growth and startups, he created Nomad Academy to bring the mindsets and skills of those with epic lives to the people who dare to make something of themselves.

Kyle

Education

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After growing up in South Africa, Kyle spent close to a decade working as the right-hand man to four different billionaires while living in LA, Australia, SE Asia and most of Europe. He used that experience to enter the startup world, co-founding two businesses and consulting with a number of other scaling startups. He lives in London now, and uses his blend of slow-travel, startup work and exposure to vastly different lifestyles – to run our startup courses.

Andy

Finances

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After diving into early stage ventures and consulting, Andy realised that his true passion lies with the former. Andy’s previous mobility startup was part of MassChallenge UK, one of the world’s leading social impact accelerators. His love for travel and project management experience proved golden in cofounding Nomad Academy, where he's dedicated to driving Nomad Academy’s operations & finances.

Tess

Programs

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Tess worked for years as a psychologist, helping people through difficult life-events and guiding them to find their meaning back in life. With this experience, she left to travel the world and dive into personal growth. She discovered how people from all over the world have a universal mission: living a life worth living. Getting people to rediscover their inspiration, she helps run our programs.

Charlie

Admissions

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After a number of years working as a Sports Scientist and Consultant for a range of sports teams and businesses in London, Charlie took a year out to travel solo across Central America and live in north Spain all in a bid to learn Spanish. He returned inspired to combine his expertise in process enhancement and advising with his love for developing professional skills whilst exploring the world. He's an avid footballer, keen musician and a very average surfer.

Steven

Partnerships

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After combining a Masters in psychology with being a professional athlete, Steven leapt into personal-growth startups. He enjoys long talks about meaning, habits and how to make the most of any situation. His central focus is on connection to the self and others which is why Steven builds partnerships with other inspiring companies and has a serious passion for mentoring.

Jesse

Marketing

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Having spent his career working for global brands in the US and UK, Jesse realised that his motivation was to champion big ideas and help other people. Overcoming obstacles and solving problems using data, he’s helping us take Nomad Academy to the next level.

Maria

Operations

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Having lived in four different countries from a young age, as well as working in an international environment all throughout her 5 years of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the Netherlands, Maria holds a high level of cultural sensitivity and project management skills. This makes her an ‘organiser’ of chaotic scenes, who manages the operations behind each programme.

Harry

Strategy

Kyle

Education

Andy

Finances

Tess

Programs

Charlie

Admissions

Steven

Partnerships

Jesse

Marketing

Maria

Operations

UPRISE