Akademy

“It has always been my dream to make this world better through the power of education,” says Anastasia Belyak. “That’s why I came up with the idea to create something unique.” Anastasia’s idea came to fruition in 2020, in the form of Akademy, a club she co-founded with her friend Kamilia Shaimieva, in London. The two women – both entrepreneurs with qualifications in the arts and economics respectively – had been introduced by a mutual friend and clicked instantly, discovering a shared passion for learning.

Unlike most clubs, Akademy has no premises of its own. It was created as an intellectual members’ circle, uniting people who seek personal growth and betterment through education. “I believe there is a gap in the spaces that encourage intellectual growth beyond formal education,” says Kamilia. Inspired by Plato’s Academy in ancient Greece, which promoted higher learning, the club curates intimate events, lectures and experiences – which take place in various cultural venues – covering a diverse range of disciplines, from the arts to the sciences and technology, to philosophy, fashion, wellness and nature.

Now comprising three branches, a second one in Dubai and a third in Miami, Akademy provides members with exclusive access to renowned academics, creatives, thought leaders and successful businesspeople. “We provide our members with information that you could never just Google and experiences they can’t find elsewhere. Every event is absolutely bespoke,” says Anastasia. Recent events have included an insightful talk on Stradivarius violins by the Carpenter trio, a private tour of the Wedgwood factory in Stoke-on-Trent, a Paris art walk with curator and writer André-Marc Delocque-Fourcaud, and – inspired by Anastasia’s lifelong passion for The Nutcracker – a private Christmas performance at London’s historic Lancaster House, with principal dancers from the Royal Ballet.

The lecturers are some of the world’s most innovative and inspiring people. They have included Stella Rimington, former Director General of MI5; astronaut Helen Sharman, the first British person in space; and the conceptual and performance artist Marina Abramović, who is one of the club’s ambassadors. “We also highlight local talents,” says Kamilia. For example, in Dubai, the club organised a talk by the UAE’s first female aircraft engineer, Suaad Al Shamsi, and another by the first female Emirati Formula One racing driver, Amna Al Qubaisi. In Miami, the club welcomed Tony Nader, the neuroscientist, pioneer and leader of the Transcendental Meditation movement.

Akademy attracts a membership connected by shared values and ideologies, and growth is organic with a focus on quality, not quantity. “Our members are like-minded people who have the same level of desire to self-develop, to challenge themselves and broaden their horizons,” says Kamilia. “It’s about soul connection. Some members have met in our club and become best friends.”

The club has formed partnerships and relationships with many prestigious brands and venues, such as the Dorchester Collection, Dior, Tate and Sotheby’s. As well as continuing to provide a varied programme of events, Akademy London is now also working to help raise money for charitable initiatives, including London’s Air Ambulance Charity, and collaborating with organisations such as UN Women UK, which is dedicated to progressing gender equality at all levels, in all areas of society, around the world. This is important to Akademy’s ethos. “Our motto is ‘Never stop learning’,” says Anastasia. “We are very ambitious. When I first met Kamilia, I said we were going to conquer the world. She laughed at the time, but now she understands.”