๐ Sandeep Sharma โ ENFP, SDG 4 & 16
๐ป Connect:
๐ northstarglobaladvisory.com
๐ LinkedIn: Sandeep Sharma
๐ธ Instagram: @goodonyoumate_nz
Education and justice weave through Sandeep Sharmaโs story. Born in Mumbai and now based in Christchurch, he bridges cultures, classrooms, and communities with humility and insight. From engineering lectures he hated, to arts studies he loved, to becoming an advisor and author in international educationโSandeepโs journey proves that self-discovery is rarely linear, but always transformative.
๐ฑ THE STARTING POINT: โEducation changes everything.โ
Sandeep arrived in New Zealand more than a decade ago as an international student. What drew him here? Safety, peace, research-driven universities, and the promise of world-class education. That choice reshaped his lifeโand sent him on a path to help others make informed decisions about theirs.
He believes education is far more than degrees. It is cultivating critical, questioning minds that can adapt and solve problems. His passion for SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions) comes from both personal experience and professional commitment: he has seen how knowledge shifts not just careers, but entire societies.
๐ก PERSONALITY & SHIFT
An ENFP, Sandeep thrives on patterns, people, and stories. Early in life, he mapped the world on his bedroom wall and eagerly spoke with tourists visiting Mumbai. Later, his travels through India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia connected him with thousands of students, each with unique motivations and dreams. What he discovered: despite cultural and generational differences, human stories share common threads of resilience, family, food, and friendship.
๐ PROJECTS & IMPACT
International Education Advisor โ Promoted New Zealand education across India, UAE, Singapore, and beyond, meeting over 2,000 students and listening to their aspirations.
Author, Good on You Mate: The Kiwi Chronicles of an International Student โ A book blending memoir and practical guidance, written to help students and families make informed choices before embarking on international study.
Global Lens โ With a background in International Relations and Diplomacy, Sandeep brings a global perspective on peace, justice, and the importance of trust in institutions.
๐ง INNER WORK
Sandeep admits he didnโt self-reflect much in his youth. Life and challenges pushed him toward spirituality and meditation. His approach is simple: spirituality is nature. โI came from it, and Iโll return to it.โ For him, meditation can be as small as a single mindful breath, and self-care is not indulgence but necessity. His belief in fate shapes his choices: we may not control the path, but we can control how we walk it.
๐ BOOKS & IDEAS THAT SHAPED HIM
Ancient scriptures and cultural practices, re-visited through a new lens later in life.
Reflections on selflessness vs. selfishness: true service begins with self-care.
Thousands of student stories - each showing how education can be a tool for healing, growth, or escape.
โก 30-DAY CHALLENGE
Sandeepโs commitment?
30 minutes of writing every day. Writing, he says, clears fears, strengthens courage, and heals old stories. After 30 days, his reward would be to publish a piece publicly = sharing words that others might resonate with.
๐ค WHO HE WANTS TO MEET
Storytellers, authors, and collaborators to continue the conversation on education and identity.
Students and families seeking guidance on study abroad decisions.
Policy makers and education leaders shaping the future of international education.
๐ Glossary of Terms
SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals): UNโs 17 global goals for 2030.
Sandeep focuses on #4 Quality Education and #16 Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions.International Education Advisor: A professional who helps attract and support overseas students in New Zealandโs universities.
Good on You Mate (Book): Sandeepโs personal and practical reflections as an international student in NZ.
Whฤnau: Mฤori word for extended family, reflecting shared values Sandeep sees between Indian and New Zealand cultures.