Buddhist Nun, Inspirational Speaker, Transformational Coach & Charity Founder
‘"I believe in the transformative power of profound human connection and the joy of living with integrity and purpose"
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EMMA SLADE (ANI PEMA DEKI)
Emma was born in Kent, and was educated at Cambridge University and the University of London where she gained a First Class degree. She is a qualified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and worked in Fund Management in London, New York, and Hong Kong.
A deep seated desire to enquire into the deeper aspects of humanity arise following a life- changing business trip to Jakarta, where she was held hostage at gunpoint. She resigned from her financial career and exploring yoga and meditation and methods of wellbeing with the ultimate aim of turning a traumatic episode into wisdom and conditions for thriving.
She qualified as a British Wheel of Yoga teacher in 2003 and, over the last 19 years, has run numerous yoga workshops and retreats.
Her interest in Buddhism as a science of the mind strengthened after meeting a Buddhist Lama (teacher) on her first visit to Bhutan in 2011. This crucial chance meeting led to her studying Buddhism with this Lama and, eventually, led to her becoming the first and only Western woman to be ordained in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan as a Buddhist nun. She was named Ani Pema Deki, which means blissful lotus – a title she is doing her best to live up to!
In 2015 Emma founded and became CEO of the registered UK charity - Opening Your Heart to Bhutan - to help special needs children in Bhutan. She continues to travel to Bhutan to manage the charity’s projects and her Buddhist studies.. In 2017 Emma was given the Point of Light award by the UK Prime Minister in recognition of her exceptional volunteering.
ORDINATION IN BHUTAN AS A GELONGMA
