Maria Shirshova is a social entrepreneur and co-founder of Sami Residence in Tbilisi, Georgia. For almost five years, she has been exploring how language can bring people together and help them build a new life in a new country.
What started as a Georgian language school has grown into a vibrant community where more than 3,500 migrants and newcomers have found friends, launched projects, built collaborations, and discovered a sense of belonging. Maria is also the founder of the social enterprises My Sisters and Remarka, supporting women artisans and displaced communities through creativity, design, and entrepreneurship. She believes that language is only the beginning. Real change happens when people feel connected, valued, and part of a community. In a rapidly changing world, she sees human relationships as one of the most sustainable resources we have.