The Joyful Learning Movement

Return to Genius is the culmination of over a decade of delivering community-based education programs to students from all walks of life, but with one common purpose: to build academic engagement, confidence, and mastery. More than just a program or curriculum, Return to Genius is a movement for joyful, empowered learning. We’re bringing together the ingredients that help students discover their inner genius, and making this accessible to all.

How We Began

Once upon a time in Singapore, there was a perpetually bored young girl who spent more time doodling and daydreaming than paying attention to math class. But on those rare occasions when she did tune in, she would find herself explaining math concepts to her Just-As-Bored-And-Distracted friends, making the lessons easy to understand and memorable.

At 15, remembering how much she enjoyed making maths easy for others, she launched her first educational venture. Armed with the finest Clipart MS Word 97 had to offer, she printed flyers and letterboxed every mailbox within a 1 km radius.

A grand total of two mothers took her up on her offer, and so began her career as a math educator. (Both of her students, you should know, went on to excel in math - even if one only ever agreed to do any work in exchange for non-stop snacks.)

Preethi went on to pursue multiple degrees at the University of Melbourne. Unable to pay attention to just one thing at a time, she did her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Diploma of Modern Languages (Arabic) and Masters of Education - all at the same time. She also obtained her teaching certification from the University of Moreland, in Washington D.C. She has since enjoyed a full and rewarding career that spans working with young people, curriculum design, community development and executive leadership in not-for-profit organisations. 

But her passion has remained constant - making learning joyful, accessible, and empowering. She’s worked with students, parents, and educators across the world to create programs that inspire confidence and curiosity, especially for kids who might otherwise feel lost or left behind.

Now, she’s bringing that experience home with Return to Genius - a coaching program that breaks the cycle of endless tutoring and gives kids the tools to thrive. Whether your child is anxious about math or simply hasn’t yet unlocked their potential, Preethi and her team are here to help.

Return to Genius programs in Australia are currently delivered by Preethi Vergis through Shoshama Innovation Practice (ABN 96 471 860 961), under licence from the Shoshama Institute. Learn more about the Shoshama ecosystem.