A motivational quote reads: "You Are Only As Great As The Greatness Behind You." Below the quote, there's a paragraph describing Persist Education Group, a consulting firm founded by Sharifa Edwards, emphasizing leadership, education, and organizational development. The page encourages exploring their services.
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Organizational Values

Four people standing outdoors, smiling and wearing colorful T-shirts with large letter prints spelling out 'TEAM'

“All Leadership Work is People Work”

Text with the words 'A Society of Warmth and Integrity' in black on a beige background, and the word 'Energy' in red on a black background.
A promotional poster with the words "Proper Attire, Proper Etiquette, Proper Behavior, Proper Attitude, and Excellence" displayed in bold text, highlighting themes of professionalism and high standards.
Warning sign with text 'Approach with PERSEVERANCE. Default speed 15 mph.'
A sign with the words 'Love', 'Empathy', and 'Kindness' in large black and red letters, with additional smaller text promoting positivity and compassion.

Our Services

  • A woman presenter in a black dress giving a presentation to a diverse group of four people in a meeting room, with a whiteboard and a large screen displaying a stock market chart behind her.

    Corporate Executive Leadership Coaching

    Leadership at the executive level can feel isolating. PersistEd provides a safe but highly accountable space for corporate leaders to reflect, grow, and act with clarity. Sharifa combines candor and care to help executives confront blind spots, strengthen decision-making, and energize their teams.


    Outcome: Leaders walk away with renewed confidence, sharper strategies, and organizations that perform with both accountability and humanity.

  • A professional man giving a presentation to a group of diverse business people seated in a conference room, with a large screen displaying a business overview slide behind him.

    School Leader Development Coaching

    Sharifa knows the realities of school leadership firsthand—balancing expectations, resources, and community needs. Through one-on-one coaching, she helps principals, district leaders, and system executives build the capacity to achieve ambitious goals while sustaining themselves and their teams.


    Outcome: Schools and systems see stronger pipelines, healthier cultures, and measurable improvements in student and staff outcomes.

  • A smiling woman with a braided hair tied up, wearing a blue sweater, gold earrings, a colorful necklace, and matching blue nail polish, gesturing with her hands in front of a brick wall.

    Group Professional Development Workshops & Learning Experiences

    PersistEd designs interactive workshops, seminars, and keynotes that connect directly to the challenges leaders face. Each session is practical, engaging, and built to leave participants with tools they can use right away. Sharifa blends empathy with expertise to make complex ideas approachable and energizing.


    Outcome: Groups leave feeling connected, inspired, and equipped to take immediate steps toward stronger performance.

  • A woman explaining business concepts to a man in a meeting room with a whiteboard.

    Organizational Strategic Planning

    When organizations stall, it’s often not for lack of effort but for lack of clarity. PersistEd partners with leadership teams to diagnose core challenges, align culture and talent pipelines, and co-create strategies that stick. Sharifa’s approach makes hard truths palatable while building consensus for bold action.


    Outcome: Organizations gain a clear roadmap that drives results, improves retention, and builds cultures where both people and performance thrive.

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