10 minutes
Rise of the Geshe-Ma
Women pursuing Tibetan Buddhism’s highest scholarly degree.
Watch film ↗Home / Our founder
Founder & Executive Director
Edward
Sczudlo
Creative experience. Practical humanitarian impact.
Edward has spent over 22 years studying, serving, and practicing these lineages.
Edward Sczudlo is the founder and executive director of The Maitri Project. His background spans high-end fashion, photography, marketing, and documentary film—experience he brings to supporting monastic communities across Asia.
Professional background
From fashion and media to nonprofit leadership.
Edward Sczudlo is the founder and executive director of The Maitri Project. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts, his professional background spans high-end fashion, photography, media, wellness, and production, including collaborations with Italian Vogue, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, and Lululemon.
Edward previously worked in marketing for Asian Legacy Library, an organization doing critical work for our time: preserving ancient wisdom and safeguarding ancient manuscripts for future generations.
Through Maitri, Edward brings this experience in visual storytelling and communication to practical support for monastics, nunneries, schools, and practitioners. The organization has already supported 2,500 monastics across Asia and built 10 apartments at Sera Mey, helping provide the conditions for study, practice, and community life.
Edward is also producer and co-director of Rise of the Geshe-Ma, a documentary about women pursuing Tibetan Buddhism’s highest scholarly training. The documentary has received 450,000 views. His work connects creative practice with the people and traditions at the heart of Maitri’s mission.
Maitri Films
Living wisdom, seen through film.
Three films from The Maitri Project. Select a title or Watch film to view the film on Vimeo; select a photograph to open the full-size image.
3 minutes 35 seconds
A Home for Gyalrong College
The monastic community and the need for dignified housing at Sera Mey.
Watch film ↗
1 minute
Educating the Next Generation
Education, ethics, and opportunity at Anandakuthi School in Nepal.
Watch film ↗People & community
Relationships at the heart of Maitri.
2,500Monastics supported across Asia
10Apartments built at Sera Mey
Practical support for living Buddhist traditions.
Explore Maitri’s impact →
The work
Leadership, communication, and cultural preservation.
Supporting living traditions
The Maitri Project has supported 2,500 monastics across Asia and built 10 apartments at Sera Mey. Its programs focus on essential needs including education, housing, healthcare, food security, emergency relief, and meditation retreat.
Explore Maitri’s impact →Rise of the Geshe-Ma
As producer and co-director, Edward uses documentary storytelling to bring attention to female Buddhist scholars and their path through advanced study. With 450,000 views, the film forms part of Maitri’s wider work sharing living wisdom traditions.
Explore the film →Asian Legacy Library
Edward worked in marketing for Asian Legacy Library, whose preservation of ancient wisdom and manuscripts helps keep this cultural heritage accessible to future generations.
View the published story →Cultural preservation
Preserving ancient wisdom and scripture.
Edward previously worked in marketing for Asian Legacy Library, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving cultural and literary wisdom traditions. Its work safeguarding manuscripts and making texts accessible is critical for future generations.
We encourage you to visit Asian Legacy Library, explore its digital library, and support its preservation work.
Medicine Buddha mandala · Indonesia
Bringing the teachings into the world.
In the summer of 2026, Edward brought a group of monks, including PhD candidates from the monastery, around Indonesia to create the Medicine Buddha mandala and share their practice with local communities.
The tour sought to plant seeds of peace, prosperity, enlightenment, and loving-kindness. Hundreds of people attended the events, which deeply moved communities and offered a transformative experience of shared practice and connection.
For Edward, this work brings the living teachings beyond the monastery and into the world, creating opportunities for people to encounter the tradition together.
Read about the Indonesia mandala tour →Further reading
Selected features
Asian Legacy Library · 2021
Text as Temple
Asian Legacy Library’s account of its critical work preserving Buddhist manuscripts and ancient wisdom in Nepal.
Read the story →Intaaya · Retreat faculty
Medicine Buddha Retreat
A public faculty biography introducing Edward’s approach to Hatha Yoga and Vajrayana Buddhist practice.
Read the faculty profile →About Edward & Maitri
A few useful details
Who is Edward Sczudlo?
Edward Sczudlo is the founder and executive director of The Maitri Project, a photographer and filmmaker with a background in high-end fashion and nonprofit marketing. He previously worked in marketing for Asian Legacy Library. He is the producer and co-director of Rise of the Geshe-Ma.
What does The Maitri Project support?
Maitri supports monastics, female Geshe-mas, schools, and practitioners through programs in education, housing, healthcare, food security, emergency relief, and meditation retreat. Visit Maitri’s programs to explore the work.
How can I contact Edward about Maitri?
For Maitri partnerships, film inquiries, or questions about the organization, email edward@themaitriproject.com.
Professional profiles: Edward Sczudlo on IMDb · Edward Sczudlo’s photography portfolio · Integral Life author biography
Connect with Edward
For Maitri partnerships, documentary and photography inquiries, or a conversation about supporting the work.