Divergent University exists because we believe the next generation of world-changers aren't waiting for permission - they're waiting for a community that sees what God put in them to help them build it.
Our Philosophy
We believe the deepest form of education doesn't put information into you - it pulls something out.
Most schooling is convergent, designed around a single correct answer. Divergent University is built on the opposite principle. Divergent thinking expands ideas, generates solutions, and thrives in the ambiguous, open-ended conditions of real life. It's how entrepreneurs think. It's how leaders think. And we believe it's how God-wired creators have always thought.
Every class at Divergent University is a discussion, not a lecture. Every student has a personalized set of goals, not a shared rubric. Every outcome is measured by what you built - not what you scored.
The Seed
We believe a calling is a seed planted by God - and each of us is individually responsible for watering it.
Our entire program is designed to mirror the process of a seed becoming a tree. The roots go deep first - into identity, faith, and clarity - before the branches reach outward into business, leadership, and impact. A tree doesn't grow by straining upward. It grows by anchoring into stability. When the roots are strong enough, growth is inevitable.
That's what 9 months at Divergent University does. It anchors you so deeply in what God made you to be that building something meaningful becomes the only natural next step.
Our Faith
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Holy Bible is the Word of God. Every day at Divergent University begins with scripture - not as a ritual, but as revelation. We read it carefully, question it honestly, and allow the Holy Spirit to do what only the Holy Spirit can do.
We are a Christ-centered community. We point all glory to Jesus. And we open our doors to every student who is genuinely willing to engage with scripture, regardless of where they are in their faith journey. We've found that the most honest questions often lead to the deepest faith. You are welcome here exactly as you are.
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The Founder
Sam Tarell founded Divergent University in 2019 - not from a theory, but from a conviction.
Sam had built his first purpose-driven business, Hoop Brothers, to six figures and national impact before he was 25. In that process, he discovered something that would shape everything he built next: the most important education he received didn't happen in a classroom. It happened in the tension between a calling and the courage to pursue it.
He gave a TEDx Talk on Divergent Leadership. He wrote 9 original workbooks that form Divergent University's curriculum. He has personally coached over 100 first-time founder - sitting with them weekly, knowing their names, knowing their callings, and refusing to let them settle for less than what God put in their heart.
He also published Reflections on Wisdom - a line-by-line breakdown of the book of Ecclesiastes - because he believes that ancient wisdom and modern entrepreneurship are not in tension. They were always meant to work together.
Sam works directly with every Divergent University student. This is not a program you attend and hope to meet the founder. He is in the room. He is in your corner. Every day.
Order Reflections on Wisdom on AmazonOur Team
Divergent University's guest speakers and coaches have included eight-figure business owners, university professors, church leaders, successful alumni, and service providers who actively support student businesses. Every voice we bring into the room is someone who has built something real and is willing to share what it actually took.
If what you've read here resonates - trust that. It's worth a conversation.
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