The Authors

DISCOVER THE GIFT—the movie, the book, and the movement—began more than four years ago in a moment of illumination. It has grown into a project with one goal: to help people find the power to transform our world.

Shajen Joy Aziz is Co- author and Co-Creator of “Discover the Gift” as well as a founding member of the Southern California Association of Transformational Leaders. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Education, and is currently working on 2nd Master’s Degree in Psychology. Shajen’s work focuses on emotions and systems and their impact on individuals’ ability to thrive personally, professionally, psychologically and spiritually.

Shajen is a Master Educator with over twenty years of experience as a Principal, Counselor, Program Creator/Director, and Special Educator. She is most passionate about children and young adults as they are our future. Her motto is “Learning for Life–Empowering the Future”.
She owes her deep understanding of humans and how to improve systems to her family, and all the students, teachers, parents, clients and systems she has had the pleasure of serving over the years.

She brings her years of expertise in education, mental health and human relations to Discover The Gift and is thrilled to be creating a better world for our children and ourselves.

Shajen has shared the stage with other Transformational Leaders such as: Jack Canfield, Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Dr. Barbara De Angelis, Niurka, Christine Stevens, David Avocado Wolfe, and many more.

Shajen shares her purpose:
“DISCOVER THE GIFT is my passion and purpose as it creates possibilities in our lives and especially in the lives of our children. This work has a global impact as well as a personal one: on you, on your families, your communities, and on the next generation. … Let’s all discover our Gifts and share them with the world. The world is waiting! Everyone is waiting. I’m really excited to see what we have to offer.” — Shajen Joy Aziz

“Discover The Gift is my way of sharing that I am completely 100% going for my dream. I am sharing that dream with my family, with my friends and with the extraordinary teachers that I have met, and will meet, on this journey. I’m on my own journey; I’m learning something every day. I am transforming in ways I never thought would be possible.”

Demian Lichtenstein began his career as an off-Broadway child actor in NYC. By the age of 11 he was on his first movie set and quickly realized that he wanted to be a film director. Upon graduating as valedictorian from the prestigious High School of Art and Design, Demian accepted the Rubenstein Scholarship to NYU’s Film School.

After winning many awards–including an MTV “Best Video” award–he began his career as a feature film director while engaging in transformational leadership training.

His pursuits in the world of entertainment were matched only by his desire and passion to learn everything he could about the human spirit. From Native American sweat lodges to leading seminars in front of thousands of people, Demian went through an expanded search to discover the true meaning of metaphysics and transformation.

After years in the trenches of Hollywood and propelled by a question posed by his sister, Shajen, Demian brought his two worlds–filmmaking and metaphysical study–into DISCOVER THE GIFT: the movie, the book and the movement.

Lichtenstein is a member of the Director’s Guild of America, The Writer’s Guild of America and the Screen Actor’s Guild. As a founding member of the Senior Leadership Council of the Director’s Guild of America, along with Steven Spielberg and Taylor Hackford, Demian works closely with award-winning directors to protect the rights of filmmakers worldwide by having a direct influence on domestic and global politics in the entertainment world.