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Beth Schmidt

Founder and CEO

Los Angeles '07

Beth Schmidt

Beth was motivated to teach by the realization that millions of students don’t have access to the opportunities she had. Beth's experience in the classroom inspired her to become a social entrepreneur who gives thousands of students access to high-quality education.

Q & A

What influenced you to pursue a career related to education?

Growing up, I benefited from attending great schools and was encouraged to pursue my passion: competitive figure skating. I realized how important a well-rounded education is, and once I became aware that so many students don’t have access to this, I wanted to get involved.

How did your teaching experience lead you to become the founder of a start-up?

During the corps, my students became really engaged when researching programs related to their passions. I raised money so that some students could attend these programs, and the outpouring of support made me realize that I could turn this into something that would benefit many more.

What skills from the classroom have you used in leading your organization?

In my classroom and my organization, students come first. There are many similarities between teaching and building an organization. You must be bold, set ambitious goals, invest in people, and help them develop. You must innovate and change your approach based on challenges and opportunities.