Jessica Slayback

I attribute my success to an unwavering commitment to purpose. REALM didn’t begin as a polished mode, it began as a deep belief that young people deserve to feel seen, capable, and connected to meaningful work. I’ve stayed relentlessly anchored to that belief.

I also attribute it to community. REALM has grown because of extraordinary educators, brave families, and students who trusted us enough to co-create something different. And finally, I attribute it to resilience. There have been seasons of grief, doubt, and enormous risk, but I’ve learned that when your work is rooted in love and service, you find the strength to keep building.

“Build from first principles.”

When I stopped trying to replicate what schools were “supposed” to look like and instead asked, What do humans fundamentally need in order to thrive? everything shifted. Purpose. Belonging. Agency. Challenge. When you design from those foundations instead of from tradition, innovation becomes inevitable.

Trust your intuition and then do the hard work to strengthen it.

Education needs bold, thoughtful women who are willing to question systems while also mastering craft. Learn the business side. Learn how funding works. Learn how systems scale. Your vision deserves both heart and strategy. And don’t shrink to make others comfortable. The work of transforming education requires conviction. Lead with warmth, but do not apologize for ambition.

The biggest challenge is that our traditional systems were not built for individuality and yet this generation of young people is demanding it.

The greatest opportunity is that families, educators, and even investors are beginning to recognize that new models are necessary. We have the chance right now to redefine what success looks like, to move beyond compliance and toward flourishing.

If we can measure agency, purpose, creative problem-solving, and belonging as rigorously as we measure test scores, we will unlock a generation of young people who are not just prepared for the future but capable of shaping it.

At the center of both my work and my personal life is a deep commitment to love, purpose, and human dignity. I believe every person, especially every young person, deserves to feel seen, valued, and capable of meaningful contribution. That belief guides how I lead, how I build community, and how I make decisions, even when the path is uncertain.

I also hold courage and authenticity as essential values. Transforming education requires the willingness to question long-standing systems and to keep moving forward without a clear roadmap. I try to lead with honesty, humility, and a readiness to learn alongside others.

And finally, I value connection. None of this work happens alone. Whether in my family, my friendships, or the REALM community, the relationships we nurture are what give our work meaning. Success, to me, isn’t just what we build, it’s how deeply we care for the people we build it with.