Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration came from seeing how unregulated the tutoring industry is and watching parents struggle to find quality academic support they can trust. At the same time many incredible educators including retired teachers, supply teachers and classroom teachers want to continue supporting students beyond the classroom. That is why I built Connect Education, a platform exclusively for educators. Today our community includes over 530 teachers helping families.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by knowing we are building a village around children. Connect Education brings together teachers, families and students so no child feels left behind. Seeing educators shine and watching students gain confidence brings me real joy. I believe every child deserves access to support and every teacher deserves a place where their expertise is valued. Knowing we are helping build that community keeps me going every day.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest the $25,000 into expanding our outreach so more families know quality academic support exists. Many parents struggle quietly when their child falls behind. We focus on community engagement, including classroom initiatives like pizza lunches that bring students, teachers and families together while opening conversations about learning support. The funding would help us reach more communities and connect more families with trusted educators through Connect Education.