Adrián Ridner
Study.com
San Diego, CA USA
"For anyone who feels like someone else is telling them, ‘You can’t do this,’ or slamming doors in your face, find a window, find a side door, find whatever other door you can."
Career Roadmap
Adrián's work combines: Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Computer Science
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Graduate Degree
Computer Science
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I’m originally from Argentina but my family moved around a lot when I was young—we moved from Argentina to Venezuela to Brazil and finally to the U.S.
2.
I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
3.
After graduating, I started my career as a software engineer.
4.
I decided to use my skills as an engineer to impact education and started by co-founding Education Portal, a platform that helps students with college prep and career planning.
5.
In 2015, I co-founded Study.com, an online learning platform with a mission to make education more accessible—I currently lead the company as CEO.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You can't do this.
How I responded:
My advice for anyone experiencing someone else telling them they can't do something is to find another way to do it. When someone slams a door in your face, find a window or a side door. It will work. Keep a positive attitude and persevere. Surround yourself with people who support you and your goals.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I didn't know English when I came to the U.S. People at school already knew each other and weren't welcoming. In South America, everyone was welcoming despite differences. It was hard but it helped build my skills in perseverance and adaptability.
I'm the first in my family to finish my degree. The earning potential that a college degree could give me was very motivating throughout my educational journey.