Mike Ross is the founder of Future Forward Education, a nonprofit organization committed to transforming the educational landscape by addressing systemic challenges and creating scalable models for reform. His journey began with a deep curiosity about the inner workings of education and a passion for making meaningful, long-term changes that go beyond temporary fixes. Future Forward Education emerged after years of research into academic structures, pedagogy, school environments, and educational governance. The organization focuses on developing curriculum, forming partnerships, collecting and analyzing data, supporting educators, and ensuring students and their families have access to necessary resources. We at CIO Global, are proud to have Mike Ross as the Visionary Entrepreneur of the Year 2025.

What distinguishes Mike’s approach is his ambition to move past fragmented educational interventions. Rather than offering isolated solutions to small groups, Mike envisions a future where scalable, durable models can transform the way students are taught and supported across entire systems. His goal is not just to address today’s issues, but to reimagine the educational transaction entirely — how knowledge is delivered, how student progress is monitored, and how success is measured. He sees Future Forward Education as a prototype for the kind of educational model that could become the norm, not the exception.

“I had the realization that I needed to build my own vehicle to move ideas around and to become louder.”

In the early days of the organization, Mike’s focus was student-centered. He initially believed that tutoring, mentoring, and STEM enrichment programs were the answer. But his perspective evolved as he delved deeper into systemic issues. He came to see that placing emphasis only on student-facing interventions risked ignoring the structural problems underlying educational inequity. This shift in thinking marked a significant turning point. Mike chose to broaden the scope of his work and focus on the foundations — the systems and frameworks that shape educational outcomes. From there, Future Forward Education took on a more holistic, family- and community-centered approach, aimed at fixing the fractured infrastructure that too often fails students.

The issues Mike set out to tackle are complex. Over time, the education system has become entangled in outdated standards, bureaucratic red tape, and governance structures that often delay or obstruct the implementation of meaningful change. These layers have created a system that struggles to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of students and educators. Reports like the National Assessment of Educational Progress (often called the Nation’s Report Card) show a long-term decline in academic performance in core subjects. Mike and his team at Future Forward Education believe that addressing these declines requires more than tweaking policies — it demands a new foundation. Their strategy is to explore and ultimately build a privatized academic model where experimental pedagogy can be tested and refined, unconstrained by traditional limitations.

Mike’s decision to launch Future Forward Education came after years of volunteering with other nonprofits focused on youth education. Although these experiences were valuable, they were also frustrating. As a volunteer, Mike felt unheard. He had ideas and a strong desire to contribute more meaningfully, but lacked the agency to influence decisions. This experience sparked a realization: in order to truly make an impact, he needed his own platform. That meant building an organization from the ground up — one that would reflect his vision and offer a louder voice for the changes he believed in. He immersed himself in research, drafting and revising a mission statement that would guide the organization’s development. Every step was informed by careful study and a commitment to understanding his target communities.

Starting without a background in education posed another significant challenge. Mike grew up in New England and discovered his passion for design and technology during high school. But when he pivoted to education, he had no existing network, no credentials in the field, and no experience running a nonprofit. He recognized that to build credible, impactful solutions, he would first need to deeply understand the educational ecosystem — including the experiences of students and families facing adversity. To that end, he committed years to studying education, pedagogy, and social inequity. Even now, Mike considers learning and research a lifelong responsibility. It’s this ongoing commitment that enables him to speak confidently with stakeholders and collaborate meaningfully with experts in the field.

Difficult times have not deterred Mike from his mission. Instead, they’ve strengthened his resolve. He often reflects on his own childhood — a time when he had all the resources he needed and was largely unaware of the struggles others faced. That awareness has grown over time, along with a sense of urgency. Mike is deeply concerned about the direction society is heading and spends much of his energy thinking about how to rebuild essential structures — not just in education, but across government, healthcare, and the environment. For him, change starts with education because it lays the foundation for every other system. Though he knows he may not see the full fruits of his labor in his lifetime, he finds motivation in the belief that his work can improve the lives of future generations.

One of the key differentiators of Future Forward Education is its commitment to longevity and scalability. The organization doesn’t operate on a fee-for-service model; instead, its success is measured by improved academic outcomes. Mike is particularly focused on building models that can be implemented broadly without constant reinvention. Data plays a critical role in this process. By collecting and analyzing data regularly, the organization identifies what works, what doesn’t, and where improvements are needed. Mike believes that in order to understand students and communities fully, the organization must be embedded in the system — not operating from the outside.

Much of Mike’s entrepreneurial journey was shaped by his time in other nonprofits, where he observed the limitations of traditional organizational structures. He remembers one pivotal event where representatives from several organizations gathered to showcase their community efforts. While listening, he realized he couldn’t rely on existing institutions to amplify his ideas. That epiphany solidified his decision to create a new organization — one that would serve as a platform for innovation and advocacy. It was a shift from being a supporter on the sidelines to becoming a leader shaping the game.

Innovation within Future Forward Education is fueled by a deep research process. Mike approaches problems with what he calls a “three-decade lens,” always thinking ahead to how a solution might evolve and sustain itself thirty years into the future. This long-term perspective informs every program and model the organization develops. Before introducing any new initiative, Mike ensures that it is backed by data, aligned with real-world needs, and structured for resilience.

Technology plays a vital role in this vision. Mike is passionate about the power of digital learning to extend education beyond the classroom. He believes that learning should be continuous and accessible in multiple formats. Technology also enables real-time data collection and analysis, which is essential for responsive and scalable decision-making. By integrating digital tools into every layer of its operations, Future Forward Education stays agile and informed.

When it comes to leadership and team culture, Mike favors a horizontal approach. He doesn’t see himself as a boss with employees working under him, but rather as a collaborator working alongside his team. This philosophy promotes mutual understanding and shared responsibility. Mike encourages open communication and ensures that everyone feels seen and valued. He believes that a positive culture stems from equality and a shared commitment to the mission. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Mike offers thoughtful advice. He encourages them to “zoom out” and look beyond the immediate problem. Often, a single issue is connected to a larger system. By identifying and understanding the broader context, entrepreneurs can address root causes rather than just symptoms. This systemic thinking is key to building lasting impact.

Mike also reflects on what it means to be a visionary entrepreneur. For him, it’s about thinking differently — challenging assumptions and imagining alternatives to the status quo. Many societal problems persist simply because the solutions we’ve used for decades are no longer effective. Abstraction and creativity are not just helpful tools; they are essential to change. In Mike’s view, innovation often starts where conventional thinking ends.

Looking ahead, Mike has ambitious goals for the next five years. He wants Future Forward Education to deepen its engagement with schools and build meaningful partnerships with local universities. These collaborations will provide access to educators, students, and academic resources — all of which are critical for the organization’s next phase. One major aspiration is the development of a privatized academic entity — not a traditional school or university, but a new kind of educational institution. Still in the conceptual phase, this entity would allow Mike and his team to implement and test the pedagogical practices they’ve been researching with greater freedom, unencumbered by the current regulatory environment.

“We aren’t producing products for a fee. We implement efforts to improve an academic outcome, and that is the primary return-on-investment.”

This vision is still taking shape, but Mike is committed to defining and refining the model over the next several years. He sees it as an opportunity to not only improve upon the existing system but to propose a bold alternative — one that better supports students, educators, and families in a rapidly changing world. The work will involve careful planning, collaboration, and continuous iteration. But with the groundwork already laid, Mike believes the foundation is strong enough to support this ambitious next chapter.

To young dreamers around the world, Mike offers a message of hope and resilience. He reminds them that change is a process, not a sudden transformation. “We can only do what we can with what we have,” he says, encouraging others to focus on what is within reach and build from there. Progress may be slow, and setbacks are inevitable, but each step forward — even the small ones — matters. For Mike, every challenge is an opportunity to learn. And in learning together, he believes we can move forward, even if it’s one step at a time.

Mike Ross stands at the intersection of vision and action — a leader determined to reimagine what education can be when it’s rooted in purpose, equity, and long-term thinking. Through Future Forward Education, he is building not just programs, but an enduring framework for systemic change. His approach is bold, data-informed, and deeply empathetic, grounded in the belief that every student deserves more than a patchwork solution — they deserve a future designed with intention. In a world where education too often lags behind the pace of societal change, Mike is choosing to lead, not follow. He is investing in models that scale, systems that support rather than stifle, and a culture of learning that continues beyond the classroom. His journey is far from over, but the foundation he is laying today is already shaping conversations, communities, and possibilities for tomorrow. As Future Forward Education continues to grow, so too does its potential to inspire a broader movement — one driven by the conviction that lasting change is possible when we refuse to accept broken systems as permanent. Mike Ross is not just imagining the future of education; he’s building it, step by step, with unwavering resolve.

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