Adrián Ridner

Adrián Ridner is the co-founder and CEO of Study.com, a leading online learning platform empowering learners to earn the degrees and certifications of today that unlock the careers of tomorrow. As a Latino EdTech founder and first-generation college graduate, Adrián has spent the past two decades as a serial entrepreneur focused on making education accessible and opening the doors to the life-changing impact of education. Study.com is the largest platform of online courses for college credit, certification preparation, and career-aligned degree pathways that help learners build the skills and credentials required to thrive in the workforce of the future. Study.com serves both individuals and institutions—working with over 11,000 U.S. school districts, colleges, and employers to support student success, degree completion, and career advancement. Adrián has launched multiple impact initiatives, including Keys to the Classroom to help aspiring teachers prepare for and pass certification exams to fill critical teacher shortages nationwide, as well as Keys to College providing working adults with a flexible, affordable and accelerated pathway to a bachelor’s degree with the goal to save students one billion dollars in tuition. Adrián is also an early-stage investor and the co-author of Using AI for SEO published by O’Reilly. His leadership has been recognized by Inc.’s Best Workplaces, Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s Game Changers. He serves on the boards of Riecken Community Libraries, advancing literacy in Central America, and Cal Poly’s Engineering & Computer Science Advisory Council, helping shape higher education for the AI careers of the future. Born in Argentina, Adrián immigrated to Venezuela, Brazil, and eventually the United States before becoming a first-generation college graduate. That journey continues to inspire him to scale education that is affordable, transformative and aligned with the careers of the future — providing economic mobility to millions of learners worldwide.