In This Episode:
In this episode, host Denise Silber sits down with Michaela Horvathova, co-founder of Beyond Education and alumna of Harvard's Graduate School of Education, to explore how building an innovative company demands more than a great product — it requires becoming a thought leader. Michaela’s journey is as global as it is inspiring. Despite not fitting into the traditional school system in Slovakia, Michaela earned a tennis scholarship to the U.S., graduated from Harvard, advised the Prime Minister of Slovakia, and co-founded a bold edtech startup helping schools adapt to the age of AI. Her company, Beyond Education, was selected for and completed the Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Accelerator — a zero-equity, virtual program supporting high-potential, Harvard alumni-founded companies.
You’ll hear how Michaela:
Pivoted from policymaking to entrepreneurship for greater impact.
Built a company focused on digital assessments and teacher development to help schools evolve with technology.
Learned why even small startups must embrace thought leadership to shape their market and build demand.
Turned her credibility and conviction into invitations to speak at global education events — and even organized her own summit.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or advisor, this episode unpacks why communication and positioning matter just as much as product — especially when your innovation is ahead of its time.
Tune in to learn how a tennis champion turned edtech entrepreneur built a mission-driven company from the ground up — and how the HAE Accelerator helped refine their vision and strategy.
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A Glimpse of What You’ll Learn
Why startups need to embrace thought leadership early on
What the HAE Accelerator revealed about startup blind spots
What competitive tennis taught Michaela about stress management and resilience in entrepreneurship
How to identify unexpected product opportunities by listening closely to your users
Why personal mission and long-term conviction are key to getting through startup lows
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Michaela Horvathova
Co-founder of Beyond Education
Michaela Horvathova is the co-founder of Beyond Education, a fast-growing edtech startup now active in over 13 countries. She holds a Master's in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University and has over 12 years of experience in global education reform. Before launching Beyond Education, Michaela worked at the OECD, partnered with organizations like IB and UNICEF, and advised ministries of education across the Czech Republic, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Brazil. As an Advisor to the Prime Minister of Slovakia, she helped shape national education strategy, focusing on competency-based learning. A regular speaker at global conferences, Michaela is passionate about reimagining how schools prepare students for the age of AI. A former professional tennis player, she brings resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset to her work as an entrepreneur.