Karim Abouelnaga’s Mission to Close the Achievement Gap

What would the world look like if every child could fulfill their potential?

This is the question that drives YPO member Karim Abouelnaga, SHRM-SCP . As Founder and CEO of PRACTICE Benefit Corp , a B-Corp that partners with principals, teachers and parents to close the opportunity gap in urban schools, he’s made it his life’s mission to build the next generation of urban-educated leaders.

“My entire life story is one of overcoming unlikely odds at multiple points,” he says. “Watching people realize and fulfill their potential, that’s what gets me excited and keeps me motivated.”

PRACTICE pays it forward

Like many team members at PRACTICE, Abouelnaga knows firsthand what it’s like to matriculate through underfunded public schools. Raised by a single mom on government aid in New York City, he attended some of the city’s most struggling public schools.

However, with support from mentors and nonprofit organizations and his drive for success that had him working odd jobs such as selling candy to lifeguarding to working in a school kitchen, he graduated 5th in his high school class and was the first in his family to attend college.

When he got to Cornell University , he realized the impact of the inequities in his educational experience compared to that of his peers. His goal was to build a career in investment banking, “When you grow up poor, you want to be rich,” he says.

Alongside the coveted internships at Goldman Sachs and BlackRock , he also sought opportunities to engage in public service, from working on political campaigns to volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America .

His desire to give back only grew as his collegiate career evolved. In 2010 in his dorm room in Ithaca, New York, he came up with the idea for PRACTICE, at the time a student group seeking to help underserved kids in public schools.

“From my vantage point, solving the wealth inequality gap without solving the public education gap first doesn’t actually solve that many problems,” he says. “Education liberates the mind. I don't know if wealth necessarily makes people happy. But I do know that choice, and freedom of choice, is a big part of it.”

As the idea grew and took shape, he realized he was veering away from a career on Wall Street and back into the schools where he grew up, though he was hesitant.

“One of my biggest reservations behind turning this into a business was that I couldn't fathom the idea of profiting off of the achievement gap,” he says. “I thought for-profit solutions, especially in public education working with low-income children, was an absolute no-no. But I learned that it wasn't about for-profit or nonprofit. It was always more about ownership. I always knew I wanted to make a difference, so when push came to shove by the time I got to my senior year, I had enough conviction that this was probably what God put me on this Earth to do.”

He turned down the offers on Wall Street to focus on PRACTICE.

PRACTICE makes progress

Abouelnaga’s approach with PRACTICE combines his team’s in-depth experience with public school systems, traditional education practices and innovative, data-driven solutions.

“Everything we do focuses on personalizing education and increasing the amount of learning time that scholars have in the classroom,” he says. “Our customer is an overwhelmed Title One, which is the federal designation for a low-income school in the United States. It’s the school administrator who deeply cares about results for their children and families.”

He stresses that PRACTICE is a partner, not a vendor, for the schools with whom they collaborate, prioritizing respect for teachers and administrators. His team serves as "education champions." They are educators who integrate into classrooms to support students, particularly those who struggle, with specialized subject matter expertise. These champions also facilitate after-school, on-demand tutoring via video conferencing, providing additional support beyond school hours. PRACTICE also provides professional development and coaching.

Their education champions are public school graduates committed to scholarly success who have pursued college education and are looking for a part-time job with a purpose. Many of them come from the communities they serve and are students from some of the top colleges in the United States.

“As much as I want to build a successful education company that creates opportunities for low-income children, I'm hoping we're also writing the story of what it looks like to do good, and do well, in society,” he says. Contrary to popular belief, he says, it does not have to be one or the other.

Abouelnaga’s efforts have earned PRACTICE contracts with the New York City Department of Education since 2015, as well as a Echoeing Green Fellowship and recognition by the Clinton Global Initiative. A B Corp since 2016, they’ve also been named B Lab’s Best for the World list for governance and customer impact.

To date, PRACTICE has served 50,000 students. Abouelnaga’s “big, hairy, audacious goal” is to support one million low-income children by 2030.

Sharing the PRACTICE story

Abouelnaga prioritizes time and energy toward personal marketing efforts, giving authentic glimpses into his leadership journey, sharing thought leadership and updates of PRACTICE’s efforts. His weekly newsletter to his YouTube channel and speaking engagements like his TED Talk — which was named one of the nine most inspiring of 2017 — is to elevate the brand and attract talent.

“You need to think about the brand of the organization you're building.”

“You need to think about the brand of the organization you're building,” he advises. “When you're a founder, you are in a very lucky position to be able to do that through your own journey and story.” Among the drawbacks is insecurity from criticism that can follow, he says. Ultimately, the criticism makes you stronger and better.

Finding support

Abouelnaga was frustrated – and passionate – when he learned about the achievement gap and the disparities in education. “At 18, you think you're going to change the world. And I remember thinking, it really can't be that hard,” he says. “Fifteen years later, it is actually that hard.”

He faces the tangible challenges of educational bureaucracy and dated systems but says that as a CEO, one of his biggest challenges is that he must convince himself that the decisions he makes every day are the right ones.

“Hindsight is the only way that you will know, but in the moment, you have to give off confidence and believe that they’re the right decisions,” he says. “It’s hard, but it's a blessing and a privilege to be in a position where you're able to lead, hold people accountable, serve, support and really do something bigger as a group than you're able to do on your own.”

Abouelnaga says that joining YPO in January 2023 has helped him grow PRACTICE and grow as a leader and person.

“I think the biggest value for me has been the peer group effect,” he says. “So many people say ‘show me your friends and I’ll tell you your future.’ The idea of being with a group of people who care about driving their families and businesses to a better place is always inspiring and continues to push us without us even consciously doing it on our own.”

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About the Author

Mary Mack is a writer and digital content strategist. She earned her news-editorial journalism degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has a background covering arts, culture, food and entrepreneurship. She is a proud St. Louisan who enjoys cooking, reading and sharing the stories of interesting and inspiring people.