It’s a good thing I love learning, because I’ve had to do a lot of it. As a proud first-generation college graduate, my path was anything but straightforward. The early years of my education were spent in ESL (English as a Second Language), where I learned not just a new language, but empathy and patience for a culture that was so unlike my own. In fact, because we grew up in a mostly-white area with families that had far more money than us, we had a lot of uphill climbing to do just to get by. Most bilingual parents will tell you this about their child, but I didn’t start to “click” with English until I had made English-speaking friends (who expanded my vocabulary mostly with Pokemon and Barbie references). From there on, I learned that education wasn’t just memorization, but a holistic approach to understanding — and that requires a connection.

I guess my first “students” were my parents, who learned English in their adulthood (they actually met living the American Dream in their 20’s attending an English class in LA - remind me to tell you that story one day). As the only English speaker in the house, I learned how to fill out and translate important documents at the age of 6, while my parents learned the meanings alongside me. After that, I caught the bug and continued to be in the world of teaching and committed myself to equitable, accessible educational experiences for children in my community. You’re right in thinking I’ve loved this for a long time.

Transitioning from a hands-on role in education to the dynamic world of EdTech, and now a Master Certified Coach, my career has been guided by a singular belief: the core of education—whether for children or adults—isn't all that different. At its heart, it's just about engaging the curious mind. Through working with thousands of K-5 students, educators in schools, and professional clients from small to enterprise level companies (Nespresso, Barclays Bank, Chevron to name a few), I've seen firsthand that when we tap into the fundamentals of how people learn, we can create engaging, impactful education experiences for any audience.

Broadening our understanding of the world, of ourselves, is an incredible feeling. I believe that learning should be a source of joy, a journey that is as enjoyable as it is informative. Whether I'm developing EdTech solutions or coaching the next generation of educators, my goal is always the same: to light that spark of curiosity and make the learning process something to look forward to.

Ready to transform challenges into opportunities and turn curiosity into knowledge? Let's embark on this journey together.

Aiko Sato
M.A. Curriculum and Instruction
Master Certified Coach
she/her