Michaela Horvathova
CEO & Co-Founder
VISION
The Future of Education Is Human
A world where competencies like resilience, ethics, and courage are valued as much as grades, where schools nurture not just what students know, but who they become.
MISSION
Beyond Academics
To deliver research-based tools and mentoring that help educational institutions grow the whole learner, not just test scores, empowering educators to cultivate the human competencies that drive lifelong success.
WHY
Students Are More Than Scores
Missed match points did more for my success than perfect grades. Students are so much more than grades, so why does education only measure 1 of the 4 dimensions of what it means to BE Human in the Age of AI where we need to move beyond the Knowledge Dimension?
Why Human Skills Matter More Than Grades
Did you know that 94% of women in the C-suite played sports? That fact made me look back on my time as a semi-professional tennis player and realize that the human competencies I developed—Growth Mindset, Resilience, and Courage—matter far more than perfect grades ever did.
Before founding Beyond Education, I earned a Master’s in Education Policy and Management from Harvard, helped redesign national curricula with the OECD, and advised organizations like IB, UNICEF, and even the Prime Minister of Slovakia on competency-based learning. Those experiences reinforced what my career and sport had already taught me: academic knowledge alone doesn’t prepare students for the unpredictable future—it’s their human skills that do. Those experiences also taught me that education is slow to change and adapt to the rapidly evolving world and that to create an education shift, there needs to be a pioneer that can efficiently and quickly react to the needs of the future and provide those educators eager for change with a reliable, field-tested model for holistic education.
Research indicates that 92% of job success is attributed to these competencies. Yet schools rarely measure or develop them systematically. That’s why at Beyond Education our mission is clear: to equip institutions with the tools to cultivate and assess these essential skills intentionally. When educators can measure what matters — Growth Mindset, Resilience, Courage, etc. — they can help students not just succeed, but thrive.
Because the future rewards people who bounce back, adapt, and lead—not just those who know the right answers. Together, let’s build classrooms that develop the whole student.
HOW
How do we unlock human potential in the Age of AI?
For Beyond Education, it comes down to seamlessly merging 3 themes to guide our efforts.
Urgent call for action to move towards valuing the whole human, beyond academics
Easy implementation at scale & data stored safely – GDPR compliant
Created by scientists and validated by psychometricians
WHO
A Global Team Redefining Education
A team of educators, researchers, teachers, pedagogical engineers, psychometricians, and tech experts from across the world comes together to form a responsive, adaptable, and innovate team driven by a singular purpose – to refocus education on what truly matters.
Michaela Horvathova is a co-founder, board member, and Chief Education Officer at Beyond Education. She is an international education policy expert, specializing in shaping the future of education and skills within the context of the digital age. With a rich background as a policy analyst at the OECD and consultancy roles with UNICEF, International Baccalaureate, and various public, private, and non-profit sector entities, she possesses extensive experience and a deep understanding of global education systems and key trends.
Additionally, she has served as an Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, offering critical guidance on primary and secondary education reform. In her role as a Researcher at the Center for Curriculum Redesign, she led projects aimed at redefining education for the 21st century with a global impact. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University.
Michaela Horvathova
CEO & Founder
Bernardo Teixeira Motta is a co-founder, board member, and Chairman at Beyond Education. He has extensive experience in establishing companies from start to finish. He is passionate about education and preparing the next generations for new professional and personal challenges. He holds an MBA from Madrid-based IE Business School.
Bernardo Teixeira Motta
Chairman & Co-Founder
Dr. Nathan Roberson works to advance diverse research methods to support teaching and learning in support of holistic educational research. His research focuses on social indicators of well-being and the creation of innovative metrics to inform public policy. He is passionate about philosophy and educational activism. Dr. Roberson has a PhD in Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology from the University of British Columbia. He was also a policy analyst on the OECD Education 2030 project, where he worked to advance country-level policy to implement 21st Century Competencies into national-level curriculum reform. When not engaged in research, you’ll find Nathan climbing or flying from a mountain, or weaving magic in the forests.
Dr. Nathan Roberson
Chief Research Officer
Rouxbin Smit is a South African who is deeply passionate about human rights, specializing on Africa, and believes that investing in youth through education is a powerful means to create a more just society. After leading workshops on 21st Century Skills with high-school and university students and being a community leader in those groups, Rouxbin is extremely excited to continue this work in BE with more students. They hold a Master’s Degree in International Development (concentrations: Human Rights & Africa) from SciencesPo, Paris.
Rouxbin Smit
Editorial & Marketing Lead
Júlia is a teacher who believes that education is the way to change the world. Júlia holds Bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences and Education from São Paulo State University and a Master’s degree in Project Management from Conquer Business School. After working as a biology teacher at Brazilian public schools, she worked on teacher training courses, content development for teachers, and product and project management in education. She is extremely curious and loves sports.
Júlia Geraldes
Head of Operations
Tarcísio holds a degree in Biology, a Master’s in Parasitology, an MBA in Innovation Management, and a PhD in Microbiology. He is dedicated to creating knowledge that fosters socio-environmental impact, combining innovation with inclusive, multidisciplinary approaches. His work has connected him with communities in Brazil, the United States, Spain, Portugal, and more recently, France.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Tarcísio enjoys outdoor activities, traveling with his husband, going to parties with friends, and getting lost in good books.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Tarcísio enjoys outdoor activities, traveling with his husband, going to parties with friends, and getting lost in good books.
Tarcísio Milagres
Senior Project Manager
Sarah Ferreira, an enthusiast of exact sciences since childhood, immersed herself in a passion for technology from the beginning of her professional journey. Focused on system development, she goes beyond the user’s perspective, creating complex logic behind the scenes. Her ability to listen to users’ needs reflects her commitment to providing practical and personalized solutions. With a strong belief in the transformative power of technology, her aspiration is to contribute significantly to the world’s transformation through innovation and technological development. Universidade Estacio de Sá, Systems Analysis and Development.
Sarah Ferreira
Technology Lead
Katarina Kordulakova is a co-founder and Professional Development Expert at Beyond Education. She develops social-emotional learning experiences, and specialises in teacher training and project management. She holds Master’s Degrees in Public Policy Evaluation from École Polytechnique, and in Communication from Sciences Po Paris.
Katarina Kordulakova
Co-Founder & Pedagogical Lead
Luis Felipe Martinez has taught at both the elementary and graduate levels in Colombia and the United States. His work spans curriculum development with an emphasis on 21st-century skills and research for institutions such as the World Bank and Project Zero at Harvard University.
Luis Felipe will be Head of Social Emotional Learning and the Be Hour, in collaboration with Beyond Education, to enhance, adapt, and assess socio-emotional learning initiatives, with the goal to foster well-being and academic success of students.
Luis Felipe Martínez holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, focusing on the playful development of socio-emotional skills. He holds an Master’s degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University and a background in Economics.
Felipe Martinez
Head of Social Emotional Learning at Beyond International School
Júlia is a Slovak graduate student passionate about inclusive education and youth engagement. She has worked with marginalized communities as well as with international students, whether through NGOs, school associations, or mentoring initiatives. Júlia enjoys creating spaces where young people feel supported and empowered, and she is particularly interested in how political initiatives can translate into real change on the ground. These experiences have strengthened her belief in education as a driver of equity and social cohesion. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Sciences Po Paris and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in European Affairs, specialising in Education and Research Policy.
Júlia Beláková
Communication & Research Intern
WHO
A Global Team Redefining Education
A team of educators, researchers, teachers, pedagogical engineers, psychometricians, and tech experts from across the world comes together to form a responsive, adaptable, and innovate team driven by a singular purpose – to refocus education on what truly matters.
Michaela Horvathova is a co-founder, board member, and Chief Education Officer at Beyond Education. She is an international education policy expert, specializing in shaping the future of education and skills within the context of the digital age. With a rich background as a policy analyst at the OECD and consultancy roles with UNICEF, International Baccalaureate, and various public, private, and non-profit sector entities, she possesses extensive experience and a deep understanding of global education systems and key trends.
Additionally, she has served as an Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, offering critical guidance on primary and secondary education reform. In her role as a Researcher at the Center for Curriculum Redesign, she led projects aimed at redefining education for the 21st century with a global impact. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University.
Michaela Horvathova
CEO & Founder
Bernardo Teixeira Motta is a co-founder, board member, and Chairman at Beyond Education. He has extensive experience in establishing companies from start to finish. He is passionate about education and preparing the next generations for new professional and personal challenges. He holds an MBA from Madrid-based IE Business School.
Bernardo Teixeira Motta
Chairman & Co-Founder
Dr. Nathan Roberson works to advance diverse research methods to support teaching and learning in support of holistic educational research. His research focuses on social indicators of well-being and the creation of innovative metrics to inform public policy. He is passionate about philosophy and educational activism. Dr. Roberson has a PhD in Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology from the University of British Columbia. He was also a policy analyst on the OECD Education 2030 project, where he worked to advance country-level policy to implement 21st Century Competencies into national-level curriculum reform. When not engaged in research, you’ll find Nathan climbing or flying from a mountain, or weaving magic in the forests.
Dr. Nathan Roberson
Chief Research Officer
Rouxbin Smit is a South African who is deeply passionate about human rights, specializing on Africa, and believes that investing in youth through education is a powerful means to create a more just society. After leading workshops on 21st Century Skills with high-school and university students and being a community leader in those groups, Rouxbin is extremely excited to continue this work in BE with more students. They hold a Master’s Degree in International Development (concentrations: Human Rights & Africa) from SciencesPo, Paris.
Rouxbin Smit
Editorial & Marketing Lead
Júlia is a teacher who believes that education is the way to change the world. Júlia holds Bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences and Education from São Paulo State University and a Master’s degree in Project Management from Conquer Business School. After working as a biology teacher at Brazilian public schools, she worked on teacher training courses, content development for teachers, and product and project management in education. She is extremely curious and loves sports.
Júlia Geraldes
Head of Operations
Tarcísio holds a degree in Biology, a Master’s in Parasitology, an MBA in Innovation Management, and a PhD in Microbiology. He is dedicated to creating knowledge that fosters socio-environmental impact, combining innovation with inclusive, multidisciplinary approaches. His work has connected him with communities in Brazil, the United States, Spain, Portugal, and more recently, France.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Tarcísio enjoys outdoor activities, traveling with his husband, going to parties with friends, and getting lost in good books.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Tarcísio enjoys outdoor activities, traveling with his husband, going to parties with friends, and getting lost in good books.
Tarcísio Milagres
Senior Project Manager
Sarah Ferreira, an enthusiast of exact sciences since childhood, immersed herself in a passion for technology from the beginning of her professional journey. Focused on system development, she goes beyond the user’s perspective, creating complex logic behind the scenes. Her ability to listen to users’ needs reflects her commitment to providing practical and personalized solutions. With a strong belief in the transformative power of technology, her aspiration is to contribute significantly to the world’s transformation through innovation and technological development. Universidade Estacio de Sá, Systems Analysis and Development.
Sarah Ferreira
Technology Lead
Katarina Kordulakova is a co-founder and Professional Development Expert at Beyond Education. She develops social-emotional learning experiences, and specialises in teacher training and project management. She holds Master’s Degrees in Public Policy Evaluation from École Polytechnique, and in Communication from Sciences Po Paris.
Katarina Kordulakova
Co-Founder & Pedagogical Lead
Luis Felipe Martinez has taught at both the elementary and graduate levels in Colombia and the United States. His work spans curriculum development with an emphasis on 21st-century skills and research for institutions such as the World Bank and Project Zero at Harvard University.
Luis Felipe will be Head of Social Emotional Learning and the Be Hour, in collaboration with Beyond Education, to enhance, adapt, and assess socio-emotional learning initiatives, with the goal to foster well-being and academic success of students.
Luis Felipe Martínez holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, focusing on the playful development of socio-emotional skills. He holds an Master’s degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University and a background in Economics.
Felipe Martinez
Head of Social Emotional Learning at Beyond International School
Júlia is a Slovak graduate student passionate about inclusive education and youth engagement. She has worked with marginalized communities as well as with international students, whether through NGOs, school associations, or mentoring initiatives. Júlia enjoys creating spaces where young people feel supported and empowered, and she is particularly interested in how political initiatives can translate into real change on the ground. These experiences have strengthened her belief in education as a driver of equity and social cohesion. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Sciences Po Paris and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in European Affairs, specialising in Education and Research Policy.
Júlia Beláková
Communication & Research Intern
Contact & Location
8 Rue Charles V Bâtiment LPI,
bureau 1.03, 75004
Paris, France
Beyond Education
An impact EdTech that works with educational institutions to map, measure, & develop students’ 21st Century Competencies. All with fully online research-based tools
Ace Summit 2025
The ACE Summit 2025 explores the latest trends in AI and competency-based learning.
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