We were lucky to catch up with Aviva Legatt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Aviva, appreciate you joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

When I was a baby, my parents put me in their small business commercial for their health food store and had me “work” in their store. I was ringing up sales at 3 and 4 years old, helping to stock juices (worked for my height), and greeted customers, including interesting characters such as Brooke Shields and John Nash. These early experiences gave me a love of work, entrepreneurship, and interesting people.

As I got older, I became involved in the theatre. My parents nurtured my interest by driving me to NY for acting school, taking me to auditions, and even to movie sets. These were time-consuming full-day affairs that they seemed to enjoy and never resented me for. They were always joyful in my joy.

I did have trouble finding my place at school, however. So my parents moved our family to Princeton, NJ, where I became inspired by the atmosphere. Being in this environment eventually led me to write my book Get Real and Get In (St. Martin’s Press) and found my first company, Ivy Insight.

My parents showed me that being a parent is about seeing your kids for who they are and cultivating their interests. And also not being afraid to make adjustments if something isn’t working out quite right.

Those same ideals apply to my philosophy as a business owner and consultant. You have to see others’ strengths and talents and find ways to cultivate them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m passionate about helping individuals and organizations navigate a rapidly changing world—preparing them for the future by unlocking their full potential and leveraging the power of AI. Whether working with corporate leaders, students, or families, my focus is on future-proofing success through data-driven insights, personalized strategies, and a deep commitment to adaptability, resilience, and lifelong learning.

I got into this work through a combination of personal and professional experiences. Having worked in leadership development, talent management, and college admissions, I realized the critical need for strategies that bridge the gap between current skills and those needed in the future. I write about these in places such as Forbes, Success and Fast Company. I focus on developing solutions that empower individuals and organizations to thrive in an evolving landscape.

The services I offer are designed to address the unique challenges faced by today’s leaders, students, and families. My work revolves around three core areas:

1. Future-Proof Talent Strategies
I help both families and companies align with the future of work and education. For families, I provide personalized college admissions strategies that focus on each student’s unique strengths. For companies, I develop reskilling and upskilling programs tailored to the demands of the future workforce and strategic use of AI. The result is stronger talent retention and a workforce ready to face any challenge.

2. Developing Future-Ready Leaders and Students
Success in the future requires adaptability, emotional intelligence, and executive function skills. I coach leaders and students to build these competencies using data-driven assessments. For leaders, I help build resilient leadership pipelines, and for students, I guide them toward academic and lifelong success. My coaching is designed to ensure continuity in leadership, whether at work or at home.

3. Balancing Career and Family Priorities
For executives managing the complexities of both high-powered careers and family milestones, I provide actionable guidance to balance both seamlessly. This includes helping families craft standout college applications and supporting executives through career transitions while navigating family priorities.

What sets me apart is my ability to integrate these areas into holistic strategies. My work is grounded in the belief that success is not just about achieving in one area—it’s about creating alignment and maximizing outcomes.

What I’m most proud of is the impact I’ve made in preparing both individuals and organizations for long-term success. My work with Fortune 500 companies to shape future talent strategies and my success in helping students gain admission to top-tier universities are just some of the outcomes that drive my passion. I’m also proud of my book Get Real and Get In, as I know it has changed the lives and trajectories of many readers. In addition, I’m proud of creating the College Admissions X-Factor™, my mark on the college admissions world.

Ultimately, my goal is to help clients not just survive—but thrive—in the future. If you’re ready to future-proof your workforce or prepare your family for tomorrow’s challenges, I’d love to help you take the next step.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Being featured in and writing articles for places like Forbes, Success, Fast Company, Business Insider, NY Times, US News and World Report.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Referrals and building an email list.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avivalegatt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avivalegatt
• Other: My College Admisssions X-Factor Course: www.collegeadmissionsxfactor.com
  My UPenn/Coursera Courses on Culture-Driven Team-Building: https://www.coursera.org/instructor/avivalegatt