Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Derrick Wesley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Derrick, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

As the founder of iMar Learning Solutions, my passion lies in reshaping the educational landscape to empower students for a more fulfilling life and career. If there’s one thing I’d change about the education system, it’s introducing financial literacy from an early age. Money is a language everyone needs to speak, and it serves as a bridge between subjects like math and reading. Seedlyng, our flagship edtech platform, is designed to be that bridge. It’s not just about dollars and cents; it’s about giving kids the tools they need to navigate the complexities of life.

Beyond financial literacy, our focus on critical thinking is deliberate. We call them Power Skills because they empower students to lead, communicate, and solve problems creatively. These are the skills employers crave, and in a world that’s increasingly disconnected, teaching students to think critically is preparing them for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

In the era of AI and evolving career landscapes, it’s not just about adapting to technology; it’s about fostering innovators and creatives. If we fail to instill these skills, we risk leaving a generation unprepared for the demands of tomorrow. Our duty is to equip students with the mindset and skills that will not only help them succeed personally but also contribute meaningfully to society.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Derrick Wesley, the CEO and founder of iMar Learning Solutions. My journey into the education technology space was fueled by a passion for addressing crucial gaps in traditional education. Recognizing the disconnect between classroom learning and real-world challenges, I embarked on a mission to empower students with essential life skills.

At iMar, our flagship product is Seedlyng, a financial education platform designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical financial acumen. What sets us apart is our holistic approach. We believe in cultivating not just financially literate individuals but also critical thinkers who can adapt to the evolving demands of the modern world.

For potential clients, followers, and fans, I want them to know that iMar is more than an edtech company; we’re on a transformative journey to reshape how we prepare our youth for life beyond the classroom. Our commitment to innovation, education, and empowerment drives everything we do, and we’re excited about the positive change we can continue to bring to individuals, schools, and communities.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Certainly! The story of how I met my two invaluable partners in the journey of building Seedlyng is one marked by shared passion and a commitment to making a positive impact on students’ lives.

Firstly, the dynamic partnership with Richard Ciarletta, our COO, traces back to our days as educators in Garland ISD. As a Reading teacher and Richard teaching Math, we found common ground in our shared dedication to nurturing students beyond the confines of textbooks. When the seed of the idea for our financial literacy app, Plan-It, sprouted, Richard was the first person I thought of. His technological expertise, genuine care for kids, and proficiency in math made him the perfect collaborator. Building Seedlyng alongside Richard has been not just professionally rewarding but also a genuinely enjoyable experience, enriching our app with diverse perspectives and skills.

The second chapter unfolds with my encounter with Arindam Nag, the founder of Centsai, in 2019. After winning TD Ameritrade’s Innovation Contest, a chance meeting with entrepreneur and investor Justin Wisz led me to Arindam. Following his advice, I reached out to Arindam to discuss my vision for engaging and educational financial literacy content. The collaboration with Centsai has not only made Seedlyng an approved vendor for over 130 school districts in Texas but has also extended our reach to locations as diverse as New York, Chicago, California, and even Lebanon in the Middle East. Working with Arindam and the Centsai team has been instrumental in bringing Seedlyng to a broader audience, shaping it into the impactful tool it is today.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The book that has profoundly shaped my entrepreneurial thinking is “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. Introduced to me by my cousin and mentor Jumaan Dussett in 2006, it became a cornerstone of our conversations about money, business, and wealth building. Jumaan made it required reading for our discussions, leading me to make more informed financial decisions in my personal life and sowing the seeds for the inception of iMar Learning Solutions, which later gave birth to Seedlyng.

The impactful lessons from the book continue to inspire the content we create for our students, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy and wise decision-making. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” serves as a guiding philosophy, steering my approach to entrepreneurship and contributing significantly to the foundations of my management style.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.imarlearningsolutions.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-wesley-imar-learning/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImarLearning
• Other: https://linktr.ee/derrickwesley