Reuben Ogbonna is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Marcy Lab School. The Marcy Lab School is an innovative alternative to college designed for students who are seeking a rigorous, experiential, and financially accessible postsecondary experience. To date, they have served nearly 300 students, helping them launch rewarding, purpose-driven careers in the tech sector.  After one year of rigorous technical training and leadership development, their graduates go on to work at companies such as Asana, Squarespace, and the New York Times, earning an average salary of over $100,000 per year.  Founded in 2019, the Marcy Lab School has raised nearly $20MM in capital from values-aligned philanthropists, institutions, and corporations such as JP Morgan, Microsoft, and Tiger Global.

Reuben was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. His family is split between Imo State, Nigeria and Shreveport, Louisiana. Before founding the Marcy Lab School, Reuben coached teachers across New York City as a Director at Teach For America. He recently had his first child but one could argue that he has been a dad on the inside for several years already. When he is not trying to disrupt the higher education system, he is doing something fitness-related or grilling out on his Big Green Egg while playing afrobeats and old-school R&B.