NOMINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Heejae Lim is an AI leader redefining how technology can drive meaningful, large-scale impact in education. As Founder and CEO of the nonprofit TalkingPoints, she has pioneered the use of artificial intelligence to unlock one of the most powerful yet historically underutilized drivers of student success: school-family partnerships.

Her vision is deeply personal. Growing up as a Korean immigrant student, Heejae experienced firsthand how her mother’s ability to connect with teachers changed the trajectory of her education. While many parents in her community shared the same aspirations for their children, they lacked access to the tools and confidence to partner with schools. She recognized that the gap was not one of care, but of access to information, communication, and support.

This insight became the foundation for TalkingPoints, an AI-powered solution designed to ensure that every family, regardless of language or background, can actively support their child’s learning.

What distinguishes Heejae is her ability to use cutting-edge technology to create human-centered solutions. Prior to founding TalkingPoints, she worked on public school reform in the Middle East, served as Chief of Staff to a Senior Advisor to the UK Secretary of Education, and advised organizations such as the Gates Foundation and Teach First UK. She studied at Oxford and the London School of Economics, received an MBA from Stanford as an Arjay Miller Scholar, and has been recognized as an Echoing Green Fellow, TED Fellow, Stanford Social Innovation Fellow, Ashoka Changemaker, and Forbes 30 Under 30.

Under her leadership, TalkingPoints has grown into a national platform reaching nearly 10 million students, families, and educators each year. Using machine learning, natural language processing, and generative AI, TalkingPoints enables two-way communication in over 150 languages, provides real-time coaching, and generates personalized, curriculum-aligned learning experiences at home. Research shows it improves attendance, math, and reading outcomes, with the highest gains for students who have been historically underserved.

Beyond product innovation, Heejae is shaping the future of AI for social impact. She is leveraging AI to amplify human connection at scale and modeling how AI, when grounded in purpose and evidence, can change the life- trajectory for millions of children.