Trailblazing Female Entrepreneur | New Leaf Organization
The story of Mary Snell and the New Leaf Organization isn’t about a sudden epiphany in a boardroom. It began in a place far more humbling: a non-traditional high school in London, Ohio, where hope was as scarce as a diploma. It was here, as a school assistant, that Snell encountered students who had been cast aside by a system designed for a different kind of learner. They were on the verge of giving up, not because they lacked intelligence, but because they had been told, in one way or another, that they wouldn’t amount to much.
This was the crucible where Mary Snell’s mission was forged. Within months of starting, she was managing an entire school with a single colleague. But her real education came from a young mother, a student returning to school after having a baby. “She, like so many others, carried a heavy burden of circumstances but still walked through those doors every day determined to try again.” This encounter, and countless others like it, shattered every stereotype. They were not “bad kids.” They were bright, resilient individuals navigating colossal barriers. It was in listening to their stories and working to remove those obstacles that Snell realized her calling. She saw that education was not just about academics; it was a “bridge to a different life, one rooted in dignity, purpose, and possibility.” That calling would eventually become the founding vision for the New Leaf Organization.
The Student as Teacher: A Philosophy Forged in Empathy
The students at London Academy were her first teachers, and the lessons they imparted were profound. They taught her that effective leadership in non-traditional education isn’t about authority—it’s about a radical combination of empathy, consistency, and relentless advocacy. “Watching them thrive when given support and belief revealed the transformative power of creating environments where students feel seen, valued, and capable,” she recalls. This core lesson has become the bedrock of every decision she has made since, from how her teams are trained to how the schools themselves are designed.
The traditional American education system, a model largely unchanged for decades, often forces students to conform to its rigid structure. New Leaf’s philosophy is the inverse: it’s the system that must adapt to the student. Snell’s team begins by understanding each student’s goals, barriers, and strengths, and then works with them to create a personalized learning plan. This collaborative approach instills a sense of ownership, transforming students from passive recipients of knowledge into active architects of their own education. This flexibility, she explains, allows students to progress at their own pace while receiving the academic, emotional, and social support they need to succeed.
To the Mary who first walked into those halls as an assistant, she would offer a single piece of advice: “Trust your ability—and your voice.” She would remind her that innovation often draws resistance, but that resistance is “proof that you’re building something meaningful.” The vision, she knew, was to build something whose impact would one day reach far beyond that first school, transforming students, families, and entire communities.
