Holly O'Brien

Founder

Sitting in her high school classroom at 17, Holly O'Brien made a decision that would later spark an educational revolution. 'This isn't preparing me for real life,' she thought, and walked away from traditional education. Fast forward through years of self-taught success, and history began repeating itself – this time through the eyes of her six boys. Watching them struggle with the same real-world skills gap she had faced, Holly knew something had to change.

That 'something' became SkillZilla, born from late-night brainstorming sessions at her kitchen table and countless conversations with frustrated parents and teens. In 2024, the stars aligned when Holly met Stephanie Brooks, a marketing virtuoso who shared her vision for transforming youth education. Together, they turned Holly's dream of accessible life skills education into reality, building more than just an app – they created a movement.

What started as simple dinosaur doodles in Holly's notebook evolved into a full-fledged gamified platform. Using FlutterFlow and Firebase technology, they developed an engaging world where financial literacy meets fun, and practical skills are unlocked through their innovative Read-Listen-Do format. The response? A waitlist of nearly 50,000 eager students, all hungry for real-world knowledge.

But SkillZilla isn't just about numbers – it's about stories of transformation. From partnering with homes for sex-trafficked girls to collaborating with educational institutions, each alliance represents countless young lives changed. Holly's own experiences with AuDHD and RSD have shaped SkillZilla's inclusive approach, ensuring no student feels left behind.

The platform's features mirror Holly's kitchen table conversations – a safe space where young adults aged 14-24 can learn, grow, and support each other. Whether it's mastering credit scores or building communication skills, SkillZilla makes the journey to adulthood less daunting and more achievable.

With a mission to educate 10,000 youth by the end of 2025, Holly and her predominantly female team are preparing to launch a WeFunder campaign to scale their impact, they're making quality life skills education accessible to all.

'Life Skills, Unlocked' isn't just a tagline – it's Holly's promise to every young person who, like her teenage self, knows there must be a better way to prepare for life. Through SkillZilla, she's creating the educational resource she wished she had, ensuring future generations can succeed in life on THEIR terms.

As SkillZilla continues to grow, Holly's kitchen table may have been replaced by virtual rooms, but her mission remains unchanged: democratizing life skills education, one young adult at a time. Through technology, community, and unwavering dedication, she and her team are building a world where practical education isn't just a privilege – it's a right.