Building a Movement, Not Just an App – Exclusive Interview With Holly O'Brien

Holly O’Brien’s story is one of resilience, determination, and a relentless drive to create change. As the founder and CEO of SkillZilla, Holly turned her personal challenges into a mission to revolutionize life skills education for young adults. With a gamified mobile app designed to make learning engaging and accessible, SkillZilla is equipping the next generation with the tools they need to thrive. In this exclusive Brainz Magazine interview, Holly opens up about her journey, the inspiration behind SkillZilla, and her vision for the future.

Holly O'Brien, Founder

Holly, your journey from dropping out of high school to becoming the founder of SkillZilla is remarkable. What inspired you to take this path?

Honestly, my journey has been a wild ride. I dropped out of high school at 17 because I felt like what I was learning had nothing to do with real life. On my 18th birthday, I had my first son, married at 19, and by 24. I was a single mom with four boys, juggling multiple jobs just to keep the lights on. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve always believed in my ability to figure things out, even when the odds were stacked against me.

The idea for SkillZilla came from a mix of my own struggles and watching my sons face the same challenges. I remember one of my boys coming to me, completely lost, trying to figure out how to budget his money. It hit me like a ton of bricks. These are skills they need to succeed, but no one is teaching them. That’s when I knew I had to step up. I wanted to create something that didn’t just fill the gap but made learning these skills fun and actually useful. SkillZilla started as “The Adulting Playbook”, a dream to help my kids, but it quickly grew into a mission to empower young adults everywhere to take on life with confidence. It’s personal for me. This isn’t just a business, it’s my passion and purpose.

You’ve mentioned that your sons’ experiences were a big influence on SkillZilla. How did they shape the platform?

My boys were absolutely the heart and soul behind SkillZilla. As a mom of four with 2 bonus boys, I’ve watched each of them face similar struggles with life skills that I did when I was their age. They’re smart, capable kids, but they weren’t being taught the basics, things like how to budget, communicate effectively, or even handle stress. It was frustrating to see them feel unprepared for adulthood when I knew these were lessons they’d need to thrive. Changes in our society that causes both parents to work a full time job and sometimes a side hustle. Parents don’t have the bandwidth, and don’t get me started on education legislation and resource allocation!

One moment that really stuck with me was when one of my teenage sons came to me, completely overwhelmed, trying to figure out how to manage his money. I could see the anxiety in his face, and it hit me hard. I realized that if my kids, with all the resources I was trying to provide, were struggling, then millions of other young people must be feeling the same way. That’s when I knew I had to do something. Inaction was not an option.

SkillZilla was built with them in mind. I wanted to create something that felt approachable, fun, and practical. That’s why we leaned into gamification and the dinosaur theme, it’s playful, it’s engaging, and it doesn’t feel like school. The platform is designed to meet young people where they are, on their phones, and give them tools they can use in the real world. My sons shaped every part of SkillZilla, from the lessons we teach to the way we present them. They’re not just my inspiration; they’re my first testers!

Starting a business is a huge leap, especially when you’re investing your own savings. What gave you the confidence to invest your whole savings into SkillZilla?

Honestly, it was one of the scariest decisions I’ve ever made, but it felt like the most important one. I invested our whole savings into SkillZilla because I believed in it with my whole heart. I saw a problem that wasn’t being addressed at scale, young people were stepping into adulthood without the tools they needed to thrive. Watching my own sons struggle with things like budgeting, critical thinking, and communication made it impossible for me to ignore. I knew I wasn’t just starting a business, I was building a solution that could make a real difference.

It wasn’t easy to take that leap. As a mom of six, every dollar mattered, and I had to trust that this investment would pay off, not just financially, but in terms of the impact it could have. My parents paid our rent for the first year allowing us to put more into SkillZIlla and without that help we wouldn’t be where we are today. What gave me the confidence was knowing I had a stellar support system and that the mission was bigger than me, MUCH bigger! I always asked myself “If not me, who?’ I also leaned on the lessons I learned during my career in startups. I’d seen how taking calculated risks could lead to incredible opportunities, and I was determined to bet on myself and my vision.

At the end of the day, I reminded myself that the biggest risk would have been doing nothing. SkillZilla is creating impact in our communities and giving the youth of today a headstart I did not get. That’s worth every penny I’ve put into it.

SkillZilla’s mission is to democratize life skills education. What does that mean to you, and why is it so important?

To me, democratizing life skills education means making the kind of essential, life-changing knowledge that’s often hidden or out of reach accessible to everyone. It’s about breaking down the barriers that keep young people from understanding the tools they need to thrive, whether that’s managing their finances, navigating health insurance, or even something as simple as understanding what’s in the food they eat. Life skills are the foundation for success, and they shouldn’t be reserved for those with privilege or access to expensive resources.

One example of how we’re doing this is by exposing the kind of hidden knowledge that often keeps the wealthy at the top, like legal loopholes and financial strategies that aren’t taught in schools. These are the tools the 1% use to stay wealthy, and we want to make that information available to the masses in a way that’s clear, actionable, and empowering. By giving young adults access to these insights, we’re making financial freedom more attainable and leveling the playing field.

SkillZilla is about more than just teaching traditional life skills. It’s about pulling back the curtain on the systems that hold people back and giving them the knowledge they need to take control of their futures. That’s why this mission is so important. It’s not just about education, it’s about empowerment and creating a fairer, more informed society.

Gamification is a key feature of SkillZilla. Can you explain how it works and why it’s so effective?

Gamification is at the heart of what makes SkillZilla so engaging and effective. We wanted to create a platform that felt less like school and more like an adventure, so we built a system that rewards users for their progress and keeps them coming back for more. When users complete lessons, they earn points called "leaves," which can be exchanged for real-world rewards like gift cards to popular stores and restaurants. (Exchange Added in Next Update Fall 2025) It’s a fun way to make learning feel tangible and rewarding.

We also use features like streaks to encourage consistency, similar to what you’d see in apps like DuoLingo. If someone logs in every day and completes lessons, they build a streak, which motivates them to keep going. And we’re planning to introduce streak freezes so users can maintain their progress if life gets busy. It’s all about creating a positive feedback loop that keeps users engaged and excited to learn.

The dinosaur theme ties everything together by adding a playful, relatable layer to the experience. It makes the platform approachable and fun for young adults, while reinforcing the idea that learning doesn’t have to feel like a chore. By combining gamification with a creative theme, we’ve created a platform that not only teaches essential life skills but also makes the process enjoyable and rewarding. It’s about turning learning into an adventure, where every step forward feels like a win.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in building SkillZilla, and how have you overcome them?

Bootstrapping and developing SkillZilla has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it’s also been the most fulfilling. When you’re starting out without a huge budget, every decision feels high stakes. I invested my own savings into SkillZilla, which was a massive leap of faith. When that ran out I took to gig work like Amazon Flex and Lyft. I would get up at 3.30am, start gig work at 4 am, be done by noon, then start my SkillZIlla work.

One of the toughest parts of bootstrapping is doing so much yourself. In the early days, I was wearing every hat, product development, customer support, marketing, you name it. I had to learn things on the fly, like how to use FlutterFlow to develop the app and how to navigate the complexities of Firebase for our backend. I had technical support and implementation background, so user facing, but I had no backend experience whatsoever. There was a lot of trial and error. But I’m a problem solver at heart, and every challenge was an opportunity to grow and figure things out.

The other hard part of bootstrapping is the constant balancing act. I was juggling family life while building a company from the ground up. There were moments when I felt completely overwhelmed, but I kept reminding myself why I started this in the first place. I wanted to create something that would make life better for my kids and for young adults everywhere.

What’s kept me going is the mission. Every time we hit a milestone, like launching beta testing or hearing feedback from a user about how SkillZilla helped them, it’s a reminder that all the hard work is paying off. Bootstrapping is tough, but it forces you to be resourceful, creative, and laser-focused on what really matters. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

You’re running a crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder right now. Why should people consider investing in SkillZilla?

SkillZilla is my heart and soul. It was born from a deep desire to fix something broken in the world. Too many young adults are stepping into life unprepared, lacking the skills they need to thrive and falling prey to the many many financial pitfalls greedy companies offer. I’ve lived it, and I’ve watched my boys live it too. I’ve seen the frustration in their eyes when they couldn’t figure out why their first paycheck had so many taxes taken out or when they didn’t know how to communicate effectively when someone wasn’t respecting their boundaries. That’s why SkillZilla exists, to fill the gap that traditional education leaves behind and give young adults the tools they need to take on the world with confidence.

Our mission is to empower young adults, ages 14 to 24, with life-changing skills that help them succeed in adulthood. But it’s not just about them. We’re also here for the parents, educators, and angel investors who want to be part of a solution. By 2025, we aim to reach 10,000 youth, and we’re already on track to make that happen. We’re not just building an app, we’re creating a movement to democratize life skills education and make it accessible to everyone, no matter their background.

SkillZilla’s business model is designed to be sustainable and impactful. We operate on a freemium model, where users can access the basics for free with ads and unlock premium features for just $14.99 a month. On top of that, we offer sponsorship opportunities for businesses, ranging from $500 to $10,000 or more. These partnerships allow us to keep the platform affordable while reaching more young adults. With Gen Z’s $360 billion spending power in the US alone, the market potential is enormous, and SkillZilla is uniquely positioned to tap into it.

If you believe in creating a future where every young adult has the skills they need to succeed, now is the time to act. Join us on WeFunder and be part of the SkillZilla movement. Together, we can make life skills education accessible to everyone and create a lasting impact.Invest in SkillZilla today.

What advice would you give to someone who has a big idea but feels overwhelmed by the thought of starting something new?

First of all, I want to say that feeling overwhelmed is completely normal. Starting something new, especially something big, can feel like standing at the base of a mountain and looking up. I’ve been there so many times, and I still feel it sometimes. The key is to take a deep breath and remind yourself that you don’t have to climb the whole mountain in one day. You just have to take the first step.

My advice is to start small. Break your big idea into smaller, manageable pieces and tackle them one at a time. When I started SkillZilla, I didn’t try to build the entire platform overnight. (Well at least most of the time) I focused on one feature, one lesson, one partnership at a time. Progress, no matter how small, builds momentum.

Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your vision. Whether it’s a mentor, a friend, or a supportive community, having people in your corner can make all the difference. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. One of the best decisions I made was leaning on others for advice and support when I felt stuck.

Finally, remember your “why.” Why are you passionate about this idea? Why does it matter to you and the people you want to serve? Your “why” is what will keep you going when things get tough. Starting something new is never easy, but if it’s something you truly believe in, it’s always worth it.

Finally, where do you see SkillZilla in the next five years?

In five years, I see SkillZilla as the go-to platform for life skills education, empowering millions of young adults around the world. We want SkillZilla to be a household name, not just as an app but as a movement that redefines what education can be.

By 2030, I envision SkillZilla partnering with schools, organizations, and communities internationally to bring life skills education to the young people who need it most. We’re not just about teaching the basics like budgeting or communication, we’re about leveling the playing field by exposing hidden knowledge, like financial strategies and legal tools that the 1% use to stay ahead. I want to make information that has traditionally been out of reach accessible to everyone.

We’ll also continue to innovate. Whether it’s through new gamification features, expanded community tools like mentoring, or partnerships with businesses to offer even more real-world rewards, we’re committed to making learning fun, impactful, and rewarding. My ultimate goal is to see SkillZilla not only helping individuals but also creating a ripple effect that strengthens families, communities, and entire generations.

This isn’t just about building a successful company, it’s about creating a legacy of empowerment and opportunity. In five years, I want to look back and know that we’ve changed lives, one skill at a time.

Holly O’Brien’s journey from high school dropout to founder and CEO of SkillZilla is a testament to the power of resilience, vision, and the courage to create change. With SkillZilla, she has transformed personal challenges into a mission to empower young adults with the life skills they need to succeed. Through gamification, innovative teaching methods, and a deep commitment to accessibility, SkillZilla is not just filling an education gap, it’s creating a movement to unlock the potential of a generation.

But the work is far from done. Holly and her team are on a mission to reach 10,000 young adults by the end of 2025, with plans to expand and continue innovating to make life skills education engaging and impactful. SkillZilla is more than an app; it’s a platform for empowerment, a tool for transformation, and a beacon of hope for young people navigating the complexities of adulthood.

Now, it’s your turn to be part of this movement. By investing in SkillZilla through our WeFunder campaign, you’re not just supporting a startup—you’re helping to change lives. Every dollar invested helps us reach more young adults, break down barriers to education, and create a ripple effect of empowerment that will impact families, communities, and future generations.

Join us today and help unlock the future for young adults everywhere. Invest in SkillZilla on WeFunder. Together, we can make life skills education accessible to all.

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