Asher Margolies, 28
Co-Founder & COO | NextGrad
Was there a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today?
I was fortunate to have the freedom in my early twenties to take entrepreneurial risks. That freedom allowed me to start NextGrad, an adventure I couldn’t have taken otherwise. Taking that first step was both thrilling and terrifying, but it taught me how much can happen when barriers are removed. I wanted other young professionals to have similar opportunities, which led me to create the NextGrad Scholarship Foundation. Hopefully, it can help graduates chase their ambitions without being held back by financial barriers.
What advice do you have for other young professionals?
I still struggle with the idea that every day should feel like forward motion. When I’m not taking a noticeable step forward, it feels like I’m losing ground. The truth is, not every day will feel productive, and that’s okay. Some days are just about showing up and keeping the wheels turning, and those quiet, steady days often lay the foundation for your biggest leaps forward.
