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Meet Andy Canales

From Humble Beginnings to Purpose-Driven Leadership

I began my career as a public school teacher in Miami, driven by a belief in the power of education to transform lives. Over the next decade, I led nonprofits, expanded regional operations, and raised millions to scale impact.

After earning my MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, I moved into private equity, acquiring and operating mission-aligned businesses.

Today, I bring that same purpose-driven mindset to helping individuals, families, and leaders navigate complexity, steward their resources, and shape lasting impact.

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The Story So Far

Snapshots of a Life in Progress

Where the Dream Began

As a kid, I rode the bus with my mom from the inner-city L.A. to Malibu, where she cleaned houses. Every time we passed Pepperdine along the Pacific Coast Highway, I’d look up at the campus and dream of one day walking its halls.
Malibu Became My Classroom

Years later, I became a student at Pepperdine, studying Political Science and Religion. I was drawn to the big questions—how systems shape lives, how beliefs shape choices, and how both influence the world around us.
This One Was for Her

On graduation day, I stood with my mom—the woman who cleaned homes so I could one day build my own. This wasn’t just my achievement. It was ours. Every 5 a.m. bus ride, every sacrifice, every dream—it all led here.

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From Student to Teacher

I began my career in the classroom, where I discovered the power of education to change lives. As a teacher, I used data to drive instruction, built deep relationships with students and families, and worked to create a learning environment where every chil...

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Driving Systems Change

I took what I learned in the classroom and applied it at the systems level—leading initiatives that combined data, policy, and community partnerships to expand access to quality education. Over more than a decade, I collaborated with edtech companies, scho...

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Leveling Up at MIT

After over a decade of work in education, I pursued my MBA at MIT to grow as a leader and operator. I wanted to better understand how capital, strategy, and innovation can be used to scale solutions—and to continue creating pathways for others like me.

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Searching for the Right Opportunity to Build

After MIT, I spoke with more than 700 business owners and their advisors as I led M&A efforts.

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