CEO Stories: Cher Grant, CEO and Founder of Wazzio, Inc.

Software company Wazzio has its roots in a cloud-services company started by entrepreneur Cher Grant. Eventually Grant chose to focus on education software with WazzCards because she saw technology as a solution for bridging teaching/learning gaps that could help students, teachers, and parents, whether in online classrooms or in person.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

The company’s latest application of WazzCards is focused on financial literacy, for students in grades 3-8. Grant says financial literacy is critical because it’s too easy for kids to spend money digitally without any real understanding of the true value of money: where it comes from, where it is going, and the implications of such factors as interest rates, debt, and credit.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

The pandemic and the burden of at-home learning gave parents new insights into how their children were learning and into what areas their children may be struggling with. Products like WazzCards allow parents to supplement what children are being formally taught and focus on areas of particular need or interest.

WOMEN IN TECH

Grant acknowledges it isn’t always easy for women, especially women of color, in technology because of lack of representation. While she didn’t study technology in school, she found herself intrigued by its dynamic, solutions-focused nature and started working in the field. Working for big companies had its pros and cons, she says. Pros: The chance to learn, make contacts, and stay on top of trends. Cons: Red tape and bureaucracy can make it tough to bring new ideas to fruition. Wazzio was profitable in its first year and has Grant has been able to fund growth without outside investment.