The passionate minds behind Smarty Cents Academy who are dedicated to transforming financial education for the next generation.

Co-Founder
Sonia is a co-founder of Smarty Cents Academy with nearly two decades of experience across product management, strategy, operations, and entrepreneurship. A graduate of Harvard Business School and Stanford University, she served as Chief Operating Officer of wikiHow and co-founded Playfully, an early childhood edtech startup that was acquired by Lovevery.
As a mother of three, Sonia recognized the importance of early financial education—focusing not just on dollars and cents, but on values, choices, and building a healthy relationship with money. Observing her children's deep engagement with role-playing games and their captivating storytelling, she was inspired to create Smarty Cents Academy's unique approach that combines immersive gameplay with essential financial learning in a completely screen-free format.
Smarty Cents Academy was born from the desire to instill kids with a mindset of confidence, intentionality, and curiosity around spending, saving, and giving—all through the engaging power of play-based learning.

Co-Founder
Kristie is a visionary product executive, entrepreneur, and former investment banker with nearly two decades of experience in product management, business operations, and eCommerce. She has led high-growth initiatives at top companies like Pearson, DoorDash, and Shutterfly, building and scaling digital platforms that have impacted millions of users.
Beginning her career at JPMorgan, Kristie gained deep understanding of financial markets and business strategy, which shaped her passion for financial literacy and the importance of equipping young learners with essential money skills.
As a parent of three, Kristie recognized early on the importance of teaching children about money—not just the practical aspects of dollars and cents, but also the deeper lessons about values, decision-making, and fostering a positive relationship with money. This passion inspired the creation of Smarty Cents Academy, a platform dedicated to helping kids develop confidence, intentionality, and curiosity in how they save, spend, and give.
Kristie holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. from UC Berkeley. With Smarty Cents Academy, she is excited to merge her expertise in AI, education, and product innovation to empower young learners with real-world money skills.