Curious Cardinals

Founder and CEO of Curious Cardinals, an edtech company committed to empowering K-12 students discover and pursue their passions with the guidance of college mentors.

Chief Executive Officer

Has taught and created course syllabi on Mass Incarceration, Intro to Law, and Revisionist Women's History to middle and high school students over Zoom. Has invited guest speakers such as Harvard Law Professor Randall Kennedy, Stanford Law Professor Robert Weisberg, Andrea Miller President of the NIRH, and Dean of Berkeley Law School Erwin Chemerinsky.

Teacher

Co-Founder

StartX.

Accepted into top ranked incubator for Stanford affiliated startups

Student Founder in Residence

Stanford University

Applied with research proposal and was awarded with Humanities Research Intensive fellowship to support online independent research project on the history of sexual violence against women during summer 2020 under the guidance of Professor Estelle Freedman

Humanities Research Intensive Fellow

New Sanctuary Coalition Internships

Assisted immigrants seeking legal support by completing i-589 asylum forms and translating relevant legal documents 
Accompanied them to court hearings and trials, translating and offering support

English Translator

I am a firm believer in the power education holds as a catalyst for innovation and to disrupt systemic inequities. 

As the CEO of Curious Cardinals, I strive to create a community of lifelong learners and doers that celebrates the diversity each member of our team contributes. Since my passions imbue my life with meaning, I hope to help K-12 students discover theirs and provide college students with a platform to share their passions. I believe that students will be more productive contributors to society when they acquire a passion which brings purpose to their life, and college students will feel more invigorated and fulfilled in their pursuits through teaching.

Everyone’s talking about what AI can replace. 

After 25 customer calls last week, I’m convinced: human connection isn’t one of them.

Here’s what AI can’t do (shoutout Curious Cardinals mentors!): 

🩰 A daughter pursuing professional ballet + Stanford dreams, matched with a former professional ballerina who went to Stanford, Eleanor P…. proof her dreams are attainable!

📚 A 14 year old boy who “hates every tutor” but thinks his mentor is “actually cool,” so he even schedules his own sessions.

🐴 A young equestrian, exhausted after a weekend of 5am horse shows, still asking that evening: “Do we have our session with Mel?” Not because she had energy for homework, but because she couldn’t wait to share her results with someone who understands her world.

These breakthroughs don’t happen with chatbots! They happen when a child sees themselves in a young, relatable, accomplishable role model… someone who shows them what’s possible.

In a world obsessed with what AI can replace, let’s not forget what it can’t: the moment when someone looks at you and thinks, “I want to be like them. And maybe I actually can.”

Audrey Micay Wisch

CEO of Curious Cardinals | Forbes 30 Under 30 | We’re hiring!

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Yesterday we tried something radical at our parent workshop...

We took away parents' phones at the door.

91 parents had RSVP'd for our "Growing Up Online" session. We prepared for resistance.

Instead? 

Relief washed over their faces. They leaned in. They handed us their phones with EXCITEMENT.

While I teach the workshop, I always learn so much from the thoughtful parents in attendance. One parent's words at the end hit different: 
"My 20 year old reminded me last week. YOU ARE THE PARENT. YOU ARE IN CHARGE. You set the rules."

It made me wonder… what if kids would feel the same relief and excitement if we set firmer boundaries around screens?

We spend so much energy fearing backlash. But yesterday proved something powerful:

Boundaries can be a massive relief.

And the irony? At a workshop about kids and screens… it was the adults who needed the break most.

I may not recognize your face... 

but I WILL remember your resume, your mentees, and that robotics competition you won in 7th grade.

True story: A Curious Cardinals mentor spotted me on the street yesterday (the 3rd time this has happened). I completely blanked on recognizing them.

So naturally... I asked their name, then recited their entire bio back to them. 🤦‍♀️

"You're the Stanford CS major who taught Python through Minecraft mods and helped Sarah win the Scholastic Art & Writing Award, right?"

Their face: 😳

Apparently my signature yellow makes me easy to spot in a crowd. 

And my memory for people's stories? It makes them feel seen. 💛

Here's my confession: In high school, I couldn't memorize physics equations to save my life. But I could tell you every one of my favorite runners' PRs.

Now I run an education company with 700+ mentors and 10,000+ students. One parent literally called me a "walking CRM" last week. 🤣 

The truth? We remember what we care about.

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