The Learning Economy Foundation (LEF) is excited to announce significant updates to its leadership and governance as it enters a dynamic phase of scale and growth. With hundreds of thousands of credentials now being issued with LearnCard and Scoutpass, the organization is prioritizing user-centered design to support its rapid expansion. This new chapter is further bolstered by a growing network of partners and deployments like World Scouting, Roblox, Sesame Workshop, PVBLIC Foundation, LearningFREQUENCY, the Walton Family Foundation and many others. Together, these advancements mark a new horizon of growth and opportunity for LEF.
To guide this crucial phase, Carissa Carter, the Academic Director of Stanford's d.school and an existing independent LEF Board member, will assume the role of Chair.
Her expertise in design and innovation will ensure LEF is well-positioned to deliver on its mission with strengthened oversight, transparency, and scalability as it evolves to meet the needs of its growing global impact.
As part of a broader restructuring, Learning Economy Foundation (LEF) founders and executives Chris Purifoy (CEO) and Jacksón Smith (CTO), along with Executive Chairman John Goodwin, will step down from the LEF board to create a governance structure that separates operational responsibilities from fiduciary oversight.
This transition reflects the organization’s shift from founder-led funding to external support and aims to establish clear roles and responsibilities aligned with LEF's expanding needs. Together, Chris, Jacksón, and John will focus on developing new governance and leadership structures to support initiatives like Skyway, with John transitioning into an ongoing Senior Advisor role to offer impartial recommendations and help guide the foundation’s vision into the future. This collective restructuring positions LEF for sustainable growth and long-term impact.
Chris Purifoy, CEO of LEF, expressed gratitude for the board’s ongoing dedication: “This transition reflects our commitment to robust governance that aligns with our mission. Jacksón and I deeply appreciate John’s leadership over the past two years. His expertise in research was critical during the last phase of development and validation. John’s ability to integrate rigorous research with innovative thinking was instrumental in driving our progress, ensuring that our initiatives were deeply impactful.”
CTO Jacksón Smith stated, “We’re thrilled to welcome Carissa Carter as our new Board Chair. In her role leading the design school (d.school) at Stanford, Carissa has demonstrated unparalleled expertise in user-first design methodologies, making her an ideal leader as we transition from research and development to scaling our reach to learners around the world.”
About the Learning Economy Foundation
The Learning Economy Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering decentralized, equitable learning and employment ecosystems. LEF pioneers innovative, inclusive systems that enable lifelong learning and meaningful work opportunities worldwide.
