Ryan Growney

About Ryan Growney

I’m a builder focused on one thing: creating tools that help people grow.At 15, I co-founded Service Academy to reimagine youth service, make it a launchpad for identity, purpose, and contribution. We built what we needed but didn’t see: a podcast to elevate youth voices, an engagement card game to spark action, and a strengths field guide to help students name what they bring to the table, frameworks for meaningful action. After high school, I stepped back to go deeper. I took a gap year to test what it means to build for people and systems I didn’t yet understand:In the Himalayas, I trekked 75 miles with NOLS over 40 days, learning how trust forms under pressure and how to lead and follow in a team where success depends on shared effort, not individual pace.In Switzerland, I trained as a ski instructor, teaching in unfamiliar conditions and adjusting on the fly to meet the needs of diverse learners.In South Africa, I interned at Bush Radio, producing a weekly show and hosted 150+ interviews across a broad spectrum of disciplines. I lived and worked with peers from 35+ countries, navigating different values, rhythms, and cultures, and learning how to collaborate across lines of difference with humility and care.These experiences sharpened how I think, how I work with others, and how I listen. More importantly, they reminded me that building for systems change means learning how to build with people, not just for them.Now I’m at Duke University, studying math, computer science, and philosophy, because I want to think precisely, design responsibly, and build systems that are both technically sound and human-centered. I’m also part of OpenAI’s Education Cohort, where I’m exploring how AI can support learning, growth, and self-directed development.That work reflects what I’m most drawn to: tools that support learning, agency, and behavior change, products that help people gain clarity, take action, and grow. I’m entering college with a strong foundation in systems thinking, collaboration, and design, and I’m excited to apply it to complex challenges. I see these tools not as endpoints, but as interfaces between people and the systems they move through. I care most about helping people move forward, with more confidence, more agency, and more clarity, and that\'s what I’m here to build.Join Service Academy: https://serviceacademy.orgCheck out the podcast: https://serviceacademy.org/podcast/https://linkedin.com/company/newserviceacademy

Experience

1. Co-founder

   Service Academy

   Jan 2020 — Present