Have you ever wondered how ATLIS came into existence? This special podcast episode takes listeners back to the beginning with ATLIS's three co-founders. The conversation doesn't stay in the past but also imagines the future trajectory of ATLIS and the role of technology leaders.

Meet ATLIS co-founders: Kelsey Vrooman, Gaberiel Lucas, and Stuart Posin, as they reminisce about the early days, discussing their motivations and the challenges they faced. Their narrative underscores the importance of community and support in the tech field, particularly in the unique world of independent schools.

Vrooman shares a poignant insight into her early days, remarking, “ATLIS served as a lifeline to me of bringing the smartest people in the room and allowing me to connect in with their wisdom and not having to reinvent the wheel.”

Lucas emphasizes the community's role in ATLIS' journey, stating, "We knew that whatever happened here was going to be the make or break moment."

Posten brings to light the rapid growth of ATLIS, saying, "We went from like, 'Hey, we're going to do this' to having almost 300 people at our first conference six months later."

The conversation navigates the critical juncture where ATLIS transitioned from a concept to a concrete entity, emphasizing the strategic decisions and collaborative efforts that fueled its growth.

The episode takes a deeper look at the pivotal role of ATLIS in providing a platform for tech administrators to share knowledge, tackle common challenges, and foster a sense of belonging.

"The antidote to burnout is community. It's a restful space where you can find shelter, where you know, people have your back, people are feeding not just your pocketbook, but your soul, your friendships, all of those things." Vrooman remarked.

The founders reflect on their journey, outlining the evolution of their roles and the continuing relevance of ATLIS in a rapidly changing technological landscape. The conversation also touches on the future, envisioning ATLIS's role in addressing emerging challenges and new frontiers in educational technology. Vrooman shares one idea for how to address the challenges of financial sustainability for independent schools: “So much of technology can be administered digitally and from afar, so are there ways where you could partner schools that have similar missions that aren't necessarily market competitors. These schools could share services, share talents, even share platforms, across space and time to make the bottom line of technology more sustainable for schools. I’d like for ATLIS to be part of that solution to really rethink the business model of independent schools to try to make it more sustainable for the future.”

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