September 2025

Shalinee Sharma, MBA, CEO and Co-founder of Zearn

Shalinee Sharma is a math expert and is the CEO and co-founder of Zearn, a nonprofit educational organization behind the top-rated math learning platform used by 1 in 4 elementary schools and 1 million middle-school students nationwide. In addition to her role at Zearn, she authored the national bestseller, “Math Mind: The Simple Path to Loving Math.” She has shared her ideas on making math rigorous and accessible for all kids in numerous keynote talks, including her TED Talk, ‘4 Steps to Unlock Your Kid’s Math Potential.’ Sharma also serves on the Braven Board of Directors, is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow and serves as co-chair of the Brown University Advisory Council for the College.

Before co-founding Zearn in 2012, Sharma spent more than a decade at Bain & Co. leading work for clients in various sectors including technology and education. She has a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University. As a mom of twins, Sharma is passionate about universal access to an excellent education.

Brett Barnes, Director of Accessibility at Zearn

Brett Barnes serves as the Director of Accessibility at Zearn, a nonprofit math learning platform. In this role, he oversees digital accessibility initiatives and drives strategies to better support students with disabilities. Prior to joining Zearn, Brett led special education programs at Uncommon Schools in New York City and DSST Public Schools in Colorado. He began his career as a middle school special education and math teacher. Brett has presented at national and regional conferences, including NCTM, NCSM, OCTM, and CAMT, sharing insights on accessibility, instructional design, and supports for students with disabilities.