Education systems around the world are under pressure to evolve faster than ever, especially for underserved communities. In the U.S. alone, millions of students in low-income households still lack access to STEM resources and career pathways—fueling a widening opportunity gap. For more than 30 years, the TGR Foundation, founded by Tiger Woods, has worked to close that gap—and is now expanding its impact through hands-on learning labs that connect students to real-world skills and career pathways.

What does it look like when one of the most iconic athletes in history channels decades of influence into building hands-on learning environments for at-risk students—and how is that effort already reshaping education?

Welcome to DisruptED. In the first episode of this three-part series, host Ron J. Stefanski sits down with Hrag Hamalian, CEO of the TGR Foundation, the nonprofit founded by Tiger Woods. Together, they take a closer look at the foundation’s evolving work to intentionally design and scale innovative learning labs—environments built to deliver real-world skills, meaningful mentorship, and clearer pathways to opportunity for underserved youth.

The main topics of conversation…

How TGR Foundation is building and scaling immersive learning labs that connect STEM education to real-world career pathways for underserved students.
The role TGR plays beyond funding—actively designing education models that are community-driven, relationship-based, and focused on measurable outcomes.
Why urgency matters in education reform, and how TGR is prioritizing immediate, tangible impact for students instead of waiting for long-term systemic change.

Hrag Hamalian is an entrepreneur and education leader specializing in workforce development, STEAM education, and building scalable systems that expand opportunity for underserved learners. As CEO of the TGR Foundation, he leads strategy and growth for innovative learning labs that connect students to real-world career pathways, following a decade of transformational leadership as CEO of Bright Star Schools, where he scaled a high-performing charter network serving thousands of students. He began his career as a Teach For America educator and founded Valor Academy at age 23, later expanding his impact through ventures and advisory roles at the intersection of education, technology, and economic mobility.