After a long and successful career as a corporate executive, and seeing his oldest daughter off to college, Michael experienced the need to reevaluate how he wanted to spend the next chapter of his life. He found himself standing at the proverbial crossroads, struggling to define his purpose and how he could manage this critical transition.

After much soul searching he realized the most fulfilling moments in his life didn't stem from career success, but came from the impact he had on people’s lives and careers. Michael’s defining moment came during a hike in the redwoods near his home in Marin California. Surrounded by nature’s quiet wisdom, he realized that the same passion that drove him to lead businesses and be a caring father could be applied to helping individuals seeking clarity and purpose in their own lives -- on this hike, the seeds of The Next Wave were sown in his mind.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in Ireland, Ryan has spent the last ten years creating something remarkable—developing gap year programs that support personal development in young adults through art, travel, outdoor adventure and experiential education. His programs at Irish Gap Year have received multiple industry awards and are regarded as amongst the best in the world. This experience gave Ryan the opportunity to connect with countless parents—many of whom were navigating their own transitions and development, grappling with the discomfort and fear that change often brings. After years of parental requests, Ryan decided to create a program that would serve not just the young, but also those at midlife who were dealing with transitions of their own.