WHEN LUMINARIES IMAGINE A BOLD FUTURE, WE HELP THEM BRING IT TO LIFE
FEATURED WORK
From award-winning social impact campaigns, to innovations in learning, to cultural movements, we design products, experiences and stories that make better futures.
OUR STORY
The Firebrand Company is founded by Mike McGalliard, an educator and social entrepreneur for over 33 years
For over 33 years, Mike has built companies, schools and campaigns that advance the holistic wellbeing of children. He’s founded/co-founded five organizations, including LA Promise Fund, a regional leader in school transformation for over 20 years. Mike’s helped design, launch or restructure several schools and organizations—including traditional, private and charter schools—and served as CEO across four nonprofit companies for over 18 years.
Throughout his career, he’s collaborated with some of the world’s most beloved change-makers, including Pharrell Williams, Goldie Hawn, Jamie Oliver and Common, as well as brands including LEGO, Google, and Amazon. In 2015, Mike was named Champion in LEGO’s Re-Imagine Learning Challenge and an Ashoka “Globalizer Fellow” for his work to design the beloved campaign, The Global Cardboard Challenge.
Mike is the industry go-to for creative insights and blunt commentary on the state of the nonprofit and education sectors, and for connecting people and ideas for unconventional mashups.
CHICAGO DREAM SUMMIT™
for Opportunity Youth, hosted by Common
MEET OUR ADVISORS
Our work is guided by a diverse group of mavens across sectors and specialties
SCHOOLS & EDU-SYSTEMS
Tom Vander Ark
Tom is CEO of Getting Smart, where he advises schools, districts and foundations. A prolific writer and speaker, Tom has published thousands of articles and numerous books on learning innovation. Previously he served as the founding Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and X-Prize.
CULTURE & PEDAGOGY
Dr. Gholdy Muhammad
Dr. Gholdy Muhammad is the John Corbally Endowed Professor of Literacy, Language, and Culture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has previously served as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist, school district administrator, curriculum director, and school board president. She studies Black historical excellence in education, intending to reframe curriculum and instruction today. Dr. Muhammad’s scholarship has appeared in leading academic journals and books. She has also received numerous national awards and is the author of the best-selling books Cultivating Genius and Unearthing Joy. She also co-authored the book Black Girls’ Literacies. Her Culturally and Historically Responsive Education Model has been adopted across thousands of U.S. schools and districts across Canada. In 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, she was named among the top 1% Edu-Scholar Public Influencers due to her impact on policy and practice. She has led a federal grant with the United States Department of Education to study culturally and historically responsive literacy in STEM classrooms. In the fall of 2025, her first curriculum, entitled Genius and Joy, will be available to schools and educators.
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
Zelda Yanovich
Zelda is Co-Founder of Fam Studios and Visiting Fellow at London School of Economic Digital Futures for Children. She is Co-Chair of “Generation AI: Advanced AI systems and their impact on human development” with the University of Oxford's Reuben College. She led initiatives at LEGO Foundation and was Chair for the Real Play Coalition.
LEARNING SCIENCES
Dr. Kylie Peppler
Kylie is a professor of Informatics & Education at University of California, Irvine who engages in research that focuses on the intersection of arts, computational technologies and learning. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Schooling from UCLA, where she was part of the NSF-sponsored team that designed and studied the Scratch platform.
CREATIVE &. BRAND STRATEGY
Robby Wells
Robby is a member of Pharrell's team of creatives and strategists responsible for the implementation of Pharrell-led projects and businesses, including the Something In The Water Festival and I am OTHER projects. Prior to i am OTHER, Robby was marketing advisor to companies such as Procter & Gamble, AT&T, BMW, Frito-Lay, Pepsico, Unilever and others.
WHO WE'VE WORKED WITH
INSIGHTS BLOG
