In this episode Heather sits down with Riley Simpson, the founder of LeapYear, a life accelerator for high school graduates designed to help young people discover their identity, purpose, and direction before rushing into the next chapter. Riley is a bold entrepreneur, passionate advocate for the next generation, and a fellow ACU Wildcat. On the Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius™, Riley is a Connector—Synthesizer—Teacher.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

What LeapYear is and why Riley believes young people need a different kind of start

The moment he realized he'd essentially built a business out of everything he loves

How he went from zero to a complete 12-month program, in only12 months

What surprised him about seeing "Teacher" in his Trifecta

The micro-commitment growth edge he's actively working on, and the accountability system he's put in place

Why Connectors and Synthesizers can be especially prone to overpromising and underdelivering (and what to do about it)

What he wants to learn from the Functional Creative Genius types, and why Builders fascinate him

The question he wants every future guest to answer: "Which creative genius type do you most want to learn from?"

Riley's Creative Genius Trifecta: Connector — Intuitively sees potential matches between people, opportunities, and resources. Synthesizer — Integrates insights across multiple fields and weaves diverse information into new solutions. Teacher — Breaks down complex concepts and equips others with the knowledge, tools, and resources to grow.

Connect with Riley:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileywsimpson/

https://www.startleapyear.com

To take The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius assessment:

Visit: www.thehodges12.com