Hello, I'm Annie!

Annie Makela ("Ms. Mak") is the founder of Opportunity Education Global (OEG) and a lifelong teacher, education leader, and coach with more than fifteen years of experience supporting youth in developing the skills, confidence, and imaginative capital needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.

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A defining chapter of Annie’s work was launching and leading the K–12 education track at Opportunity Collaboration, a global convening of social entrepreneurs, educators, and funders working on complex social and environmental challenges. Annie designed the track to place youth at the center of global problem-solving, not as observers, but as contributors. Youth engaged directly with social entrepreneurs, participated in intergenerational dialogue, and reflected on their own values, responsibilities, and capacity to act in the world.

 

Annie has spent more than fifteen summers working with the Aspen Institute, supporting the Aspen Ideas Festival and youth-focused programs that explore leadership, ethics, and civic life. She has also contributed to education and storytelling initiatives with TED and SFIdeas, experiences that strengthened her belief in the power of ideas, dialogue, and narrative to shape how young people understand their role in the world.

This work is grounded in two core questions that continue to guide Annie’s practice: What matters to you? and What are you doing about it? These questions invite youth to connect personal values to thoughtful action, service, and leadership.

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Annie studied Education and English at Middlebury College and continues to coach youth ages 10–25 through OEG, supporting them in developing executive functioning skills, self-awareness, confidence, and clarity around purpose. Across all of her work, Annie is known for creating warm, intentional spaces where youth feel seen, trusted, and capable and where families feel supported and aligned around shared values.