About MARIO
Built by educators, for educators
MARIO began in a classroom. Co-founder Philip Bowman saw that the most powerful moments in school weren’t in the data, they were in the conversations. Starting at International School Bangkok in 2015, he developed the MARIO Approach: a simple, repeatable structure for the 1:1 conversations that help students feel known, supported, and ready to learn.
What started as a better way to run learning-support conversations became a whole-school approach now used in 30+ countries. Today MARIO brings together student voice, professional learning, and purpose-built technology, but the belief at the center hasn’t changed: every student deserves to be known by name, need, and strength.
What drives us
Mission, vision & values
Mission
Help schools turn student and staff insight into timely, coordinated action, so every learner is safe, ready to learn, and supported by adults equipped to help them thrive.
Vision
A future where every student is supported, every adult is equipped, and every school system is connected enough to act with clarity, care, and confidence.
Values
Relationships first · Student voice · Evidence-backed action · Coordinated support · Safety & readiness · Continuous growth
Leadership
The team behind MARIO
Educators and school leaders first, on the ground at the intersection of research and practice. 100+ years of experience in the classroom.
Philip Bowman
Co-Founder & CEO
Najwa Bowman
Co-Founder
Graeme Scott
Executive Chairperson
Ayla Reau
Chief Operations Officer
Taryn McBrayne
Chief Learning Coordinator
Ryan Ruhl
Chief Psychologist
Advisors
Guided by leaders in education, research & technology
A group of educators, researchers, and operators who challenge our thinking and keep us honest, spanning international schools, learning science, technology, and law.
Katie Novak, Ed.D.
Founder & CEO, Novak Education
Kam Chohan
Executive Director, ECIS
Laura Light
Executive Director, AAIE
Gautam Patel
Managing Director, Tarsadia Investments
Akshay Patel
Senior Staff Software Engineer, Gemini
Emily Konstantas
Founder & CEO, The Safeguarding Alliance
Careers
Join a team of educators changing how schools support students
We’re a global, remote-first team of educators, technologists, and researchers working to make sure every learner is safe, ready to learn, and supported by adults equipped to help them thrive. If that resonates, we’d love to hear from you.
Build note: list current open roles here (or link to your careers inbox / applicant tracking system).
Every school has caring adults. But care alone is not always enough. Schools need connected systems that help adults notice early signals, act with confidence, and follow through before concerns become crises. And when a crisis does occur, we owe it to students, families, and staff to respond with clarity, reduce harm, and strengthen support so the next student is not missed.
Philip Bowman, Co-founder & CEO
MARIO is recognized as EdTech Digest’s Best Student Wellbeing & Safeguarding Solution (2025 & 2026), and grounded in evidence with a study co-authored by Dr. Katie Novak and published by NASEN’s Support for Learning Journal.
See how MARIO can support your school
A short conversation is the fastest way to see whether MARIO is right for your school.
Book a ConversationSchool enquiries, product & partnership questions
MARIO is not an emergency or crisis service, and this chat isn’t monitored 24/7. If you’re a student who needs immediate wellbeing or safety support, please talk to a trusted adult at school, a parent or guardian, or local emergency services.
How can we help?