Disrupting Education Without Losing The Student With Bridget Feagler

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“Being an advocate for students really means making sure that they have the tools that they need to understand themselves.”

— Bridget Feagler, Vice President of Product for K12 Education, ACT

For a long time, I thought I understood ACT.

I thought of it as a test. A requirement. A box to check on the way to college.

This conversation challenged that thinking.

In this episode of The Chad Carden Podcast, I sat down with Bridget Feagler, Vice President of Product for K–12 Education at ACT, and what stood out immediately was her focus on something that often gets lost when systems evolve: the student.

We talked about how education is changing — faster pathways, earlier decisions, more pressure — and why disruption only works if it’s grounded in helping students understand themselves, not forcing them into predefined outcomes.

Bridget brings a perspective shaped by years in education, leadership inside a legacy organization, and a clear belief that readiness isn’t one-size-fits-all. College may be one path. It may not be the path. The real work is helping students take the next step with confidence, not anxiety.

What I appreciated most is that this conversation isn’t about tearing systems down for the sake of change. It’s about evolving responsibly. About using better data, better tools, and better leadership to serve people, not move them through a machine.

If education, leadership, or the future of work intersects with your world, this is a conversation worth your time.

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