Spark Sessions Inspire Students to Connect Passion and Purpose

Students recently had the opportunity to hear from two inspiring professionals as part of Pacific Ridge School’s Spark Session series—lunchtime conversations designed to help students explore how personal passions can grow into purposeful careers.

The events featured Brandon Leibel, co-founder and CEO of Sandcloud, and Dr. April McDonald, a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at Rady Children’s Hospital. Each speaker shared their unique journey, offering students a glimpse into how creativity, perseverance, and compassion can shape a meaningful professional path.

Brandon Leibel recounted how Sandcloud began as a simple idea between friends on the beaches of San Diego—selling eco-friendly towels to fund ocean conservation efforts. What started as a grassroots vision grew into a thriving sustainable lifestyle brand featured on Shark Tank and now operating stores across the country. Leibel emphasized the importance of resilience, teamwork, and staying true to a mission-driven purpose.

Dr. April McDonald shared insights from her 20-year career caring for high-risk newborns and mentoring future nurses at CSU San Marcos. She spoke about the profound rewards of combining skill and empathy in healthcare and encouraged students to find fulfillment by aligning their talents with service to others.

Spark Sessions are an ongoing initiative at Pacific Ridge that connect students with professionals across a range of industries—from entrepreneurship and medicine to the arts, technology, and public service. These sessions allow students to engage directly with speakers, ask thoughtful questions, and imagine how their own interests might one day translate into meaningful impact.

By highlighting real-world stories of innovation and purpose, Spark Sessions inspire students to see the possibilities ahead—and remind them that every great career begins with curiosity, courage, and a spark of inspiration.