Lion Chasers Leadership Academy
Leadership, character, self-control, accountability, vision, and intentional self-talk for students in grades 6–12.
Chicago-based. Built for the world.
From student
to owner.
Genius Lab builds personal agency through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, technology, AI, leadership, and real-world learning.
What We Believe
Learning should change what young people believe they can do.
We help students move from consumer to creator, from passive learner to problem-solver, and from student to owner.
Signature Programs
Skills for school. Skills for life. Skills for ownership.
Business Startup & Ownership
Students turn ideas into real business concepts while learning problem-solving, marketing, finance, sales, and presentation.
Stock Market Basics
Students learn ownership, risk, research, markets, and investing by building and managing simulated portfolios.
Mobile App Development
Students use coding and product thinking to design technology that solves real problems and explain the value they created.
AI, Digital Marketing & Media
Practical AI literacy, digital communication, branding, content, research, and audience-building tied to authentic projects.
Facilitator Professional Development
Training for educators, mentors, youth-development teams, and program leaders using the Genius Lab Learning Methodology.
Evidence of Impact
A track record built through real work.
4,121students served across the broader body of work
331student businesses launched
124workshops delivered
15schools served
These cumulative figures reflect Scott Steward’s broader teaching and Genius Lab body of work, not only the most recent program period.
Stock Market Basics
At Wacker Elementary, 94% of students participated and Genius Lab-supported teams placed 1st, 4th, 7th, and 8th among 427 statewide teams.
Lion Chasers
Reported program outcomes include 98% attendance on Lion Chasers days and a 100% reduction in discipline referrals during participation.
The Genius Lab Method
See the learner before you teach the lesson.
Our learning model is designed around trust, relevance, participation, application, and reflection. We use the I.D.A.R. cycle—Introduce, Discuss, Apply, and Review/Reflect—to help learners understand new ideas, use them, and own what they learned.
“The lesson plan serves the learner. The learner does not serve the lesson plan.”
— Genius Lab Learning Methodology
Genius Lab Impact Report
Real-world learning that produces real evidence.
Genius Lab measures impact by what students build, explain, apply, and carry into the real world.
4,121students served across the broader body of work
15schools served
124workshops delivered
331student businesses launched
2024–2026 Project Evidence
- Approximately $2,500 generated through student sports-marketing activity.
- An approximately 70-student entrepreneurship pitch pool narrowed to 10 finalists.
- AI integrated into research, business planning, marketing strategy, and productivity.
- Students developed and promoted short films and digital media.
- Lion Chasers expanded through a multi-site model with Chicago Youth Programs.
Preliminary Long-Term Feedback
- 95.2% reported strong impact on entrepreneurial thinking.
- 90.5% reported strong impact on communication.
- 76.2% reported strong impact on confidence.
- 76.2% reported strong impact on leadership.
- 66.7% reported strong impact on financial literacy.
The Throughline
From consumer to creator. From student to owner.
Whether the work is an AI-supported business plan, sports-marketing campaign, short film, mobile app concept, stock portfolio, or leadership reflection, the goal is consistent: students should leave with greater agency, stronger communication, and evidence that they can create value.
The Genius Lab Learning Methodology
Build personal agency through learning.
A documented system for human engagement, culturally responsive instruction, learning transfer, facilitator decision-making, and personal transformation.
Human EngagementSee → Connect → Read → Diagnose → Redirect → Fit
I.D.A.R.Introduce → Discuss → Apply → Reflect
Understanding RepairLocate → Translate → Re-present → Peer Explain → Play Back → Repair
Real-Time PivotRead → Check → Ask → Protect → Pivot → Reassess
Relevance LoopConnect → Humanize → Clarify → Apply → Return
Evidence of LearningRecognize → Understand → Explain → Connect → Apply → Teach
See the learner before you teach the lesson.
Genius Lab begins with human recognition, trust, curiosity, relevance, and a willingness to diagnose before redirecting.
Learning is real when it travels.
Learning is deeper when students can explain an idea, connect it to life, apply it in a real situation, and help someone else understand it.
The lesson plan serves the learner. The learner does not serve the lesson plan.
Founder & CEO
Scott L. Steward
Scott Steward is an entrepreneur, curriculum designer, strategic communicator, and 18-time award-winning educator. His work connects entrepreneurship, financial literacy, technology, AI, youth leadership, and culturally responsive project-based learning.
Built from experience. Designed for impact.
- Founder & CEO, Genius Lab, Inc.
- 18-time award-winning entrepreneurship educator
- 2024 Chicago Defender Men of Excellence honoree
- Former Chicago Public Schools educator and university instructor
- International entrepreneurship educator and curriculum strategist
Partner With Us
Let’s build something your students will remember.
Genius Lab partners with schools, districts, nonprofits, youth organizations, colleges, and community programs through in-school, after-school, summer, virtual, professional-development, and custom cohort models.
School & Organization Inquiry
Bring Genius Lab to your students.
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