Founding Project Access
Emil Bender Lassen is one of the co-founders of Project Access, and currently sits on our board of trustees. Keep reading to find out more about how the organization was founded, along with some insights into our goals for future growth!
From an idea to reality:
Project Access was started by three individuals looking to make a difference. Two of them had previously set up an application mentoring program for Danish students applying to top universities, and the third came with a clear understanding of the magnitude of disparities between students who receive a private education compared to a public education.
And so, Project Access was born - initially at the University of Oxford. Determined to help disadvantaged students, the team at Project Access rapidly grew and we expanded into an international organization.
The inspiration behind Project Access came from recognizing that while learning potential is equally distributed around the world, access to a quality education is not. Our founders saw this initiative as a way to potentially help hundreds of students. By 2019, with help from our partners, we were able to support more than 2,000 students from less privileged backgrounds in gaining admission to top universities!
“We need the smartest minds in top universities, because they will be the ones who can help the world overcome its challenges. I think the work our volunteers are doing is deeply meaningful and I’m very grateful that they’ve decided to join us.”
The three phases:
PA has experienced a lot of growth since our inception five years ago. To sum it up neatly, the organization underwent three phases: everything works, everything breaks, and sustainable growth.
Everything works: This was a time of unhindered growth, problem-solving, and exercising entrepreneurial talent. Unfortunately, challenges were addressed insufficiently and they were never discussed in detail. Six months later, this leads us to…
Everything breaks: Now, things were starting to fall apart. The era of ‘duct tape solutions’ and uncontrolled scaling was coming to an end, and the importance of building a foundation for the organization was recognized. A turning point was coming to the realization that we had been chasing vanity metrics rather than real impact.
Sustainable growth: This phase arises from tough conversations and difficult decisions. By delaying our expansion to the United States and cutting back the size of our team, we were able to focus on building a foundation for the organization. This time around, there was an emphasis on good impact measurement, program design improvements, sustainable work hours, marketing, and communication.
Insights from Emil:
Emil's current role in PA is as the Chair of Trustees, which is our governing body as a nonprofit organization. His responsibilities include supporting our Global Leadership Team in strategic matters, ensuring organizational efficiency, and overseeing that we use our budget in line with our charitable aims.
His most important role as a board member is being an ambassador of Project Access, as he spends much of his time fundraising for our organization. A big part of this is being able to deliver a so-called elevator pitch to anyone, whether they are a journalist interested in education and social mobility or a potential board member.
In the coming years, setting a long-term direction with room for flexibility as the world changes, will be critical to the growth of Project Access. Emil is particularly excited to see our aspirations for global expansion realized.
Emil is a recent graduate from King’s College London, where he studied politics, philosophy, and economics. Having a background in multidisciplinary studies set him up for success in navigating complex problems in the world of startups.
Now, Emil is also focused on building up Home.Earth, an organization that uses real estate as a tool for driving social change. He co-founded this company to address housing inequalities in Europe’s largest cities while ensuring that new homes are built in balance with - rather than at the expense of - our planet.
Written by Veronica Aharon, 2nd year BSc Student at York University.
Do you have any topics you would especially like to see covered on our blog? People you would like to meet? Places you want to see? Send your suggestions to veronica.aharon@projectaccess.org ✉️