Sydney Montgomery

Sydney Montgomery is the Executive Director and Founder of Barrier Breakers, a nonprofit with a mission to increase access to, and success in, higher education for first-generation students and others who face barriers to entry. Barrier Breakers has helped more than 7,000 students receive over $490M in scholarships in college and graduate school admissions. As the daughter of military and immigrant parents and as a lower-income college student, Sydney battled insecurities, financial challenges, and debilitating chronic illnesses to defy societal labels and expectations. Now, as a TEDx Speaker and Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur, Sydney inspires others to believe in themselves, find their voice, and confidently pursue their goals, no matter their background or obstacles. Sydney holds a B.A. in English from Princeton University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and a Masters of Theological Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary. Sydney is an Obama USA Fellow and is excited to be a Coordinator Ambassador for the United States at One Young World.