Our Story
Turning change into opportunity
Where Our Story Begins
Nebula Academy was born out of a simple but stubborn question:
Why does opportunity still feel like a privilege, when it should be a pathway?
Our founder, Laurie Carey, has spent more than four decades in technology and business, including an impactful decade at Microsoft. Along the way she watched every major wave of change—from mainframes to the internet, from cloud to AI—reshape people’s lives and careers.
Early on, Laurie launched Laurie Carey Consulting with one goal: help organizations use technology to work better together. At first, the “brand” was just a name and a logo. Over time, it became something much deeper—a promise that every engagement would be about real human impact, not just tools or training.
Nebula Academy grew out of that promise.
What We Saw in the World
Technology has transformed how we live, learn, and work—for better and for worse. The same tools that connect us can also distract us, overwhelm us, and widen the gap between those who can keep up and those who are left behind.
We kept seeing the same problems:
Training that “checks the box” but doesn’t change behavior
Brilliant people shut down by anxiety, burnout, or fear of failure
Organizations investing in platforms, but not in the psychological safety people need to learn and experiment
Students and career-changers finishing programs without a clear, supported pathway into real jobs
We knew we could do better—for learners, for leaders, and for the communities they serve.
Building a Holistic Approach to Training
At Nebula Academy, we believe learning should do more than transfer knowledge. It should:
Build resilience and tenacity
Strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving
Connect directly to real-world work and sustainable careers
That’s why our programs are designed as holistic learning journeys, not one-off classes. Our model includes:
Immersive Learning
Engaging, hands-on courses in software development, business automation, AI, and digital productivity that mirror real work—not just lectures and slides.Certification & Practicum
We prepare learners for industry-recognized certifications and put them through a practicum that mimics interviews and challenges at major tech companies.National Apprenticeship Pathways
Nebula Academy is an approved national apprenticeship program for roles like Software Developer, Technology Instructor, General IT Support, and Technical Sales Representative—bridging the gap between training and employment.Resilience & Psychological Safety Training
We teach people what actually happens in the brain under stress, and how to regulate emotions, recover from failure, and communicate clearly—even when the stakes are high. Learners often tell us the resilience work is the part they carry with them long after the course ends.AI- and Data-Informed Learning Experiences
As AI transforms every industry, we integrate AI tools thoughtfully—using data to personalize learning and support coaches and instructors, while keeping the human relationship at the center.
In short, we don’t just teach people what to do—we help them become the kind of people who can keep adapting, learning, and leading through whatever comes next.
Why We Do This Work
For us, this is not about selling courses. It’s about changing trajectories.
We work with:
Adults returning to the workforce or changing careers
Young people who’ve never seen themselves in tech
Teams trying to stay effective through rapid change
Organizations that genuinely want to build cultures of trust, learning, and innovation
Again and again, we’ve watched what happens when you combine technical skill, resilience, and a clear path into real work:
Families move from instability to sustainable income
Teams shift from burnout and blame to collaboration and problem-solving
Leaders discover that psychological safety and high performance are not opposites—they’re mutually reinforcing
That’s why we’re so passionate about this work. When one person gains the skills and confidence to thrive, it doesn’t just change their life; it changes their family, their company, and their community.
What We Do Today
Today, Nebula Academy partners with:
Companies that want high-performing, emotionally intelligent teams
Workforce boards and government agencies looking to close skills gaps and create equitable career pathways
Educational institutions and nonprofits that want to bring modern, resilience-based tech training to their communities
Our offerings include:
Technical bootcamps and career pathways (software development, business automation, Python, AI readiness)
High-performance team and productivity workshops
Psychological safety and resilience training for leaders and teams
Apprenticeship and work-experience programs that turn learning into real employment opportunities
The Future We’re Building
We see a future where:
Learning is fearless, because people feel safe to ask questions, fail, and try again
AI and data are used to support humans, not replace them
Opportunity is distributed, not concentrated—where talent from every zip code has a path into meaningful, well-paid work
Nebula Academy exists to help build that future—one learner, one team, one organization at a time.
An Invitation
If you’re a leader who believes people are your greatest advantage…
If you’re tired of training that doesn’t stick…
If you’re ready to build a culture where your teams can truly thrive in an AI-driven world…
We’d love to be part of your story.
Let’s build resilient people, resilient teams, and resilient organizations together.