“When we started New Leaf, the education landscape was at a turning point,” he explains. “There were many students being written off because they didn’t fit the traditional system’s mold. We knew we needed a model that valued a student’s pace, their story, and their potential.”

This conviction—rooted as much in data as in empathy—became the foundation for New Leaf’s entire design.

A Strategic Approach to Innovation

One of the defining characteristics of Sasho’s leadership is the way he approaches decision-making. Every academic or operational change is evaluated not in isolation, but through its ripple effect: staffing, training, funding, instructional quality, student experience, and organizational sustainability.

A prime example is New Leaf’s decision to realign its entire curriculum to ensure that all courses consistently reinforced core academic skill-building and mastery. “On the surface, it looked like a curriculum update,” Sasho says. “In reality, it changed the entire ecosystem of our organization.”

The shift improved:

• Academic growth and mastery
• Teacher clarity and instructional confidence
• Operational efficiency
• Graduation and career certification outcomes

Within the first year of implementation, New Leaf saw measurable academic gains and an increase in students earning both diplomas and job-ready certifications. Data from the organization’s alternative education niche showed New Leaf outperforming many of its peer schools in both completion and post-graduation preparedness—positioning the organization as a standout in student impact. To date, over 5,500 diplomas reflect lives transformed, families strengthened, and futures reclaimed.

Sasho is quick to clarify that this success is collective: “My role is to look ahead—to understand the outcomes of a decision before it touches a classroom. But it’s the collaborative efforts of our Executive Team, our leaders, our staff, and our students who bring the work to life.”

Leadership Grounded in Purpose and Accountability

While NLO education is often described through its combined academic and emotional impact, Sasho’s leadership style is distinctly systems-minded. He frames mission-driven work not as inspirational rhetoric, but as a disciplined responsibility:

“When you’re leading at the top of an organization, you cannot make decisions based on personal preference or convenience. Every strategic move has to consider the people you serve, the people who serve alongside you, and the sustainability of the organization. It’s a balance of purpose and precision.”

This philosophy shapes New Leaf’s organizational culture:

• High expectations, high support
• Innovation that is human-centered, not numbers or trend-driven
• Continuous improvement without complacency

Staff describe the environment as collaborative and principled; students describe it as supportive and stabilizing.

Staying Personal in a Changing Educational Climate

As education continues to evolve—with technological shifts, changing career demands, and differing student needs—Sasho sees adaptability as essential, but not at the cost of human connection.

“We embrace new tools and programs,” he says, “but the core mission remains the same: students need to be seen, supported, and believed in. You can’t automate trust.”

New Leaf’s individualized learning plans reflect this belief. Each student’s academic pathway is tailored, paced, and monitored to ensure mastery—not just completion. This approach has allowed students who previously struggled in traditional environments to regain confidence, self-efficacy, and agency over their learning.

Looking Ahead: Legacy Beyond Metrics

When asked what success looks like in the future, Sasho doesn’t reference expansion charts or growth targets. Instead, he focuses on generational impact.

“The real measure of success is when students come back and say, ‘I live differently now because of what New Leaf gave me.’ When they become stable employees, supportive parents, leaders in their communities—that’s legacy.”

In other words: New Leaf doesn’t just help students finish school. It helps them rebuild belief, direction, and possibility.

A Company to Watch

New Leaf Organization exemplifies what it means to be a Most Influential Company to Watch:

• Clear mission
• Strong leadership
• Strategic innovation
• Demonstrated results
• Long-term, human-centered impact

And under Sasho’s academic leadership, its trajectory is not only steady—it is rising.