Shayne Fitz-Coy is an operator-investor who buys companies and builds people. He is CEO of Rustic Pathways and Co-founder and Co-CEO of Sabot Family Companies, the long-term holding company he co-founded with Arar Han in 2016.
He teaches Introduction to Private Equity at Seoul National University and writes on education, travel and investing as the Teaching CEO.
He splits time between Palo Alto, California and Seoul, South Korea.
Learn more at shaynefitzcoy.com.
Latest
The 12 mistakes teachers make when planning a school trip
Discover the 12 mistakes teachers make when planning a school trip, based on Rustic Pathways’ 43 years of educational travel experience.
What Activities Does Rustic Pathways Ban on Student Travel Programs?
Rustic Pathways bans 15 activities on every student travel program in 38 countries. See the full list, why each ban exists, and the rule that governs the rest.
Teen Travel Company Reviews
Fourteen teen travel companies, twenty-five disclosure questions. Which ones publish staff ratios, safety protocols, and refund terms before a family pays.
The 25-Point Teen Travel Transparency Audit
Twenty-five yes-or-no questions we ask of every teen travel company, covering staff ratios, safety partnerships, refund policies, and what gets disclosed before you enroll.
Accessibility Statement
Our commitment to an accessible website: the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard we work toward, what we have already fixed, and the known issues still on our list.
37 Service Learning Statistics That Prove It Works in 2026
The case for service learning made with numbers instead of adjectives: college outcomes, civic purpose, and what peer-reviewed research found in the alumni data.
9 Leading Figures in Educational Travel: Authority Profiles (2026)
Nine leading figures in educational travel, scored on crisis leadership, measurable impact, and influence.
Top Educational Travel Companies for 2026: 12 Leading Providers
Twelve companies that run student programs, compared on safety, educational design, and community partnerships. We are on the list, and we show the scoring.
Dear Class of 2026: Taking a Gap Year Isn't About Finding Yourself—It's About Figuring Out What’s Next
In this guest article, Arar Han recounts how taking a gap year helped her gain work experience and develop a clear direction for college. Her unexpected year off helped to shape her future. Read to find out how it could do the same for you.
Where Can't Americans Travel? (2026 Update)
Find out where can't Americans travel in 2026, including countries with U.S. sanctions like North Korea and regions with strict visa rules or safety advisories.
35 Life Skills For Teens To Master by Age 18 (2027)
No pressure, but it takes a lot of work to learn how to successfully navigate the world of "adulting." To make connections, launch a career, and inspire change, teens need key life skills that allow them to rise above the noise. Here are 35 of these skills.
10 Student Learning Outcomes at Rustic Pathways
The ten things we measure in students, from empathy and grit to a sense of wonder, plus how we actually measure them and what the results keep telling us.