Ray Blakney | Co-founder/Board of Directors

Born in Cebu City, Philippines to an American father and a Filipina mother, Ray grew up in Istanbul, Turkey. He received his B.S. in Computer Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 2001.

Ray started his professional career as a computer geek writing software for a range of companies including Silicon Valley startups, Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. Government and NGO's. In 2006 he decided he wanted a career change, joined the U.S. Peace Corps and was assigned to Mexico where he worked in the largely indigenous area of Chiapas, Mexico. After completing his 2 years of service, he married his Spanish teacher - Laura - and stayed in Mexico to start with her a chain of successful brick and mortar language schools.

In 2008, he launched Live Lingua to compliment the in-person classes offered at the expanding chain of brick and mortar schools. Then in 2010, by which time it had become clear that the online language school would require his full-time attention, he sold the brick and mortar part of the business to focus on growing Live Lingua.

What inspires Ray to work?

Freedom.

As the CEO of an online business I have the unique freedom to work when I want, wherever I want. I like to say that "I am always working or always on vacation depending on your point of view". It is not unusual for me to work 12-14 hours a day, but I love every minute of it. I also love the flexibility to be able to work in the office, on the beach or while traveling around the world. As long as the place I go has a good internet connection I have the freedom to be anywhere.

Entrepreneurship has its ups and downs and it is not for everybody. It would be a lot less stressful to work at a 9-5 job and get paid every 2 weeks, but I don't think I could ever go back to working for somebody else. I just don't get inspired if what I am doing is a task I don't believe in. As an entrepreneur, I work many more hours than I would as an employee, but I get to choose my goals and it is up to me whether I reach them or not. I still remember the days when I was satisfied with a 3% raise each year. Never again. Once you taste the freedom of fully reaping what you sow, you work hard not to go back.

Creative. Very creative, especially when it comes to business ideas. Laura helps keep me grounded with this, otherwise I try to do too many things at the same time.

Very good sense of direction. I can go almost anywhere once, no matter how complicated the route and can find my way back there again. Even if years have passed since the last time I was there. Not that useful a skill anymore... since we have GPS.

Great sense of hearing, which is a great help in learning other languages. I think I have this skill to make up for my very bad eyesight.

I can't spell to save my life. Even with spellcheck I make mistacks... I mean mistakes.

I have no sense of rhythm. Even after playing the clarinet as a kid and spending months in intensive ballroom dancing and latin dance classes I can't for the life of me make the my steps sync up with the music.

I hate to do things that other people obligate me to do. This started at a young age. I loved to read, but hated all books teachers assigned me in school on principle.

I am an introvert. But you would never know it if you meet me. I have been told many times in gatherings or at conventions that I seem very outgoing and comfortable around other people. That is actually true. But the confusion seems to be because people think that the word "introvert" is synonymous with "anti-social". That is definitely not the case for me. I like being around people. It is just that it exhausts me.

The best description I have heard to describe the difference between introvert and extrovert is that an extrovert gains energy from being with people. An introvert looses energy when they are around people. That applies entirely to me. I have no problem with a 3 day convention, but afterward I need a week of down time to recover.