#231 The Missing Skills Behind Independence with Katie Azevedo

Flourish Coaching

Jun 16, 2026

Success in school, college, and work often depends on skills that many young people are never formally taught.

In this episode, Lisa Marker-Robbins talks with Katie Azevedo about the executive function systems that help students and young adults stay organized, follow through on responsibilities, and build independence.

In this episode, Lisa and Katie discuss:

Why executive function skills become more important as responsibilities increase
Common habits that keep students overwhelmed and behind on responsibilities
How task management and time management work together to support independence
Ways parents can model organization and planning in everyday life

Key Takeaways:

School portals help students see assignments, but they don’t provide a way to manage project steps, study sessions, or responsibilities outside the classroom.
Chronic procrastination, missed deadlines, and last minute scrambling are often signs that a student lacks a reliable system for capturing and tracking tasks.
Effective task management starts by gathering commitments from school, work, activities, family responsibilities, and other sources into one trusted location.
Summer offers a lower pressure environment to practice organization and follow through, making the transition into a new school year, semester, or job much smoother.

“The two biggest skill deficits that are holding professionals back are a lack of task management and a lack of time management systems.” – Katie Azevedo

About Katie Azevedo:

Katie Azevedo, M.Ed., is the founder of SchoolHabits.com, the creator of the Executive Function Journal, and the host of the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast. With a Master’s Degree in Special Education and nearly 20 years of teaching experience, Katie specializes in the intersection between ADHD and academics. She runs a private executive function coaching business and an online course, SchoolHabits University, where she helps students and professionals learn and work better.

Episode References:

Assignment Management Power System: https://www.assignmentmanagementsystem.com/
Executive Function Journal: https://www.executivefunctionjournal.com/
#159 Study Strategies to Beat Your Teen’s Mid-Year Slump with Katie Azevedo: https://flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/159-study-strategies-to-beat-your-teens-mid-year-slump-with-katie-azevedo/

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: THE CAREER IDENTIFICATION COMPASS: How To Be Certain Your 15 To 25 Year Old is On The Right Path to Launch With Confidence–Not Confusion: flourishcoachingco.com/video