02/06/2026
Meet the Team: Jessica Rist
As part of our Meet the Team series, we want to highlight the amazing people who support our families and teams every day. We’re excited to introduce Jessica Rist, whose passion, leadership, and dedication help ensure quality, consistency, and care across all of Ambitions ABA. Jessica plays a vital role behind the scenes, supporting both our staff and the families we serve.
👇Get to know Jessica in her own words below:
I live in Cape Town, South Africa, and found this incredible opportunity to work for an American company after spending 10 years as a teacher and special needs support educator for children on the spectrum. I’m deeply passionate about supporting kiddos, but I also love leading teams and helping people find their way professionally. I’m one year away from qualifying as a therapist and have already been studying for two years. I’m married, have two kitties, and come from a very close-knit family.
âť“ Why did you choose the field of ABA?
I originally wanted to be a drama teacher (another fun fact — I spent some of my early years modelling and acting in Cape Town, including dancing in a very cringey outfit in a local band’s music video!). During my training hours while I was qualifying to teach, I met a child on the spectrum who completely changed the course of my life. I hope I impacted him even a fraction of how much he impacted me. From that moment, I knew this was exactly what I was meant to do and specialized in autism support for the classroom!
♥ We are incredibly grateful to have Jessica as part of Ambitions ABA.
Her commitment to children, families, and team growth , paired with her global perspective and genuine heart makes a meaningful impact across everything we do. We’re so lucky to have her leading, supporting, and inspiring our teams.