Meet
HEBA
MOTHER. FOUNDER. AUTHOR. ADVOCATE.
The path chose her,
one closed door at a time.
What began as one mother’s search for answers became a mission to create the kind of care she could never find for her own son. Today, that mission continues through every family served, every leader mentioned and every conversation that reminds parents they are not alone.
On A Personal Note
There was a time when my world became very small. It revolved around appointments, questions, uncertainty, and the quiet hope that somewhere, someone would have the answers my family was searching for.
I wasn’t thinking about building a company. I wasn’t dreaming about writing a book. I wasn’t planning to become an entrepreneur or stand on stages sharing my story. I was simply a mother trying to do everything she could for her son.
As I searched for support, I discovered something so many families know all too well: navigating developmental disabilites can feel overwhelming, isolating, and, at times, deeply lonely. I encountered closed doors, fragmented systems, and moments that tested every part of me.
But somewhere along the way, my perspective began to shift.
I realized that if I had experienced these challenges, countless other families were experiencing them too.
And I couldn’t stop asking myself one question:
What if the journey wasn’t only shaping my son… what if it was shaping me?
That question changed everything.
It led to the creation of Breakthrough ABA, and it continues to guide every decision I make today.
I believe that when we experience a problem deeply enough, we have a responsibility to become part of the solution.
Not because we have all of the answers. But because we understand what it feels like to search for them.
Whether you’re here as a parent, a professional, an entrepreneur, or someone simply navigating your own unexpected chapter, I’m grateful you’re here.
I hope you leave this space feeling seen, encouraged, and reminded that even the paths we never would have chosen can lead us exactly where we’re meant to be.
About Heba
Heba Salem is a Canadian-Egyptian entrepreneur, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, author, and founder & CEO of Breakthrough ABA in Houston, Texas.
Her personal journey raising her son Hussein inspired the creation of Breakthrough ABA, a behavioral therapy organization built to address the gaps she experienced firsthand while navigating autism and developmental disabilities across four countries.
Holding a PhD in Marketing, a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Toronto, and an MBA with honours, Heba combines clinical expertise, business leadership, and lived experience to advocate for families while advancing access to quality care.
Over the past decade, she has dedicated her work to helping children with autism and developmental disabilities receive compassionate, evidence-based care while empowering families with the knowledge, support, and confidence they deserve.
Today, she speaks nationally on autism advocacy, entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, and building mission-driven organizations that create lasting impact. Through every role she holds, her greatest hope remains the same: that no family feels they have to navigate this journey alone.
Why this work matters
Breakthrough ABA was never the dream.
Families were.
The company was simply the vehicle that made the mission possible.
Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
Every parent deserves to feel heard, supported, and hopeful.
And every family deserves access to care that sees not only the diagnosis, but the whole child, and the people who love them.
That belief continues to shape everything I do, whether I’m leading an organization, mentoring professionals, advocating for change, or sharing my story.
Because real impact isn’t measured only by the businesses we build.
