Podcasts about Coursera

What if the clarity you seek as a leader is already walking the halls of your campus?In this inspiring episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, co-hosts Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with Chancellor Kenneth “Ken” Christensen of the University of Colorado Denver, a leader who proves that service, collaboration, and a student-first mindset can transform an entire institution.Ken shares the unexpected moments that shaped his journey from a first-generation college student in New Mexico to becoming a nationally recognized leader in higher education. From his engineering roots to groundbreaking innovations in access and student success, Ken reveals the values and strategies that are uniting CU Denver's campus in a time of great complexity.You'll hear about his leadership philosophy, the lessons learned from his grandfather, and why walking across campus is his secret to staying grounded. This isn't just another talk about change in higher ed, it's a masterclass in clarity, purpose, and courageous transformation.Five Key Takeaways:Clarity drives change: In times of uncertainty, leaders must simplify and focus on what matters most, students.Student-centric leadership works: Reorienting a campus around student success can unite even the most divided stakeholders.Innovating with access in mind: Ken's Coursera initiative showed how performance-based admissions can open doors for adult learners.Ground-level engagement matters: Visibility and relational leadership foster trust and purpose.Shared mission fuels momentum: When everyone rallies around a single purpose, real collaboration happens."If there's ever a moment for us to find some unity of purpose internally to help drive change, it's now." - Chancellor Ken ChristensenDon't keep this wisdom to yourself, subscribe, share the episode with your team, or take 5 minutes today to journal what clarity of purpose means in your own leadership.Learn more about the UIA by visiting:WebsiteLinkedInTwitterYouTubeFacebookThis week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

Send us a textJulia Stiglitz is the CEO and Co-Founder of Uplimit, an AI learning platform helping companies equip their talent with the skills of tomorrow. She previously was a Partner at GSV Ventures, where she invested and partnered with some of the most innovative entrepreneurs in edtech. Prior to GSV, Julia was one of the first hires at Coursera and led many groundbreaking initiatives, mostly notably as Vice President of Enterprise, where she founded and led Coursera's enterprise business, growing it from concept to over 1400 organizations across the globe.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2688: Wanderer dismantles the myth that college is the only gateway to success, revealing how skyrocketing tuition and student loans can sabotage financial freedom. By highlighting real-world alternatives like online certifications and self-directed learning, the piece empowers readers to question the ROI of traditional education and pursue smarter, debt-free career paths. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.millennial-revolution.com/invest/college-education/ Quotes to ponder: "College isn't a guaranteed path to success anymore, it's a gamble." "If you graduate with a useless degree and no work experience, you're worse off than someone who never went at all." "Rather than blindly following the path everyone tells you to take, ask yourself whether that path still makes sense." Episode references: Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/ Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/ Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/ Google Career Certificates: https://grow.google/certificates/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dhruv Agrawal is CEO and president of Aether Biomedical. Discover Dhruv's unique journey from studying medicine in New Delhi to creating life-changing bionic limbs. Under his leadership, Aether Biomedical has achieved significant milestones, including CE certification and FDA registration for its Zeus V1 bionic limb. Dhruv shares his personal story of transitioning from medical school to MedTech innovation, the obstacles faced and lessons learned as a young entrepreneur, and the hope and inspiration of seeing Aether's prosthetics transform lives, especially in war-torn regions.   Guest links: https://www.aetherbiomedical.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/aether-biomedical | https://www.instagram.com/aether_biomedical/  Charity supported: ASPCA Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com.  PRODUCTION CREDITS Host & Editor: Lindsey Dinneen Producer: Velentium Medical   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 061 - Dhruv Agrawal Dhruv Agrawal [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello, and welcome back to another episode of The Leading Difference podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and today I'm excited to introduce you to my guest, Dhruv Agrawal. Dhruv is the CEO and president of the management board of Aither Biomedical. He studied medicine in New Delhi before dropping out to pursue a bachelor's in business management. He also has a postgraduate diploma in Medical Device Development Regulatory Affairs from University of California Irvine, and a Master's in Data Science from the University of London. Under his leadership, Aither Biomedical has achieved CE certification and FDA registration for the Zeus V1 bionic limb, and established distribution across nine European countries, the US, and India. Additionally, Aither has raised over 12.5 million US dollars in private capital from leading VCs and has been a part of multiple European grants and research programs for an additional 6.5 million US dollars in non-dilutive capital. All right. Well, thank you so much for being here. Welcome to the show. I'm so excited to speak with you today. [00:01:49] Dhruv Agrawal: it's a pleasure to be here, Lindsey. Thank you so much for inviting me. [00:01:52] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course, of course. Well, I would love, if you wouldn't mind just starting by sharing a little bit about yourself and your background and what led you to Med Tech. [00:02:02] Dhruv Agrawal: Yeah, absolutely. So I'm Dhruv Agrawal. I'm the CEO of Aither Biomedical. We are a company based out of Poznan in Poland, so on the western part of Poland. It's a little bit chilly here. As a company, we are a team of about 55 people right now, currently present in the US, Europe, Middle East, as well as India. And we focus on making bionic hands for upper limb amputees. [00:02:25] Lindsey Dinneen: Amazing. Yes. So I wanna get into everything amazing that your company does, but going back for just a little bit, in your own personal history, can you share a little bit about maybe growing up and what experiences led you to think, "Hey, in the future, maybe I wanna do X, Y, and Z." [00:02:43] Dhruv Agrawal: Mm-hmm. So first of all, entrepreneurship was never a plan for me. I didn't even knew that there was a thing called an entrepreneur until I was easily into high school. Both my parents are doctors. My dad's a pediatrician, mom's a gynecologist, and as it happens in India, if your parents are doctors, you kind of know that you have to become a doctor as well. So I went to the coaching classes to pre, to prepare for medical entrance examinations. I actually met my co-founder there about 10 years ago. We both got into medical school. I was generally comfortable with medicine, you know, growing up in a hospital with doctor parents around. So I was generally comfortable in a clinical setting, but I realized that I was much more interested in the technological aspect of medicine rather than the clinical aspect of it. And that was when I was getting into the second year of my university. And luckily my dad, for my 18th birthday, bought me a 3D printer, like a very simple 3D printer from China as my 18th birthday gift. 'cause I was really wanting to get into that world. And that's where the story begins. So even till today, my dad jokingly says that that's the worst gift he has ever bought for me, because that made me drop out of medical school. [00:03:57] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh no. Okay, so you were given this gift and you started, I imagine, tinkering with it, learning how to use it. So tell me about that. [00:04:06] Dhruv Agrawal: Yeah, the thing with my co-founder as well, even though we went to the same medical university, we were not really friends in the first year. We were just colleagues. But when I got this 3D printer, it was like one of those things that you assemble, you get a kit and you assemble. And I was asking around people in my university and they were like, "Come on, what are you doing? Like, I don't wanna come to your apartment to assemble a 3D printer." And my co-founder was the first one who said yes to coming down and assembling that printer with me. So that's how our friendship essentially started in the university, even though we had known each other for three years by that point. And then we started, of course, by very basic things like printing mobile phone covers and key chains and we were just in awe with the fact that I have something in my room, in a studio apartment, where I can just build physical things, right? And this was back in 2018, so 3D printer was not such a consumer product where, you know, if it was of course used in industry, but it was not something that you would imagine having at your home, at least not in India. And then we actually found out that there's a society called Enable, which is an NGO that makes very simple basic prosthetic designs for kids. So we started by printing those and started going to some amputee clinics around and trialing that out with patients, just purely out of technical curiosity. We didn't really had a draw towards amputation, so to speak. We were more driven by the technical curiosity of, you know, it sounds interesting to make a prostatic hand. So that was the beginning. And then slowly, slowly things happened very organically that we went from wanting to 3D print basic things to starting a biomedical innovation club in our university, to incorporating a company in India, then to coming all the way over to Poland and now having 55 people. [00:05:49] Lindsey Dinneen: Holy cow. That's an amazing story. Thank you for sharing about that. So, okay, so, so you started off with this curiosity, like, "Hey, let's see what we could do with this printer and, and how we can make it work for people." And I love that your initial pull with it was to actually provide something that does help people. So that's obviously a core value, something that you hold very dear. So can you speak a little bit more, did you have sort of any personal experience or within your family or what led you to say, "You know what, hey, I've got this really cool tool at my disposal. Let me start using it by actually doing something that helps others." [00:06:27] Dhruv Agrawal: I mean, the honest answer, I would love to say I had some personal experience, but the honest answer is no, not, not really. I don't have one of those stories where I can tell you that, like I met an amputee 15 years ago, 20 years ago, and have had that motivation for that time. It was just pure technical curiosity to begin with. But of course, as we started building basic devices and giving it out to people and seeing the response of what a very simple, you know, $50 thing can do for a person who's missing a limb in an impoverished family in a village in India, that's a very powerful thing. So at that point, we realized that we started getting more and more close to upper limb amputation as a field, as a clinical specialty within itself. Of course, both me and my co-founder coming from medical school growing up in family of medicals, we've always had it in our heart to work in the clinical side of things. We've always liked working around, helping people get healthier and better. But amputation specifically was an area that we were very lucky that we found as an area of interest that developed within the both of us. [00:07:31] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, of course. Okay, so, so you started printing these limbs, and then you realized, "Oh my goodness, there's such a need for this. There's so much opportunity here to really help people." So, so tell me a little bit about the evolution over time of how you have made it better and better, more technologically advanced, more ergonomic, all the things that go into that. Can you speak a little bit to that learning curve and process? [00:07:56] Dhruv Agrawal: Mm-hmm. Yeah, it was a very long learning curve because not only did, me and my co-founder had zero background in business. We were 18-year-old, 19-year-old kids, right? We were just teenagers and we really had no idea what we wanted to do. And not only that, we also were not engineers, so we didn't have any engineering experience or expertise either. So everything that we did in the very beginning, at least, was self-taught. I just knew I had an inclination towards electronics and programming. My co-founder was much more towards mechanical CAD design and things like that. So we started learning these courses for free on edX and Coursera and all these, you know, MOOC platforms. And that's how we built up the very first prototype of the product by getting some small grants here and there in India. Of course, the situation is very different right now. We have R&D team of 30 people, very experienced, a few PhDs here and there. So I don't really design anymore in my day-to-day life, but that's how we started. And same was the side of the journey of coming from India to Poland. Again, that was not something that was planned at all. We had no experience in business. We had no experience in raising funding or raising money and things like that. We just learned on the go, applied to over a hundred different programs 'cause most of the investors said no to us back then in 2018 to funding 'cause why would they say yes? And we looked at like, "Okay, can we get some grants and things like that?" Applied to over a hundred programs. Luckily got selected in this program in Poland, which was like a $50,000 program back in 2018 and decided, "Yeah, let's try that place out." And came to Poland. I literally came with a backpack with stuff for two months 'cause there was a plan, come for the grant, stay for two months, go back to my family in India, and it's been seven years since then. [00:09:44] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, there you go. Oh my goodness. That's great. So Poland, and you get along it sounds like just fine. Excellent. Excellent. Okay, so, I really appreciate you sharing about, especially, you were both so young and but so eager. It sounds like just, "Yes, let's learn, let's develop the skills that we need to along the way." I would imagine though, coming into it, perhaps that young and not having as much business experience, or, or any really in, in the past, I-- something that I really admired when I was kind of looking through your LinkedIn profile was when you post, a lot of times you share stories about areas that, that may be considered I, I guess mistakes or stumbling blocks or things that, that you've overcome on your path. And I would love if you would share maybe just a couple of things that come to mind, as an early founder, because your story is amazing and unique, but there are lots of other founders too who find themselves in similar situations where they're like, "Whoof, I've got this great idea. I know what I want, but here's maybe what I should look out for to avoid." could you share a little bit about that? [00:10:49] Dhruv Agrawal: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the first thing is mistakes are unavoidable, right? it doesn't matter whether you're coming from a background of a medical school dropout, or if you have 10, 15, 20 years of corporate experience and things like that. 'Cause I do find myself thinking a lot about, you know, wouldn't it have been better if I would've graduated and then did a MBA and then started a company? Yes, it might have been better, but the things that I deal with in my day-to-day life in the startup, I don't think this is taught anywhere. So the first and foremost thing, which is of importance, is that mistakes are unavoidable. It's okay to make mistakes. The biggest learning that I have is mistakes are unavoidable, but it's up to you to be decisive enough to pivot as quickly as possible. So don't look back at the mistakes that we have made, because one of the worst things that we have done in this company, or where we have failed the most, or where we have seen that like, "Ah, this is where we could have done things better," are not about making a wrong decision. They were just about being indecisive and being in a dilemma for a long, long time. It would've been far better if we would've made certain decisions quickly, gotten feedback and quickly pivoted, instead of just being in a dilemma and trying to balance two sides for a long time period. An example of that would be when we launched the first version of our product into the market, we realized that we had made some errors from the point of view of what should be the feature set in this product. And so, for example, the product was available only in a medium size hand in terms of the dimensions, but majority of the market is for a small size hand. So at that point we couldn't really just miniaturize things because there's a physical limitation. So at that point we had to make a decision of do we scrap this thing completely and build a new hand from scratch that starts with a small hand and then has a medium sized option as a grow up? Or do we continue to work on the medium sized hand, and then launch a small sized hand separately? Finally, we decided to do the second option. But looking back again, I, I don't think it would've been better or worse either way. I think both of these options are fair. It's just the fact that we spent over nine months going back and forth between, "Okay, let's continue putting our efforts in energy into the medium sized that we have right now" versus, "Okay, this month we are now suddenly feeling, ah, that's not gonna work out. Let's start building the second version." So that dilemma of indecision is probably the worst thing that you can do. Just make a decision, own up to it, move on. If it works out, great, if it not, if it doesn't work out, you're gonna have learnings and you'll be stronger at the end of the day. So that's, I would be an I would say would be an example of one of the key errors that we made. [00:13:23] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Well, thank you for being willing to share that, and that's such valuable advice and feedback. And so, as you recognize this and go, "Okay, so that didn't work as planned, or in the way that I would prefer," what did you end up deciding? How do you go now, moving forward, when you are in a position of "I have a major decision to make. I feel like both options have value and merit." How do you end up deciding, "Okay, I I'm not gonna leave this just in this hazy middle ground, I'm gonna make a decision." How do you go about that now differently? [00:13:54] Dhruv Agrawal: I think the first and foremost thing that entrepreneurs, or anybody who wants to build a new product, or anybody who just wants to build something new, is be very, very, very honest with yourself about, "Am I solving a real problem?" As founders, as creators, as developers, it is so easy to go into that mindset of you find a problem that you can relate to or you somehow think that this is a real problem. It doesn't matter what feedback you're going to get. You're going to convert that feedback, or create a narrative or story from that feedback, that is going to align with the impression that you have built in your own head about what the real problem is. So one thing that we really do right now is just focus on problem market fit at the very early stages of launching a new software, building a new product, building the next version of the hand, or whatever else we do is really try to question, "Are we solving a real problem?" And in a completely unbiased manner, "Do people agree with me that I am solving a real problem?" So that's what I would say would be a primary thing that we do differently right now. Of course at this point, we start getting users involved much earlier into our development process. That is something that we did not do in the past, and hence the surprise that we got at that point. So we start involving users, different stakeholders, and things like that much earlier, but at the same time, I would say that it's not to say that I would penalize myself for the historical decisions that I took. We did the best that we could potentially with the resources that were available at that point. Now we have much more resources so we can do all these things. So don't feel pressured to do everything on day one. You know, start with something, move forward and build that maturity as you grow. [00:15:38] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, I love that. That's excellent advice. Thank you for sharing. Yeah, so you know that's a great segue and I love the fact that you were talking about the end user and the importance. And it's so funny because of course, ultimately your goal is to help these end users and improve their quality of life and whatnot. But to your point, it does get easy to get so bogged down in the details of what you're creating and innovating that perhaps you forget sort of the bigger picture at times. So, speaking of these end users, can you share any stories that might stand out to you as really reinforcing to you that, "Hey, gosh, I am in the right industry, doing the right thing at the right time." [00:16:17] Dhruv Agrawal: Yeah, no, absolutely. So we have had many phenomenal end users that have reiterated our belief in the product that we are building, the problems that we are solving, the company, and the organization that we are building as a whole. I mean, generally speaking, patients change their devices every three to five years, and that's really our entry point of getting a device into the hands of the patients. But even with those, a patient is using another prosthetic device, they start using ours, they will see a step change in the functionality, and that's always empowering. But the most interesting stories are where we have really seen patients who, for example, congenital amputees tried a prosthetic device 10 years ago, 15 years ago, and then made a decision to live their life without any prosthetic device. So got used to a life for 15, 20, 25 years of living a life without a prosthetic device, just with an amputated limb or a limb difference. And then, we come in with our product, they see it, they use it, and they are ready to adopt that again. And that's a much powerful validation for us because somebody who has used a device, looked at all the advancements over the last two decades, decided actively decided to not use any of those advancements, and looks at our product and says, "Ah, this really solves the problems that I was waiting for someone to solve for the last two decades." Like we had this situation with a very famous Polish guy, Marek Kamiński, who is the youngest Polish person to go to both poles, North Pole and the South Pole, and he's a bilateral amputee on legs and he has a unilateral amputation to one arm. He has not used a prosthetic device in, I think 15 or 20 years, something like that. So for a very long timeframe. He met with an ambassador of ours and was finally convinced after 15 long years to give another try. And we fitted him over three months ago and he's been performing phenomenally with the device and he's so happy with that. So those are the moments that really give us more confidence or give us a boost of confidence in the product that we are building and the company that we are building. [00:18:19] Lindsey Dinneen: That's incredible. Wow. What a story. Yeah, and I love hearing those kinds of stories and that just to reinforce, " Hey, you really are making a difference." And I'm sure that helps on the days that are a little bit harder, a little trickier, you know, it helps to have that to hold onto, so you know your impact goes so far beyond even the places that you've mentioned before. I was reading about how you've worked with the Open Dialogue Foundation and there's been some work in Ukraine, and I'm wondering if you could share a little bit about perhaps that collaboration, and or some of the other exciting collaborations you have going on with these amazing organizations all over the world. [00:18:54] Dhruv Agrawal: Absolutely. I mean, the work that we do in Ukraine is something which is very close to our heart and what you just mentioned a moment ago, it's exactly that type of work that keeps us going on the hardest of days. I have so many amazing stories from the patients who have been fitted with our device 'cause at this point in the last year or so, we have already fitted over a hundred patients with our bionic hands in Ukraine. We primarily work with Superhumans, which is NGO based out of Kyiv, a great place, really the mecca for prosthetics at this point, I would say. They're doing a phenomenal job of getting these patients in, rehabilitating them, fitting them with our device and then training them on how to use the device. In fact, even supporting them in the post rehabilitation, acquainting them to back to the real world as well. And we send teams of doctors from the US, from Poland, to Ukraine to actually fit these devices to patients. And we have had a lot of success stories come out of it. We have people who have amputations, even at the level of shoulder who are amputated all the way up to the shoulder or four quarter amputation, and they are successfully able to live a independent life with our device. I think the best story that I've had, or the part that really made me tear up, was when one of the soldiers got fitted with our device and his really, really big wish was to be able to do the first, to dance with his wife, with both hands. And I got to see that and it was, it was the most amazing feeling ever. [00:20:20] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh my goodness. Yes. I don't know how you couldn't just have the waterfall start with that kind of story. That's incredible. Thank you for sharing about that. So, as you look toward the company's future and your own, what are you excited about moving forward? [00:20:34] Dhruv Agrawal: I mean, we are currently in the process of getting a new version of our hand in the market, which has all the learnings of the last four years or so. So we are definitely really excited about that. You have to keep in mind when we launched the first product, we didn't even have enough money to-- because prosthetics are expensive-- so we didn't really have had enough money to buy our competitor devices, or the devices from the past to look around to see, touch, feel, how they are built. Everything that we built was purely out of our imagination and based on what we could find on the internet. And, you know, go visit a doctor who fits these devices, have that 10, 15 minutes to look around that device, and so on and so on. I mean, four years later, now we have the experience of fitting close to seven, 800 patients with our device. All that feedback that has gone into the next version product that we are gonna be building. So very excited about that. We continue to develop the software platform, so we are not just a company that is focused on providing a device to the patient, but we provide an entire software platform that's like a digital twin for the patient. So it supports the patients throughout their end-to-end journey. Because it's not just about giving a device to the patient, but it's all about can we improve their quality of life? Can the patient pick up a glass of water? Can he tie his shoelaces? Can he water a plant? Can he do the activities that he really wants to do? And from that perspective, the software platform that we continue to build focuses on things like adherence, occupational therapy, physical therapy, monitoring of the usage of the device. Because the thing in prosthetics industry is, the day you give the device to the patient is not the day you have won the battle. That's the day the battle actually begins, 'cause now it's all about making sure that you deliver on the promise of helping him get better quality of life. [00:22:20] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure that's an exciting challenge, but it's a continually evolving challenge too. And there's probably variations, I would imagine, on people embracing the technology a little bit differently and how you handle all that. Yeah. Excellent. Well that is a very exciting future and it's so much fun to hear about, and you know, you've had a great career so far. I'm sure it's wildly different than what you may have imagined as a kid. But what a cool gift that you're bringing to the world. You've been recognized quite a bit. You're 30 under 30 for Europe, and you've been involved in lots of different cool organizations. You've been a TEDx speaker. What are some of those moments like, have they been surreal? Is it just like, "Oh, thank you." Just confirmation that, hey, you are on the right tracker. What are those kinds of moments like for you? [00:23:08] Dhruv Agrawal: I mean, definitely the first round of funding that we raised in Poland was was a huge check mark for us, because it's that moment at which you realize, "Ah, somebody wants to give me money and somebody wants to give me a quarter of a million dollars." I've never seen that much money together on a single bank account or in any way, shape or form, right? I come from a normal middle class family. We don't have that. So, that was definitely the first micro checkpoint, let's say. I mean, both the things that you mentioned, the TEDx thing, the Forbes 30 Under 30 thing, coming from a background in India where these things are really important, although they're not so important for me as a person, but they're much more important for some reason to my parents and to society. It is a different place. We put a lot of emphasis on these types of things. So from six, seven years ago, looking at these lists coming out or looking at, "Oh, this cool guy spoke on a TEDx talk, sending him an email about, 'Do you want to be an advisor in my company? I'll give you 5% shares,'" and so on and so on, to actually doing those things by yourself, that's definitely pretty well as well. But again, at the end of the day, there is nothing better than seeing a new patient get fitted with the hand, seeing the reaction of their family members. They have a daughter, they have a son who they hold their hand for the first time. They hug their wife. I mean, just, just being around amputees and patients who use your device, something that you built and that helps them get better at their daily life, that's, I would say, the most rewarding thing ever. [00:24:39] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, of course. That's, that's wonderful. Yeah. So, oh my goodness, this is so great and very inspirational, but pivoting the conversation a little bit just for fun. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars-- speaking of those wonderful sums of money-- to teach a masterclass on anything you want. It can be something within your industry, but doesn't have to be, what would you choose to teach? [00:25:03] Dhruv Agrawal: I have two topics in mind. One is I would probably teach a masterclass on pitching, especially for first time founders. I think that is something which I'm good at, and we have obviously raised a pretty decent amount of capital up 'till now. So that would be the one thing that I would say. So kind of a combination of pitching and starting a startup for the first time, especially in the field of hardware, medical devices, things like that. And the second thing that I would really like to talk about is just probably trying to put my thoughts together and making a masterclass on how to never give up, because I think that that's a very underrated quality. But that's a very important quality. There have been complex times in the history of our company where we have felt that like, "Ah, this might be it." But it's all about what you do in those moments and how you go beyond those. I think it's all about that. [00:25:47] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. And how do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:25:53] Dhruv Agrawal: Just as a positive change maker. I really would like all these patients that we are helping and giving these devices to. I, I just want to be a small part of their lives. Just as I was part of the life of the veteran who got married, I, I just wanna ha have those small moments club together amongst these different individuals that we are privileged to work with. [00:26:13] Lindsey Dinneen: Hmm. Yes, of course. Wonderful. And then final question, what is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:26:22] Dhruv Agrawal: Oh, that's very simple. Patients getting fitted with our device. Today we see a patient getting fitted with our device, and that smile on their face and things like that. And, you know, that's even much bigger, much more interesting in Ukraine because many times when you go to these hospitals, and when I go to these hospitals in Ukraine, you have to understand that these people have gone through a lot. These soldiers who are putting their body on the line for their country. There, of course, there's a certain sort of low morale that they have when they're amputated and when they're in these hospitals and things like that where they don't really think that there is ever a possibility for them to regain something back. And you go in there and you show them a bionic hand, and they're not sure if this thing works, and you put the electrodes on them and they open the hand or close it for the first time, and then you suddenly see those expressions change from like, "Ah, what has happened to me?" to, "Oh, what can I achieve?" That is also an amazing feeling. [00:27:16] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Oh, I love that. What an amazing gift to be able to help somebody bridge that gap and witness it. How cool is that? Oh, well, I think this is incredible. I am so grateful for you and your co-founder for starting this company and just being able to give so many people hope and new life, really, just a new way of experiencing life. So thank you for all of the incredible work you're doing. I'm so excited to continue to follow your work, support your work, as I'm sure all of our listeners are as well. So, gosh, I just really appreciate you sharing all of your advice and stories and wisdom with us. So thanks again so much for being here. [00:27:55] Dhruv Agrawal: Of course, Lindsey, thank so much for having me. [00:27:56] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course, of course. And we are honored to be making a donation on your behalf as a thank you for your time today to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is dedicated to preventing animal cruelty in the United States. We really appreciate you choosing that organization to support and thank you just again, so very much for your time here today. I just wish you continued success as you work to change lives for a better world. And thank you also so much to our listeners, and if you're feeling as inspired as I am right now, I'd love it if you share this episode with a colleague or two and we'll catch you next time. [00:28:43] Ben Trombold: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium. Velentium is a full-service CDMO with 100% in-house capability to design, develop, and manufacture medical devices from class two wearables to class three active implantable medical devices. Velentium specializes in active implantables, leads, programmers, and accessories across a wide range of indications, such as neuromodulation, deep brain stimulation, cardiac management, and diabetes management. Velentium's core competencies include electrical, firmware, and mechanical design, mobile apps, embedded cybersecurity, human factors and usability, automated test systems, systems engineering, and contract manufacturing. Velentium works with clients worldwide, from startups seeking funding to established Fortune 100 companies. Visit velentium.com to explore your next step in medical device development.

In this episode, Lisa and Joanna discuss:Exploring alternatives to the traditional college timelineThe evolving role of parents in post-secondary decision-makingEmotional and psychological challenges facing college-bound teensThe importance of preparation and intentional planning for life after high schoolKey Takeaways: College readiness is less about academic performance and more about whether a student can live independently, manage their time without reminders, handle stress in healthy ways, and recover from inevitable challenges like failure or rejection.Choosing to delay college in favor of a well-planned year of work, volunteering, or self-directed learning through platforms like Coursera can give students the clarity, maturity, and practical skills they often need but didn't gain during high school.When a student shows signs of burnout, struggles with mental health, or has never had to navigate real consequences on their own, it's usually a sign that stepping back from school to focus on personal growth is the healthier long-term decision.Families who agree in advance on how they'll stay in touch, what success looks like during the first semester, and how financial support will be tied to progress tend to create stronger trust and smoother transitions into adulthood. “College is an experience out of the home for the first time... If your child has never had the opportunity to experience any adversity... that's going to be tremendously harder for them when they land on a college campus.” – Joanna LilleyAbout Joanna Lilley: Since 2016, Joanna Lilley of Lilley Consulting has been helping young adults (18+) find mental health, substance use, and wellness resources. Joanna dedicates herself to working solely with emerging adults who unravel in college or aren't thriving in adulthood. She also hosts the Success is Subjective podcast.Episode References:#020 Teaching Your Teen “How to College”: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/20-teaching-your-teen-how-to-college/Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/video Connect with Joanna:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilleyConsultingLLC/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-lilley-ma-ncc-12546566/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LilleyConsulting/featuredWebsite: https://lilleyconsulting.com/Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

Sonal Jain joined EPL in June, 2023 as the Global CHRO. She has more than 19 years of diverse experience in FMCG, Health Care, Information services and EdTech sector. Prior to this role, Sonal was Head of People, Asia Pacific at Coursera. Sonal has also worked in various capacities for Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Wipro Technologies.A well-known name in the HR community, Sonal has been recognized as one of the “10 Best CPOs in India 2023” by TradeFlock and was honoured as a “Top 100 HR Leader for 40under40” by Bombay in 2018. She was facilitated as “Inspirational Women Leader 2024 by Transformance Forum”. She was featured as Top 10 Best Women CHRO by Women Entrepreneur Magazine 2024" along with Most Iconic HR Leaders 2024 by World HRD Congress" She is a core member of CII National Committee for Leadership and HR and Forbes Council 2024. Her expertise extends beyond borders, as she has held roles and engaged teams across markets such as the Americas, Japan, Europe, Middle East, South East Asia, Africa, Australia and South Asia. Sonal holds a graduate degree in Civil Engineering for Jamia Millia Islamia and MBA in Human Resources from University Business School, Panjab University.She hold certifications and accreditations such as ICF ACC Certified Coach, Hogan Assessor, Hays Assessor, and Chartered MCIPD

In this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo and his all-star panel including Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry 'The Flowmaster' Schwartz from Cboe discuss various topics related to the options market. The show covers a wide range of issues such as reactions to Microsoft and Meta's impressive earnings, interesting call buys in lesser-known stocks like Coursera and Freshworks, and detailed breakdowns of recent unusual options activity. Listener polls on trading challenges and strategical preferences are addressed while Uncle Mike and Henry share their insights on the current market environment and upcoming economic events.    03:08 Market Analysis and Trading Strategies 06:27 Earnings Reports and Market Movers 12:34 Options Trading Insights and Trends 18:45 Earnings Season Highlights 29:32 Coinbase and Market Movements 30:19 Riot and Roku Analysis 30:55 Moderna and Cboe Insights 31:25 Earnings Season Highlights 32:15 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 32:55 Coursera and Freshworks Trades 39:46 Bristol Myers Squibb Breakdown 46:40 Listener Mail and Poll Results 53:33 Around the Block: Market Watch  

In this episode of The Option Block, host Mark Longo and his all-star panel including Uncle Mike Tosaw from St. Charles Wealth Management and Henry 'The Flowmaster' Schwartz from Cboe discuss various topics related to the options market. The show covers a wide range of issues such as reactions to Microsoft and Meta's impressive earnings, interesting call buys in lesser-known stocks like Coursera and Freshworks, and detailed breakdowns of recent unusual options activity. Listener polls on trading challenges and strategical preferences are addressed while Uncle Mike and Henry share their insights on the current market environment and upcoming economic events.    03:08 Market Analysis and Trading Strategies 06:27 Earnings Reports and Market Movers 12:34 Options Trading Insights and Trends 18:45 Earnings Season Highlights 29:32 Coinbase and Market Movements 30:19 Riot and Roku Analysis 30:55 Moderna and Cboe Insights 31:25 Earnings Season Highlights 32:15 Odd Block: Unusual Options Activity 32:55 Coursera and Freshworks Trades 39:46 Bristol Myers Squibb Breakdown 46:40 Listener Mail and Poll Results 53:33 Around the Block: Market Watch  

As AI and talent shortages reshape the job market, more companies in Asia Pacific are prioritising skills over degrees — and embedding learning into their business strategies. Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2025 shows Singapore leading globally in AI readiness, but still facing skills gaps. On Industry Insight, Eklavya Bhave, Head of Asia at Coursera, explains how skills-first strategies are helping businesses see real results — and what lessons employers and professionals can take to stay competitive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most misunderstood Stoic practice is Memento Mori - remember you will die. Dr. Laurie Santos, an expert on the science of happiness, joins Ryan to share the research behind why thinking about your mortality is proven to increase happiness. Dr. Laurie shares how to balance negative and positive visualizations for a fulfilling life, the Stoic practices that she swears by, and practical applications of Stoic and Buddhist teachings. Dr. Laurie Santos is an expert on the science of happiness and the ways in which our minds lie to us about what makes us happy. Her Yale course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students how the science of psychology can provide important hints about how to make wiser choices and live a life that's happier and more fulfilling. The class became Yale's most popular course in over 300 years, with almost one out of four students enrolled. Her course has been featured in the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, GQ Magazine, Slate and O! Magazine. The online version of the class—The Science of Well-Being on Coursera.org—has attracted more than 4 million learners from around the world. A winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching, she was recently voted as one of Popular Science Magazine's “Brilliant 10” young minds, and was named in Time Magazine as a “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Listen to Dr. Laurie's podcast, The Happiness Lab, where she shares the latest scientific research on what it means to be truly happy. Check out more of Dr. Laurie's work at DrLaurieSantos.com and follow her Instagram @LaurieSantosOfficial, X @LaurieSantos, and on YouTube and TikTok @DrLaurieSantos

Are we preparing people as quickly as we're preparing machines? That's the uncomfortable question at the heart of Coursera's 2025 Global Skills Report, and the starting point for my conversation with Nikolaz Foucaud, Coursera's Managing Director for EMEA. As the UK jumps more than 20 spots in global skills rankings and countries like Singapore and Denmark widen the gap with lifelong learning cultures, we explore why mindset may be as important as access when it comes to reskilling for an AI-driven economy. Nikolaz explains how the newly introduced AI Maturity Index reflects the growing urgency around workforce readiness and why governments and employers need to stop thinking in degrees and start investing in micro-credentials that reflect what learners and businesses actually need. We also unpack the gender gap in AI learning, the alarming lack of growth in cybersecurity skills, and why economic pressure often drives the highest levels of completion and success. As institutions, employers, and individuals try to catch up with the pace of technological change, what will it take to build a learning culture that keeps momentum? And are we measuring the right things when we talk about readiness? Let me know what you think.

Thanks to MLflow for supporting this episode — the platform helping teams track, manage, and deploy ML and GenAI projects with ease. Try it free at mlflow.org.What if AI could build and maintain your software—like a co-worker who never forgets state? In this episode, Jiquan Ngiam chats with Demetrios about agents that actually do the work: parsing emails, updating spreadsheets, and reshaping how we design software itself. Less hype, more hands-on AI—tune in for a glimpse at the future of truly personalized computing.// BioJiquan Ngiam is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lutra AI, with deep expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He was previously at Google Brain, Coursera, and in the Stanford CS Ph.D. program advised by Andrew Ng. He helped develop the first online courses in Machine Learning, and is now building agentic AI systems that can complete tasks for us.// Related Linkshttps://www.youtube.com/@LutraAI#api #llm #lutra #costefficiency #latentspace ~~~~~~~~ ✌️Connect With Us ✌️ ~~~~~~~Catch all episodes, blogs, newsletters, and more: https://go.mlops.community/TYExploreMLOps Swag/Merch: [https://shop.mlops.community/]Connect with Demetrios on LinkedIn: /dpbrinkmConnect with Jiquan on LinkedIn: /jngiam/Timestamps:[00:00] Agents That Actually Do Work[08:21] Building Tables With AI Help[12:54] Guardrails for Smarter Code[16:35 - 18:00] MLFlow Ad[18:30] What's Next for MCP?[23:23] AI as Your Data Conductor[31:13] Rethinking AI + Data Stacks[32:10] Sandbox Security, Real Risks[40:48] Smarter Reviews, Powered by Use[46:08] Cost vs. Quality in AI[52:00] Podcast Editing Gets Creative[56:27] Transparent UIs, Powered by AI[01:00:28] Can AI Learn Good Taste?[01:04:45] Peeking Into Wild AI Futures

Daphne Koller, CEO of insitro and cofounder of Coursera, joins Leadership Next to unpack a bold idea: Just as calculus revolutionized our understanding of physics, AI could do the same for biology. In this episode, Koller explains how insitro is blending biology and machine learning to unlock new treatments for diseases like ALS and fatty liver. She also opens up about her leap from academia to entrepreneurship, the ethical challenges of data collection, and why the future of medicine lies in personalized, AI-driven care. Plus, her take on why humans and machines must work in tandem to drive meaningful innovation. 

In this episode, Lisa and Brianne discuss:Navigating unspoken rules in the modern workplaceBuilding emotional intelligence and soft skills for career growthAdapting to emerging technologies like AI in career planningOvercoming generational biases and workplace stereotypesKey Takeaways: To succeed in both interviews and long-term career growth, young professionals must focus on developing strong communication abilities, demonstrate consistent curiosity, and embrace self-driven learning rather than relying solely on technical expertise.Gen Z faces invisible hurdles in the workforce, such as being penalized for frequent job changes, perceived entitlement, and lack of industry experience, all of which can hurt their credibility before they even have the chance to prove themselves.Understanding and applying emotional intelligence—through self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empathy—can significantly enhance workplace relationships and leadership potential, often more than mastering technical tasks.Confidence in advocating for oneself during salary negotiations and career conversations comes from deliberate preparation, including practicing responses, understanding personal financial needs, and learning to communicate value with clarity and assertiveness. “Action is what builds confidence... the worst thing you can do is sit there and wait for the quote, unquote, right time.” – Brianne RushAbout Brianne Rush: Brianne Rush is the founder of The Independence Lab, where she helps Gen Z women transition from college to careers with confidence. She climbed the ladder fast—going from intern to managing editor in one year, and from employee to VP in just four. But her success didn't come from following the traditional rules. Instead, she learned how to decode unspoken workplace dynamics, challenge outdated norms, and advocate effectively for herself. Recognized by platforms like Forbes, SUCCESS, and Women We Admire, Brianne is dedicated to unlocking career growth for a new generation.Episode References:ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/The Defining Decade by Meg Jay: https://www.amazon.com/Defining-Decade-Your-Twenties-Matter/dp/0446561754Lisa's Free LinkedIn Profile Guide: https://flourishcoachingco.com/linkedinBrianne's Free Career Playbook eBook: https://theindependencelab.com/playbookGet Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/video Connect with Brianne:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianneatthelabLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannecarlonrush/Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

S5EP11, Develop Smarter Product Management with Alex Cowan In this insightful episode, Alex, faculty member at UVA Darden and accomplished author of Hypothesis-Driven Development: A Guide to Smarter Product Management, takes us on a journey into the transformative framework of Hypothesis-Driven Development (HDD). With a wealth of experience that includes teaching over 700,000 learners via Coursera, building and selling two companies, and advising digital ventures, Alex brings a unique perspective to modern product management. Show Benefits: ~ Smarter Product Development with HDD: Learn how Hypothesis-Driven Development reduces waste and drives data-backed decisions. ~ Practical Innovation Tips: Get actionable steps to apply HDD and deliver real customer value. ~ Stay Agile in a Fast-Changing World: Use HDD to stay adaptable, innovative, and lead with creative confidence. Alex is on the faculty of UVA Darden where he teaches courses on the intersection of AI and digital product. Online, he's delivered over 700,000 courses via Coursera. He's also the author of ‘Hypothesis-Driven Development: A Guide to Smarter Product Management'. Before teaching, Alex started and sold two companies and he continues to advise and invest in digital ventures. His work on Hypothesis-Driven Development is widely used by practitioners and instructors for new product and venture creation. Find out more about Alex Cowan: Website: alexandercowan.com LinkedIn: / alexcowan #VoicesOfCourage #KenDFoster #AlexCowan #TheCourageNetwork #VOCPodcast #VOCSeason5 #HypothesisDrivenDevelopment #SmarterProductManagement #AgileInnovation #LeanStartup #ProductLeadership #DigitalProductStrategy #DataDrivenDecisions #TechLeadership #ProductDevelopmentTips #InnovationInTech #BuildMeasureLearn #AIandProduct #ContinuousImprovement #CustomerDrivenDesign #ModernProductManagement #EntrepreneurMindset #ProductStrategy #StartupGrowth #ProductManagerTools #CreativeConfidence

Ever been to a conference or workshop, taken great notes, then completely forgotten everything three weeks later? Turns out we forget 90% of what we learn within a week, and only 12% of employees actually use corporate training on the job. We're talking about why companies keep spending billions on learning that doesn't stick, why your Coursera subscription isn't changing your career, and what actually works. Psst: it's less about big expensive programs and more about small daily actions and accountability.Loved what you heard? Pass it on and leave us a 5-star review! 'Til next week, Powrsuiters! Got a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at ⁠hello@powrsuit.com⁠ Join Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, and be sure to check out our Membership Network at ⁠www.powrsuit.com.

Emily Keller-Logan, Director of Global Marketing Strategy and Experience at Coursera, talks about how she uses AI agents to improve marketing effectiveness, while giving us her top data driven marketing tips. Focus on qualitative context to complement your data, and ensure it's answering relevant business questions. Hear all the details on the podcast.   

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Julia Linehan, founder of The Digital Voice, a UK-based PR and marketing agency specializing in ad tech and martech. Julia shares her journey from a solo consultant to leading a remote team of 36, including 28 full-time equivalents. Over the past six years, she has grown the agency's revenue sixfold and doubled profits, driven by her people-first approach. Julia discusses the challenges of letting go, the power of consistent company culture, and the value of tools like Trello and Slack. She also highlights the importance of work-life balance and strong client relationships in building a sustainable, scalable business. Other Resources: When should a growing small business have a Board of Directors or Advisors? Get a return from an effective Chairperson of a Board An easy way to measure if your customers love you in 21 minutes – use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). And it's FREE. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Julia Linehan, the hardest thing in growing a small business is managing stress. She explains that without effectively handling stress, it can quickly become overwhelming and negatively impact both the individual and the business. She also highlights cash flow management as a significant challenge, noting the delicate balance required between growth, maintaining profitability, and ensuring financial stability. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Julia Linehan's favorite business books that have helped her the most are "Big Impact Without Burnout" by Bianca Best and "Radical Candor" by Kim Scott. She also recommends "The One Minute Manager" and "Monkey Management" for their practical insights on leadership and team communication. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Julia Linehan recommends several valuable podcasts and online learning resources for small business growth, including her agency's own shows Off Record On Point and Legends of Adtech. She also highlights podcasts by Tamara Littleton and Paul Gubbins with Wayne Blodwell for insights into the ad tech and marketing industries. For ongoing learning, she suggests platforms like Skillshare and Coursera and encourages dedicating regular time, such as a weekly “Boost Your Power Hour,” to continuous professional development. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Julia Linehan recommends using the right tools to support remote collaboration and project management when growing a small business. Her top picks are Trello, for organizing tasks and workflows with transparency, and Slack, for maintaining strong team communication and connection. She emphasizes that investing in effective software tailored to your business needs is essential for sustainable growth. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Julia Linehan's advice to herself on day one of starting out in business would be to be present, enjoy the journey, and smile through it. She believes that the more you enjoy what you're doing, the more others around you will too, creating a positive ripple effect in both team culture and client relationships. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: People over profits—invest in your team, and the returns will follow – Julia Linehan Let go, trust your team, and watch them fly – Julia Linehan You don't need to chase every opportunity – protect your culture first – Julia Linehan      

In this insightful episode, Alex, faculty member at UVA Darden and accomplished author of Hypothesis-Driven Development: A Guide to Smarter Product Management, takes us on a journey into the transformative framework of Hypothesis-Driven Development (HDD). With a wealth of experience that includes teaching over 700,000 learners via Coursera, building and selling two companies, and advising digital ventures, Alex brings a unique perspective to modern product management.   Episode link (YouTube): https://youtu.be/gE3SdSYnzMU

Marni Baker Stein is the Chief Content Officer at Coursera, the global learning platform with over 175 million learners and partnerships across 6,200 campuses, businesses, and governments. She leads Coursera's content and credential strategy and manages global partner relationships. Before joining Coursera, Marni was Chief Academic Officer and Provost at Western Governors University, where she oversaw programs for more than 135,000 students. She has also held leadership roles focused on access, student success, and program design at the University of Texas, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Marni earned her PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.In this conversation, we discuss:How AI is shifting education from one-size-fits-all to personalized, contextualized learning tailored to each studentWhy microcredentials and stackable learning are replacing traditional degrees as the new path for lifelong learnersThe role of educators in the AI era and why they should be part of the solution, not sidelined by automationWhat it means for universities to stay relevant as learning becomes more modular, flexible, and job-alignedWhy GenAI is fueling demand for both technical skills and enduring human abilities like critical thinking and communicationHow tools like AI tutors, instant translations, and proctoring are democratizing access and preserving integrity at scaleResources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Marni on LinkedInAI fun fact articleOn How To Identify The Power of Product and Listening to Your Customers. Past episodes mentioned in this conversation:[With Dave Marchick, Dean of the Kogod School of Business] - On How AI is Changing Academia[Chris Caren, Turnitin CEO] - On using AI to prevent students from cheating plus lessons for leaders on innovation and team culture

Larry Aschebrook is the Founder and Managing Partner of G Squared in what is one of the wildest stories of venture capital. Larry started G Squared with nothing, dialling for dollars having personally invested in Twitter and Uber. In his first fund, Larry made sizable bets into SpaceX, Palantir, Alibaba and Twitter. Larry has also had mega losses along the way (discussed in the show) in Getir, 23andme and more. Today, Larry manages over $5BN and has invested in all the best from Wiz to Spotify to Revolut and Anthropic.  Agenda: 00:00 – From Broke to Billion-Dollar Bets 03:40 – The $800M Coursera Windfall 06:10 – Lyft Made Millions, Uber Lost $50M 09:05 – “We Fcked Up”: The Billion-Dollar Vintage 11:50 – How a $150M Spotify Bet Made a Billion 15:10 – The Gut Call That Dodged Theranos 18:00 – Vampires vs Zombies: The Coming Startup Purge 20:30 – When Success Almost Killed the Firm 24:20 – DPI Is King, MOIC Is Bullsht 27:40 – Why I'd Buy Anthropic at $61BN Today 30:05 – Losing $70M on 23andMe 32:10 – The Janitor of Venture Capital 34:00 – The Getir Deal That Nearly Broke Me 36:25 – Does Money Actually Make You Happy? 39:00 – What Cal Ripken Jr. Taught Me About Venture  

In episode 198 of the Thyroid Answers Podcast, I discuss the Vitamin D Deficiency Myth with the co-hosts of the Normal Curves Podcast. In this episode we cover: Is vitamin D deficiency really as widespread as people think? How did the idea of a vitamin D deficiency epidemic get started? Who was behind raising the thresholds, and why did it gain such widespread support? Why are so many studies on vitamin D and health flawed or misleading? Where do things stand now? What do the latest guidelines say about vitamin D deficiency, testing, and supplements? And more ...   Kristin Cobb Sainani is a professor at Stanford University, a freelance science writer, and co-host of the Normal Curves podcast. She teaches statistics and scientific writing worldwide through Stanford Online and Coursera. She has written for Allure magazine and works as a statistician in sports medicine research.  Regina Nuzzo is a professor at Gallaudet University, an award-winning freelance science writer, and co-host of the Normal Curves podcast. She wrote The Mating Game column about dating and relationships for the Los Angeles Times. She has also written for Nature, The New York Times, and Scientific American, and teaches statistics at Stanford each summer. https://www.normalcurves.com  

New episodes  and a NEW Season coming in July! In the meantime, enjoy this throwback interview with the AMAZING Unschooling Mama and Founder of Empowered Homeschool Club, Nicole Shiffler! Link to hear Caroline Shiffler's song: On Golden Sands by Fragile Beings To Reach Nicole: @nicoleshiffler Nichole's Coaching Program Authors Referred to in this Episode: How Children Learn by John Holt Teach Your Own by John Holt How Children Fail by John Holt Free to Learn by Peter Gray *Please note that some of the links included in this article are Amazon affiliate links. Sign Up for the School to Homeschool Newsletter Private Mentoring with Janae: Schedule a Free Discovery Call School to Homeschool YouTube Channel Etsy Store: Shop for Homeschooling Swag *Please note that some of the links included in this article are Amazon affiliate links. CONNECT with US Join the Private Facebook Group  Learn more about School to Homeschool Contact Janae: schooltohomeschool1@gmail.com

Deiadora Blanche is a holistic business consultant, author, and content strategist. She helps leaders and creators simplify their strategies, amplify their impact, and embrace ease through her quantum keys framework, which blends emotional intelligence and conscious transformation. With over 15 years of experience in content and business management, she's worked with brands like Airbnb and Coursera while also exploring her passions for spirituality, AI ethics, and personal growth. She's the author of Strategic Laziness and host of The Quantum CEO podcast. Contact Deiadora Blanche: My book, Strategic Laziness, helps people redefine productivity and thrive. My podcast: Quantum CEO, where I share insights on emotional intelligence, AI, and personal growth. You can find me on my website and on social media: • Book: https://deiadorebel.life/ebooks • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deiadora-blanche/ • Podcast: The Quantum CEO (available on all major platforms) https://deiadorebel.life/podcast Dr. Kimberley Linert Speaker, Author, Broadcaster, Mentor, Trainer, Behavioral Optometrist Event Planners- I am available to speak at your event. Here is my media kit: https://brucemerrinscelebrityspeakers.com/portfolio/dr-kimberley-linert/ To book Dr. Linert on your podcast, television show, conference, corporate training or as an expert guest please email her at incrediblelifepodcast@gmail.com or Contact Bruce Merrin at Bruce Merrin's Celebrity Speakers at merrinpr@gmail.com 702.256.9199 Host of the Podcast Series: Incredible Life Creator Podcast Available on... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/incredible-life-creator-with-dr-kimberley-linert/id1472641267 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6DZE3EoHfhgcmSkxY1CvKf?si=ebe71549e7474663 and on 9 other podcast platforms Author of Book: "Visualizing Happiness in Every Area of Your Life" Get on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3srh6tZ Website: https://www.DrKimberleyLinert.com The Great Discovery eLearning Platform: https://thegreatdiscovery.com/kimberley l

Master Google Cloud's most advanced AI certification with this definitive 2025 study guide. From TensorFlow and data pipelines to ML ops, model deployment, and ethical AI—this book delivers the knowledge, tools, and confidence to help you ace the Professional Machine Learning Engineer Exam. Backed by real-world examples, mock exams, and hands-on insights.

In today's episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Bulent Cinarkaya, General Manager of Field Service Management at ServiceNow, to explore how AI is transforming the frontlines of field service. Often overlooked in the broader tech conversation, the technicians working outside the office are now seeing real, tangible improvements to their daily workflows thanks to advancements in intelligent automation. Bulent brings a wealth of knowledge from working closely with global organizations that rely on ServiceNow to improve how they plan, dispatch, and support field teams. We talked about how agentic and generative AI are no longer theoretical tools; they are actively used to predict what technicians will need before arriving, automate access to resources, and reduce inefficiencies in task planning. One of the most compelling parts of our conversation was how ServiceNow is using AI to improve productivity and enhance the human experience. From easing the onboarding of new technicians to capturing decades of experience from retiring experts, AI is helping teams bridge a generational gap in expertise. Technicians can now rely on intelligent systems to surface the correct information at the right moment, whether through summarizing technical documents or guiding them through complex tasks. We also discussed the operational impact, with examples from customers like Bell Canada, Coursera, and British Telecom, who are seeing measurable improvements in scheduling accuracy and time to resolution. Bulent stressed the importance of unified data models, integrated platforms, and strong change management as organizations look to scale AI to ensure adoption and success. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone still on the fence about AI in field service. AI is not only improving technician efficiency, but it's also helping companies retain talent, meet rising customer expectations, and ultimately future-proof their operations. So, how ready is your organization to move beyond proof of concept and turn AI into a field-ready advantage?          

Join Mike Palmer live from the ASU+GSV conference in San Diego for an illuminating conversation with Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. In this dynamic episode, Marni shares her inspiring origin story, from her early days at UCSB during the dawn of web browsers to her time as Provost of Western Governors University to her pivotal role today at Coursera, shaping the future of online education.   We dive deep into the evolving landscape of EdTech, discussing Coursera's impressive growth to 168 million users worldwide and its strategic partnerships with industry giants like Google, Meta, and IBM, as well as top universities. We tackle the complex relationship between AI and content development, the importance of accessible education through Coursera Coach and translations, and the ever-changing demands of the job market.   Marni's insights will make you feel like you're right there with Mike and her, experiencing the energy of ASU+GSV, charting the forefront of educational innovation. Key Takeaways: The transformative power of AI in personalizing learning experiences and addressing access challenges.   The importance of durable skills and AI literacy in preparing learners for the future of work.   The need for optimism and proactive engagement with AI to shape a positive future for education.   Why You Should Listen: If you're passionate about the future of education, the role of technology, or the power of accessible learning, this episode is a must-listen. Marni Baker Stein's expertise and Mike Palmer's engaging interview style provide invaluable insights into the trends shaping eLearning, EdTech, MOOCs, and higher education. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how Coursera is leading the charge in this dynamic era. Don't miss out on this timely discussion! Subscribe to Trending in Ed, leave a comment, and share this episode with your network to keep the conversation going. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:39 Marni's Origin Story 01:35 Pioneering Online Education 02:57 Joining Coursera and Future of Learning 05:39 Impact of Generative AI on Content Development 09:02 Global Access and Translation Initiatives 12:22 Coursera Coach and Personalized Learning 14:31 Emotional Relationships with AI Agents 15:19 AI-Driven Personalized Learning 16:00 Preparing for Future Workplaces 16:26 Socratic Dialogue and Pedagogical Approaches 18:34 Emerging Skills and Career Trajectories 21:14 Durable Skills and Human Intelligence 24:06 AI in Education: From K-12 to Higher Ed 26:33 Optimism for the Future of AI 26:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Is the traditional path to college really the best choice for every student? What if college isn't the best next step? In this episode, Riley Simpson joins Russ and Joey to share how taking a gap year led to clarity, career success, and personal growth. Riley discusses the growing trend of gap years as a viable alternative to college, offering students the opportunity to explore different careers, build skills, and gain self-awareness without the pressure of choosing a major. He also highlights the anxiety students face when forced to pick a direction too early and offers practical advice on how a gap year can be a purposeful and transformative journey, rather than just a break. Discover how this alternative education path not only benefits students but also helps them develop the clarity to make better decisions for their futures.Top three things you will learn: -Breaking free from college pressure-Building clarity-Preparing for the futureAbout Our Guest:Riley Simpson has had a fascinating trajectory. He took two gap years before going to college, during which he became a mediator, broke into the film industry, became a real estate broker, started and sold a business (Right Hand Media), and then entered the tech industry. Riley is currently the Chief of Staff at Learn, the first-ever edtech Venture capital firm that has been an early investor in notable edtech companies, such as Coursera, Udemy, and many more.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not constitute financial advice. Always consult a licensed professional for financial decisions.This episode is sponsored by a podcast show partner. We may receive compensation if you use links or services mentioned in this episode.The hosts may have a financial interest in the programs or services mentioned in this episode.Connect with Riley Simpson:-Website - https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/gapyearBook Your Free Passive Income Game Plan Session:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/freecallWant to raise millionaire kids? Watch how Sharran Srivatsaa — former Goldman Sachs banker turned entrepreneur and investor — is building a generational wealth system with his kids, step-by-step. https://go.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/millionaire-kidsMaster Passive Income Podcast:-https://masterpassiveincome.com/podcastTurn Active Income Into Passive Income:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/piosWealth Without Wall Street New Book:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/newbookJoin Our Next Inner Circle Live Event:-https://www.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/live-Promo Code: PODCASTIBC Webinar:-

In the latest episode of The Cusp, host Paul Fain talks with Greg Hart, the president and CEO of Coursera, which is one of the world's largest online learning platforms. Hart previously was the longtime technical advisor to Jeff Bezos, among other high-level roles at Amazon. He talks about Coursera's global perspective on the demand for AI-related skills, and how the technology is reshaping jobs.Subscribe to The Cusp wherever you get your podcasts. And check out Work Shift and The Job newsletter for agenda-free, in-depth reporting on connections between education and work.

In this episode of Leaders & Learners, we sit down with Jara Montez, a tech education strategist and program manager whose work at companies like Webflow, Coursera, and Salesforce is shaping the future of learning. Jara shares how she designs digital learning experiences that not only educate but open doors to economic mobility. From curriculum design to community-driven growth, she's on a mission to connect education with real-world opportunity. If you're curious about the future of learning, workforce development, or the intersection of tech and education, this one's for you.Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyamckenziepr/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyamckenziespeaks/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyamckenzie/

Ryan Carpenter and Nandita Balakrishnan of the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonpartisan nonprofit working to advance U.S. national competitiveness in the age of artificial intelligence, join us on this episode of ClearedCast.Ryan and Nandita share how SCSP is shaping the future through two powerful initiatives: the AI + Expo, a three-day event in Washington, D.C., bringing together government, industry, and academia to collaborate on AI's impact across sectors—and a brand-new, free Coursera course titled AI and National Security, built to educate and empower mid-career national security professionals.They discuss how national security now intersects with economic and technological domains, why adaptability is essential, and how SCSP creates accessible pathways for students, mid-career professionals, and policy leaders to reskill, upskill, and lead.Whether you're a policymaker, student, or professional in a skiff wondering where to begin—this episode has something for you.

Today's digital landscape isn't just shaped by code—it's shaped by how deeply companies listen. Whether in retail, software, or AI, brands that center their design around real user behavior are pulling ahead. Intuit's “Follow Me Home” approach exemplifies this mindset, encouraging teams to observe customers in their daily environments to uncover real needs. This commitment to customer-centric innovation continues to influence how digital products are designed, tested, and trusted.So how do personal passions like music, books, or frustration with bad service help create better digital experiences?On this episode of DisruptED, host Ron J Stefanski welcomes back Scott Wilder, Global Head of Digital Self-Serve at LastPass and longtime friend from their Borders Books and Music days. Together, they reflect on how early exposure to physical retail and analog media helped inform Scott's approach to customer-centric innovation, particularly in building digital self-service solutions rooted in empathy, simplicity, and trust.Key Highlights:Fixing the Fractured Self-Serve Experience – Scott breaks down how disjointed help centers, support portals, and learning sites confuse users and weaken trust. He shares his approach to designing seamless, customer-first digital journeys.Bringing the Customer into the Room – Drawing on his time at Intuit, Scott explains how physically involving customers in product discussions—through calls, visits, or even team meetings—creates more meaningful innovation than spreadsheets ever could.Building Trust in an AI-Driven World – As AI tools become more central to support and learning, Scott argues that trust, clarity, and human touchpoints will define which experiences succeed and which fail.This is a special treat to have Scott Wilder from Last Pass on the DisruptED podcast. Ron and Scott worked together for 5 years at Borders Books and Music. As they acknowledge on these shows, they learned an awful lot about the kind of intellectual curiosity that fuels innovation.Scott is a recognized thought leader in advancing technology after leading a number of highly innovative tech initiatives as a key executive at Intuit, Google, Hubspot, Udacity, Coursera and Adobe. His passion for technology is fueled by intense curiosity about how to make things work better.

Technology disruption continues to reshape how we work, learn, and connect. From bookstores to browsers, the leap from physical to digital has transformed not only industries, but expectations. According to McKinsey & Company, generative AI alone could add up to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy, making it vital to understand how curiosity, learning, and innovation fuel this transformation.So what can we learn about today's digital evolution by revisiting the early internet days, especially from someone who built online experiences before “online” was mainstream?On this episode of DisruptED, host Ron J Stefanski reconnects with longtime friend and fellow Borders alum Scott Wilder, now the Global Head of Digital Self-Serve at LastPass. Together, they explore how bookstores, browsers, and bold ideas shaped some of today's most essential tech innovations. Their conversation tracks the early signals of technology disruption, from pioneering web platforms to building scalable, AI-enhanced learning and customer experiences.In this episode, Ron and Scott discuss:Borders as a Digital Pioneer – Borders wasn't just about books. Scott recalls how the company experimented with online media, store-level websites, and event integration—laying the groundwork for modern e-commerce personalization.Early Internet Innovation – From launching web support at Silicon Graphics to building web ad infrastructure at AOL, Scott helped define digital customer engagement before it became standard practice.Curiosity as a Catalyst – Whether in edtech or AI, Scott emphasizes how intellectual curiosity drives innovation, fuels collaboration, and helps overcome fear of new technologies.This is a special treat to have Scott Wilder from Last Pass on the DisruptED podcast. Ron and Scott worked together for 5 years at Borders Books and Music. As they acknowledge on these shows, they learned an awful lot about the kind of intellectual curiosity that fuels innovation.Scott is a recognized thought leader in advancing technology after leading a number of highly innovative tech initiatives as a key executive at Intuit, Google, Hubspot, Udacity, Coursera and Adobe. His passion for technology is fueled by intense curiosity about how to make things work better.

"In this episode of the Aaron Werner Podcast on iCode Media, Aaron sits down with the dynamic and multifaceted Mikki Collins—a former surgical tech turned optical fashionista, ABO speaker, and industry insider. From the OR to the runway, Mikki shares her unique journey and dives into the evolving intersection of optical retail, fashion, patient experience, and practice growth. What You'll Learn:  • Mikki's journey from ophthalmology surgical tech to optical fashion leader  • Why opticians should know the story behind the frame—and how to tell it  • What bespoke acetate is and why it matters in premium eyewear (yes, even Kate Spade!)  • The real role of frame reps—and how to partner better with them  • How AI tools like ChatGPT can help forecast trends and understand local demographics  • Using social media trends and retail experiences (TJ Maxx vs. Gucci!) to design your optical  • How to elevate your team's communication, styling, and selling confidence  • Why “practice, not roleplay” can transform staff training  • Tips for masterclass binge-watching that actually helps your clinic  • Why it's okay to say “we're not for everyone”—and how to lean into your brand identity Resources & Shoutouts:  • Optical Women's Association (OWA)   • MasterClass picks: Salman Rushdie, Jocko Willink, Daniel Pink  • To Sell Is Human by Daniel Pink  • Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink  • Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller  • Vision Source (https://visionsource.com) FrameDream Program  • HubSpot Academy (https://academy.hubspot.com/) – Free sales & marketing courses  • Coursera (https://www.coursera.org) – Retail & psychology courses Whether you're an OD, optician, or part of the optical care team, this episode is packed with practical tips and inspiring insights on how to build a smarter, more stylish, and more strategic optical. Contact Mikki Collins: Mikki.Collins@safilo.com" ________________________ questions@eyecode-education.com Go to MacuHealth.com and use the coupon code PODCAST2024 at checkout for special discounts Let's Connect! Follow and join the conversation! Instagram: @aaron_werner_vision

In this episode, we sit down with Charlotte Evans, the Director of Global Customer Advocacy at Coursera for Business. Charlotte brings a wealth of expertise in the realm of talent development, focusing on how organizations can drive transformation through upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Together, they explore;The burgeoning trend of skills-based learningThe pivotal role of AI as both a disruptor and an enabler in the workplace. Charlotte's insights on the top skills in demand, derived from data on 5 million Coursera learners.How organizations like yours can align learning strategies with business outcomes. Dive into this episode to uncover the latest trends in AI, talent mobility, and more, as you gear up to stay ahead in the fast-evolving world of talent development.As Director, Global Customer Advocacy, Coursera for Business, Charlotte Evans collaborates with leading organizations to drive workforce transformation through upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Her focus is advising companies across industries on unlocking their potential by aligning learning strategies with measurable business outcomes. She is passionate about highlighting customer achievements to inspire action, build trust, and foster long-term partnerships.Her career began in student services in Asia, and her commitment to global education access was cemented while at Harvard Graduate School of Education where she received an Ed.M. in International Education Policy. Since joining Coursera in 2019, she has been proud to create meaningful opportunities for individuals to find opportunity and thrive in a rapidly evolving world.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Charlotte Evans here:LinkedInJob Skills Report 2025 / CourseraThis episode is sponsored by Learnit, the #1 place for live facilitated programs to elevate individual and organizational growth. Learn more. Mentioned in this episode:Learnit prerollVisit learnit.com/andy to start your free 45-day trial of their Team Pass which includes unlimited classes for up to 20 people. It's a no brainer!

Today, we are diving into an intriguing topic that is at the forefront of many minds in the talent development sphere: AI transformation in the workplace. Our episode features a keynote session by Charlotte Evans from Coursera, who serves as the Director of Global Customer Advocacy, specializing in workforce transformation through upskilling and reskilling.In this episode, originally recorded at the Talent Development Think Tank Conference back in November, Charlotte takes us through;A rapidly evolving landscape where AI is not just a buzzword, but a critical tool for future workforce readinessThe unprecedented speed at which AI tools like ChatGPT have reached global adoption Her insights on how talent development professionals can harness AI for productivity gains.The challenges of integrating AI smoothly into business models, emphasizing the importance of aligning L&D strategies with measurable outcomes, as well as maintaining a growth mindset in the face of rapid technological advancements.Join us as we explore these topics and prepare to elevate your understanding of AI's role in talent development. Whether you are part of L&D, HR, or another area keen on leveraging AI, this episode is packed with valuable insights that will help you navigate the AI transformation journey. Stay tuned for our full interview with Charlotte next week, where we will delve deeper into current skills trends and what they mean for the future of learning. Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Charlotte Evans here:LinkedInCoursera 2025 Job Skills ReportThanks to our sponsor, Learnit, you can get a free 45-day trial to help your people build more skills that drive success Learn more. Mentioned in this episode:Learnit prerollVisit learnit.com/andy to start your free 45-day trial of their Team Pass which includes unlimited classes for up to 20 people. It's a no brainer!

Art school isn't the typical starting point for a tech industry leader, but for Jessica Neal, former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, it was the first step in an extraordinary career. In this episode, Jessica shares how she transitioned from an aspiring artist to headhunter to leading Netflix's talent strategy during its explosive growth. Jessica emphasizes the critical importance of providing clear direction and context when it comes to leadership. “If you don't give the right context and your team isn't doing well, guess whose fault it is? Yours.” Jessica doesn't sugar coat the reality of what it takes to lead well and effectively today. Empower your teams? What does empower mean? How about let people do their work and get rid of bureaucracy? Jessica provides a masterclass in adaptability and strategic thinking. She reveals how Netflix's unique culture of “freedom and responsibility” shaped its success and how she implemented the “context, not control” philosophy to empower teams. As a current venture partner at TCV, board member for cutting-edge companies, and co-host of the TruthWorks podcast, Jessica offers invaluable insights on: Identifying and nurturing top talent in high-growth environments Creating a culture of clarity and context to drive business success Evolving HR practices to meet the demands of modern, global workforces Navigating the complexities of DEI initiatives in today's political climate The future of work and how leaders can prepare for ongoing changes Guest Resources: TCV TruthWorks Podcast LinkedIn Instagram About Jessica: Jessica Neal is a seasoned talent and human resources executive who has made significant contributions to some of the most innovative companies in the tech industry. Currently serving as a Venture Partner at TCV (Technology Crossover Ventures), a leading growth equity firm, Jessica brings her extensive experience in talent management and organizational culture to help scale high-growth companies. Jessica's career journey is as unconventional as it is impressive. She began her professional life as an artist, earning a BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her talent for identifying and nurturing top- tier talent in the tech industry. Jessica is perhaps best known for her transformative work at Netflix, where she spent over 11 years across two tenures. As Chief Talent Officer (CHRO), she played a pivotal role in shaping Netflix's renowned culture during its explosive growth from a DVD-by-mail service to the world's leading streaming entertainment company. Under her leadership, Netflix's workforce expanded from 250 to over 10,000 employees globally. Between her stints at Netflix, Jessica held key leadership positions at other innovative companies. She served as Chief People Officer at Scopely, a mobile gaming company, and as Vice President of Talent at Coursera, an online education platform. These experiences further honed her skills in building and scaling teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments. Today, Jessica leverages her expertise as a board member for several companies, including JFrog, a DevOps platform, and Public.com, a social investing platform. Her board service allows her to share her insights on talent strategy, organizational culture, and scaling operations with the next generation of tech leaders. Jessica is also passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences with a broader audience. She co-hosts the “TruthWorks” podcast with Patty McCord, where they explore pressing issues affecting the modern workplace, from AI and mental health to layoffs and toxic cultures. Known for her candid approach and deep understanding of what makes great companies tick, Jessica Neal continues to be a influential voice in reshaping how we think about work, talent, and organizational culture in the 21st century. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, recorded LIVE from the InsightsEDU 2025 Conference in New OrleansYOUR guest is Fritz Vandover, Distributed Learning Program Analyst, University of MinnesotaYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow is the University of Minnesota supporting online & hybrid program development?What role does Coursera play in the university's non-credit offerings?How are they helping students with "some credit, no credential" return to finish degrees?What impact does flexible program support have on enrollment growth?How are micro-credentials & alternative pathways being incorporated?Topics include:Online Program Support Services (OPSS)Coursera partnership & specializationsCredit for prior learning policiesRe-enrollment pilot for returning studentsSupporting program development across multiple campusesListen in to #EdUpDo YOU want to accelerate YOUR professional development?Do YOU want to get exclusive early access to ad-free episodes, extended episodes, bonus episodes, original content, invites to special events, & more?Then ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BECOME AN #EdUp PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TODAY⁠⁠ - $19.99/month or $199.99/year (Save 17%)!Want YOUR org to cover costs? Email: EdUp@edupexperience.comThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The EdUp Experience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!We make education YOUR business! 

In this episode you will hear:   Mark discusses new changes to the Common App, and then he gives he describes Forbes College Financial Grades, a tool you cn use to know which colleges are stable financially and which colleges are struggling financially? Mark interviews Kathleen deLaski, Founder of the Education Design Lab Preview of Part 4 ²  Kathleen and I discuss the correlation between parent involvement and high achievement ²  Kathleen tells our listeners what the Year Up program is ²  Kathleen tells us what a skills genome is ²  Kathleen tells us what the badging movement is ²  Kathleen talks about what she calls the edu-training ecosystem ²  Kathleen says colleges need to be re-imagined and she explains what she calls, “the great college reset” ²  Kathleen talks about students are strategically using Coursera to hack their way to a good job   Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

SPECIAL GUEST! Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab, gives us her sought-after advice for finding more joy in our lives. Parents will love her fresh take and practical insights for “finding the good” even in the most challenging parenting moments. Then in our Parenting Story of the Day, you will hear from a mom of two who was searching for happiness – until she realized it was right in front of her.  Special thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this episode! www.walmart.com  Dr. Laurie Santos / FB / IG / X / YT Dr. Santos is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Her course, Psychology and the Good Life, became Yale's most popular course in its over 300 year history, and the online version – The Science of Well-Being on Coursera.org – has attracted more than 4 million learners. A winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching, Dr. Santos was recently voted as one of Popular Science Magazine's “Brilliant 10” young minds and Time Magazine named her a “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, is a top-3 Apple podcast with over 100 million downloads since its launch. Heather Osterman-Davis / FB / IG / X / LI   A mother of two and writer, Heather's work has appeared in various publications including, The New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Slate, Parents, Literary Mama, Brain Child, Filter Free Parents, and more. She is the author of an award winning short film titled Tell-By Date and winner of Austin Film Festival's Best Comedy TV Pilot for 2024.   StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast is created by Munchkin Inc., the most loved baby lifestyle brand in the world.  You can find all your favorite Munchkin products at https://www.munchkin.com. Use the code STROLLERCOASTER15 for 15% off regular-price items! (expires 4/13/25)  Follow Munchkin on Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / TikTok Trees for the Future https://trees.org/

SPECIAL GUEST! Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab, gives us her sought-after advice for finding more joy in our lives. Parents will love her fresh take and practical insights for “finding the good” even in the most challenging parenting moments. Then in our Parenting Story of the Day, you will hear from a mom of two who was searching for happiness – until she realized it was right in front of her.  Special thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this episode! www.walmart.com  Dr. Laurie Santos / FB / IG / X / YT Dr. Santos is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Her course, Psychology and the Good Life, became Yale's most popular course in its over 300 year history, and the online version – The Science of Well-Being on Coursera.org – has attracted more than 4 million learners. A winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching, Dr. Santos was recently voted as one of Popular Science Magazine's “Brilliant 10” young minds and Time Magazine named her a “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, is a top-3 Apple podcast with over 100 million downloads since its launch. Heather Osterman-Davis / FB / IG / X / LI   A mother of two and writer, Heather's work has appeared in various publications including, The New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Slate, Parents, Literary Mama, Brain Child, Filter Free Parents, and more. She is the author of an award winning short film titled Tell-By Date and winner of Austin Film Festival's Best Comedy TV Pilot for 2024.   StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast is created by Munchkin Inc., the most loved baby lifestyle brand in the world.  You can find all your favorite Munchkin products at https://www.munchkin.com. Use the code STROLLERCOASTER15 for 15% off regular-price items! (expires 4/13/25) Follow Munchkin on Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / TikTok Trees for the Future 

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.     This week I'm giving another listen to a conversation I shared with Professor Christian Terwiesch and I'm eager to share it with you! Christian is a Professor in Wharton's Operations and Information Management department, co-director of Penn's Mack Institute for Innovation Management, and also holds a faculty appointment at Penn's Perelman School of Medicine. He is the co-author of Matching Supply with Demand, a widely used textbook in Operations Management. He launched the first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in business on Coursera based on the book and since its inception, more than half a million students have enrolled. His first management book, Innovation Tournaments, details a new process-based approach to innovation and has inspired innovation tournaments around the world. His latest book, Connected Strategies, combines his expertise in the fields of operations, innovation, and strategy to help companies take advantage of digital technology leading to new business models. In addition to his teaching and his research, Professor Terwiesch is the host of “Work of Tomorrow,” a national radio show on Sirius XM 132.     THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone wanting to become more innovative or bring a culture of innovation to their organization, as well as those wanting to get a pulse on new business models shaping how organizations interact with customers today.    TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… we have to find different ways of delighting our customers. How do we do that? Through innovation and continuous connection. Professor Terwiesch maintains that innovation is a cultural process that can be managed. That is the power of the Innovation Tournament, it leaves room for that magic spark to fly while giving it direction and structure. Beyond Innovation Tournaments, it's about becoming continuously connected. This connection enables new ways of delighting the customer and also allows organizations to provide more value to the customer, potentially at a lower cost. The purpose of a connected strategy and a continuous relationship is not only to get data but also to do a better job for the customer.    WHAT  I  LOVE  MOST… I love that Christian has identified these new business models that are fundamentally changing the way organizations interact with their customers.     Running Time: 30:47    Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X    Find Christian Online: LinkedIn  Connected-Strategy Website Work of Tomorrow Podcast    Christian's Book:  Connected Strategy Book 

In this podcast episode, we talked with Alexander Guschin about launching a career off Kaggle.About the Speaker: Alexander Guschin is a Machine Learning Engineer with 10+ years of experience, a Kaggle Grandmaster ranked 5th globally, and a teacher to 100K+ students. He leads DS and SE teams and contributes to open-source ML tools.00:00 Starting with Machine Learning: Challenges and Early Steps 13:05 Community and Learning Through Kaggle Sessions 17:10 Broadening Skills Through Kaggle Participation 18:54 Early Competitions and Lessons Learned 21:10 Transitioning to Simpler Solutions Over Time 23:51 Benefits of Kaggle for Starting a Career in Machine Learning 29:08 Teamwork vs. Solo Participation in Competitions 31:14 Schoolchildren in AI Competitions42:33 Transition to Industry and MLOps50:13 Encouraging teamwork in student projects50:48 Designing competitive machine learning tasks52:22 Leaderboard types for tracking performance53:44 Managing small-scale university classes54:17 Experience with Coursera and online teaching59:40 Convincing managers about Kaggle's value61:38 Secrets of Kaggle competition success63:11 Generative AI's impact on competitive ML65:13 Evolution of automated ML solutions66:22 Reflecting on competitive data science experience

In this episode of the Work in Progress podcast, we're talking about AI skills – there are more than you might think – and about the other must-have skills that employers are looking for today. I'm joined in conversation by Marni Baker Stein, chief content officer for Coursera, one of the largest online learning platform in the world. Through partnerships with more than 350 leading universities and companies – Google, IBM, Yale, and Duke, to name a few – Coursera has helped more than 168 million people learners build new skills. Stein says the rapid implementation of Chat-GPT and other AI products is having a "cascading effect across all sectors, all job roles, and all skills across disciplines. The Future of Jobs report [from the World Economic Forum] found that 50% of employers plan to reorient their business in response to AI. "And 85% of those employers say they plan to upskill their workforce in response to these skills gaps," says Stein. She adds that a large number of those employers are saying that they prefer job applicants that have verified AI skills. Coursera's own analysis of the fastest-growing skills for 2025 confirms that demand. "There is no doubt about it that if you don't already have AI skills, you absolutely need to develop them. (Additionally), you absolutely need to develop them very specifically for the job that you're in and the job tasks that you're doing," she emphatically points out. In the podcast, we go into depth about what those skills actually look like – what you need to learn how to do. We also discuss the top non-tech skills all employers want. Of course, we talk about how jobseekers and workers can get those skills. You can listen to the entire conversation here, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find our podcasts on the Work in Progress YouTube channel. Episode 351: Marni Baker Stein, chief content officer, CourseraHost & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNationProducer: Larry BuhlTheme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode hereWork in Progress Podcast: Catch up on previous episodes here

In this episode of the Work in Progress podcast, we're talking about AI skills – there are more than you might think – and about the other must-have skills that employers are looking for today. I'm joined in conversation by Marni Baker Stein, chief content officer for Coursera, one of the largest online learning platform in the world. Through partnerships with more than 350 leading universities and companies – Google, IBM, Yale, and Duke, to name a few – Coursera has helped more than 168 million people learners build new skills. Stein says the rapid implementation of Chat-GPT and other AI products is having a "cascading effect across all sectors, all job roles, and all skills across disciplines. The Future of Jobs report [from the World Economic Forum] found that 50% of employers plan to reorient their business in response to AI. "And 85% of those employers say they plan to upskill their workforce in response to these skills gaps," says Stein. She adds that a large number of those employers are saying that they prefer job applicants that have verified AI skills. Coursera's own analysis of the fastest-growing skills for 2025 confirms that demand. "There is no doubt about it that if you don't already have AI skills, you absolutely need to develop them. (Additionally), you absolutely need to develop them very specifically for the job that you're in and the job tasks that you're doing," she emphatically points out. In the podcast, we go into depth about what those skills actually look like – what you need to learn how to do. We also discuss the top non-tech skills all employers want. Of course, we talk about how jobseekers and workers can get those skills. You can listen to the entire conversation here, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find our podcasts on the Work in Progress YouTube channel. Episode 351: Marni Baker Stein, chief content officer, CourseraHost & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNationProducer: Larry BuhlTheme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode hereWork in Progress Podcast: Catch up on previous episodes here

It had to happen eventually: this week The Studies Show is all about philosophy. As we look at science in general, how do we decide what those studies are actually showing? Tom and Stuart take a look at the Big Two of philosophy of science: Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn, with their respective theories of falsificationism and paradigm shifts. Both are theories that almost everyone interested in science has heard of—but both make far more extreme claims than you might think.The Studies Show is sponsored by Works in Progress magazine, the best place to go online for fact-rich, data-dense articles on science and technology, and how they've made the world a better place—or how they might do so in the future. To find all their essays, all for free, go to worksinprogress.co.Show notes* Tom's new book, Everything is Predictable: How Bayes' Remarkable Theorem Explains the World* Wagenmakers's 2020 study asking scientists how they think about scientific claims* David Hume's 1748 Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding* Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on the problem of induction * Bertrand Russell's 1946 book History of Western Philosophy* Popper's 1959 book The Logic of Scientific Discovery* Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Popper* Kuhn's 1962 book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions* Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Kuhn* 2019 Scott Alexander review of the book* Michael Strevens's 2020 book The Knowledge Machine* Daniel Lakens's Coursera course on “improving your statistical inferences”CreditsThe Studies Show is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thestudiesshowpod.com/subscribe

In this episode of Web3 with Sam Kamani, I speak with Pauline Cohen, the visionary behind the Polkadot Blockchain Academy (PBA). With a career spanning giants like Coursera, Pauline brings her expertise in education to Web3, addressing the massive gap in blockchain talent. We dive deep into:✅ How PBA is creating world-class blockchain developers for Polkadot and beyond.✅ The challenges of online education and strategies to boost completion rates.✅ Why more women aren't entering Web3 development—and how to change that.✅ AI's role in personalized learning and the future of blockchain education.✅ The next big steps for Web3 education and PBA's vision for inclusivity and accessibility. Whether you're a developer, a lifelong learner, or simply curious about Web3 education, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the future of blockchain learning. Key Timestamps [00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces Pauline Cohen and the Polkadot Blockchain Academy. [00:01:00] The Origins of PBA: Why and how Polkadot Blockchain Academy was created. The need for high-quality blockchain education. [00:04:00] Lessons from Web2 Education: Pauline's experience at Coursera and how it shaped PBA. The importance of combining academic rigor with scalable solutions. [00:07:00] Addressing Completion Rates: Why online courses often struggle with low engagement. PBA's approach to fostering community and peer learning. [00:11:00] Challenges in Web3 Education: How to make blockchain more accessible for non-technical learners. Bridging the gender gap in Web3 development. [00:18:00] AI's Role in Education: How personalized AI tutors could revolutionize learning. Why human interaction remains key to effective education. [00:24:00] PBA's Future Vision: Expanding blockchain education across industries. Building learning pathways for diverse audiences, from developers to marketers. [00:30:00] Call to Action: Opportunities to join PBA online or in person. Collaborating with universities and communities to bring blockchain education worldwide. Connect https://polkadot.academy/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/polkadot-blockchain-academy/ https://x.com/academypolkadot https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauline-cohen-vorms-41710310/ https://x.com/PaulineVorms Disclaimer Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

In this season premiere of The Data Chief podcast, your host Cindi Howson sits down with three industry visionaries to explore the trends, predictions, and must-take actions for data leaders in 2025. Get ready for a deep dive into: The generative AI revolution with Matt Turck, Partner at FirstMark CapitalThe future of data science and genAI with Steve Nouri, Founder of GenAI Works and AI for DiversityData Engineering in the Age of AI with Joe Reis, author of "Fundamentals of Data Engineering" and the upcoming "Mixed Model Arts."Plus: Hear their fun predictions for everything from sports to space travel!Key Moments:The generative AI revolution: Matt Turck, Partner at FirstMark Capital shares his insights on the evolving AI landscape, the rise of unstructured data, and why now is the time for enterprises to embrace AI. (1:40) The Future of Data Science: Steve Nouri, Founder of GenAI Works (an 8-million-strong community!) and AI for Diversity, discusses the impact of GenAI on data science roles, the ethical considerations of AI, and exciting trends like embodied AI and agentic AI. (29:36) Data Engineering in the Age of AI: Joe Reis, author of "Fundamentals of Data Engineering" and the upcoming "Mixed Model Arts," provides his expert perspective on the importance of data modeling, the need for upskilling in data teams, and the potential for a universal semantic layer. (1:00:00) Key Quotes:“I would predict that there's going to be a number of big acquisitions in our general space in 2025. This whole tension between the public markets doing very well, especially in tech, but the private markets still recovering - I think lends itself well to a wave of consolidation.”  - Matt Turck“Anything that requires democratization, I'm a big fan of. And certainly, the ability to query natural language databases and all things, making that available to everyone is a very powerful idea. You guys at ThoughtSpot know this better than anyone.” - Matt Turck“We are seeing people doing less coding, more relying on their co-pilots. It's going to evolve to become more and more robust. So we will be relying more on AI to do the coding.” - Steve Nouri“Well, that's what, you know, the tagline is, AI will do everything for you. It'll even do your laundry, the jobs that we don't like. And so you're actually saying you see a future where that actually is not too far off.” - Steve Nouri“I think that there's definitely a FOMO and a bit of a prisoner's dilemma problem with adopting AI in the organization because they're getting a lot of pressure from the top down, especially to do AI. Understanding what that means to your organization should be table stakes.” - Joe Reis“Learning never stops, investment never stops. And the best investment you can make is always improving yourself, no matter what that looks like.” Joe ReisMentions:FirstMark MAD Landscape 2024The MAD Podcast with Matt TurckAI4DiversityGenAI.WorksFundamentals of Data EngineeringJoe Reis Substack Guest Bios:Matt Turck is a Partner at FirstMark, where he focuses primarily on early-stage enterprise investing in the US and Europe. Matt is particularly active in the data, machine learning and AI space. For the last 10+ years, he has been organizing Data Driven NYC, the largest data/AI community in the US, and publishing the MAD Landscape, an annual analysis of the data/AI industry. He also hosts the weekly MAD (ML, AI, Data) Podcast. He can be followed on X/Twitter at @mattturck.Steve Nouri is the CEO and Co-founder of GenAI Works, the largest AI community. He is a renowned AI leader and Australia's ICT Professional of the Year, has revolutionized AI perspectives while championing Responsible and inclusive AI, founding a global non-profit initiative.Joe Reis, a "recovering data scientist" with 20 years in the data industry, is the co-author of the best-selling O'Reilly book, "Fundamentals of Data Engineering." He's also the instructor for the wildly popular Data Engineering Professional Certificate on Coursera, in partnership with DeepLearning.ai and AWS.Joe's extensive experience encompasses data engineering, data architecture, machine learning, and more. He regularly keynotes major data conferences globally, advises and invests in innovative data product companies, writes at Practical Data Modeling and his personal blog, and hosts the popular data podcasts "The Monday Morning Data Chat" and "The Joe Reis Show." In his free time, Joe is dedicated to writing new books and articles, and thinking of ways to advance the data industry. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.