An Educated Guest

The AI Agent Revolution: Mark Naufel on Why the $1.8T Higher Ed System Must Change Now Mark Naufel is not just talking about the future of education; he’s building it. As the Founder of Axio Education and the President of the University of Silicon Valley, Mark has a unique, radical view of how Agentic AI is finally forcing higher education to innovate. In this explosive conversation, Mark details...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Karin Athanas , Executive Director of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) . Karin shares her strategic vision for the organization, focusing on how FCS professionals are uniquely positioned to empower individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. We dive deep into AAFCS's crucial advocacy efforts...

In this insightful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Katie Boody Adorno , Founder and CEO of LEANLAB Education. Katie shares her journey from the front lines of a middle school classroom to becoming a national voice for community-led innovation. She explains the genesis of LEANLAB, which was born from the frustrating realization that conventional reform efforts were fai...

In this exclusive episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with John Baker , the visionary Founder and CEO of D2L . John shares the remarkable 25-year journey of D2L, tracing its evolution from a student startup into a publicly traded global learning platform. The conversation explores the massive industry shift from simply managing content to building a "true perpetual learni...

In this deeply personal and timely episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Shaka Mitchell , Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children. Shaka shares his compelling journey from the classroom and the courtroom into the heart of the school choice movement. He explains why his advocacy is driven by his core belief that education is the "surest way to access Whate...

In this powerful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Michael Moe , Founder and CEO of GSV Ventures, to discuss the seismic shifts occurring across the entire learning ecosystem. Michael, who was a key figure in analyzing the first online education boom, shares his perspective on the current state of education, which he describes as a mix of "chaos and dynamic opportu...

In this fascinating episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Matthew Pittinsky , a true pioneer in education technology. Matt, the co-founder of Blackboard and former CEO of Parchment, shares his incredible journey from the dawn of the internet to the age of AI. He takes us back to 1997 to reveal the core problem he and his co-founder, Michael Chasen, were trying to solve with...

In this illuminating episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Sari Factor , the Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer of Imagine Learning, to discuss the monumental shifts occurring in K-12 education. With a career spanning several decades, Sari shares the powerful journey of Imagine Learning, from its early days as a credit recovery provider to its current position as a leade...

In this powerful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Carl Madi , the founder and CEO of Stepful. Carl shares his journey from Uber and Handy, where he developed a passion for creating career mobility for workers, to building a company that is radically transforming how the healthcare workforce is trained. He explains how Stepful's innovative model addresses chronic s...

In this eye-opening episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Matt Sigelman , CEO of the Burning Glass Institute, to decode the seismic shifts occurring in the labor market. Matt shares data-driven insights from his groundbreaking research, including the "experience paradox," which reveals why so many entry-level jobs now demand prior experience, and what that means f...

In this engaging episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Raoul-Gabriel Urma , the founder and CEO of Cambridge Spark. Raoul shares his unique journey from a self-taught coder to leading a company at the forefront of the AI education revolution. The conversation explores how Cambridge Spark is helping individuals and organizations prosper in the age of AI by equipping them wit...

In this deeply inspiring episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Erika Halstead , CEO of Minds Matter National, an organization close to Todd's heart. Erika shares her personal journey from starting her career as a bilingual teacher to leading Minds Matter, an organization that started in 1991 with no full-time employees and has grown to serve 1,100 high-achieving, low-i...

In this insightful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper welcomes Andy Rosen , CEO of Kaplan, for a deep dive into the evolution of one of the world's most enduring education companies. Andy shares his personal journey at Kaplan, reflecting on over 30 years of continuous reinvention that transformed a test prep company into a global powerhouse in higher education, professional traini...

In this provocative and incredibly insightful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with John Katzman , a serial entrepreneur and one of the most influential figures in education, known for founding The Princeton Review and Noodle. John offers a no-holds-barred perspective on the seismic shifts needed across the entire education landscape. The conversation delves into the evolut...

In this illuminating episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Joe Ross , CEO of Reach University, a pioneering non-profit college. Joe shares his compelling personal journey to education leadership and unpacks Reach University's groundbreaking model, which literally "turns jobs into degrees" to address critical talent shortages, particularly in teaching. He expl...

In this highly anticipated return episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper welcomes back Paul LeBlanc , former President of SNHU and current Chairman of the new AI education startup, Matter and Space. This captivating conversation dives deep into how Artificial Intelligence is not just a buzzword, but a transformative force fundamentally reshaping education. Paul explains how AI is being lev...

In this captivating episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Dr. Robert Rohm, a renowned expert in human behavior and the DISC model, for a deep dive into understanding ourselves and others. Dr. Rohm shares the fascinating personal story that ignited his lifelong dedication to personality insights, and then unpacks the foundational principles of DISC – revealing how this power...

In this premiere episode of An Educated Guest Season 3, host Todd Zipper sits down with Brandon Busteed, CEO of BrandEd, for a compelling conversation about the seismic shifts occurring at the intersection of education and workforce development. This episode explores why employer brands are increasingly stepping into the role of educators, redefining how talent is developed and valued in a rapidly...

How do you build skills and cause proven, sustained wage gains for young adults in the US? Just ask Gerald Chertavian, founder and CEO of the youth workforce development non-profit, Year Up. Tune into this episode of An Educated Guest and join Gerald and host Todd Zipper, Executive Vice President and GM at Wiley, to learn how Year Up is closing the Opportunity Divide, returning $2.46 to society fo...

What does it mean to be an equity-serving institution? And how can universities actually serve learners for life? Michelle Marks, Chancellor of the University of Colorado, Denver (CU Denver), sheds light on these topics in the quest to redefine the public, urban research institution. On this episode of An Educated Guest, hosted by Todd Zipper, EVP and GM at Wiley, Todd and Michelle explore CU Denv...

To value student centricity is easy. But to prove these values are actualized in student outcomes bears asking, “How do we really know we do what we say we do?” This is one among many spirited insights from guest Dr. Gregory Fowler, President of the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), in this episode of An Educated Guest. Dr. Fowler and host Todd Zipper, Executive Vice President and GM at...

Power skills. Capability academies. Learning in the flow of work. Cutting-edge concepts will redefine how higher ed and corporations innovate learning. And one HR guru is leading the charge: Josh Bersin.    In this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper, Executive Vice President and GM at Wiley, welcomes Josh Bersin, founder and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company. Todd and Josh explore new frontier...

Greg Shove made it his mission to provide learners with the value of an elite business degree at a fraction of the cost. But how did this big idea become a reality? In this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper, EVP and GM of Wiley University Services and Talent Development, welcomes Greg Shove, CEO of Section4. They discuss how Greg and founder, Scott Galloway, are making elite business educa...

How can higher ed ensure everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life? That’s precisely the question The Gates Foundation seeks to answer through its US Program in Postsecondary Success. In this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper, EVP and GM of Wiley University Services and Talent Development, welcomes Patrick Methvin, Director of Postsecondary Success at The Gates Fou...

“The next step is not your last.” That’s why Amazon is focused on creating new paths to career success with the Career Choice program. In this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper, EVP and GM of Wiley University Services and Talent Development, welcomes Tammy Thieman, Global Program Director of Amazon Career Choice. Todd and Tammy explore how Amazon is providing a workplace where employees ca...