The LearningMate Podcast

• Ep 15 - Harnessing AI for Early Childhood Development with Lirvana Labs

  Meet Our GuestChristie Pang, Co-Founder and Co-CEO | Lirvana LabsChristie is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Lirvana Labs, a leading AI company focused on developing safe, effective learning tools powered by the latest advancements in Large and Specific Language Models out of Silicon Valley. Since the founding of the company in 2022, her work has been deeply rooted and guided by cognitive development research, efficacy, and inclusion in AI adoption, in partnership with UN advisors, Harvard and Stanford researchers. The Lirvana Labs team of experts, under the leadership of Christie and her co-founder Clement (with 27 patents under his belt in ML and successful exits >400m), consists of data scientists from Google and Apple, product designers from Amazon, Disney board members, Stanford Senior Research Directors, and advisors from AERDF and Character Foundation.Christie was named Women of Impact by Kapor Capital, and also a Leading Woman in AI in Education by Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley (ASU+GSV). Having delivered AI-powered learning to over 20,000 children globally in less than one year of launch, in partnership with schools across 3 continents, Christie cares deeply about how to empower teachers and parents to raise thoughtful, creative, and critical thinkers with these tools. She also cares deeply about making teaching fun and effective again for teachers who are suffering from burn-out despite what EdTech may have promised up to this point in time.Christie regularly speaks worldwide on AI literacy for teachers, and on the AI industry's best practices on privacy and well-being of children, and has been championing for equal access by working in partnership with NGOs serving displaced refugee children, needs-based schools, and has propelled Lirvana Labs to secure Stanford Research studies to document Lirvana's impact across global cohorts.Prior to founding Lirvana Labs, Christie has over a decade of banking experience, including as Head of TMT, Head of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, and Project Manager to Group Chairman of HSBC.Christie graduated with 10As (HKCEE ‘04) from Diocesan Girls’ School, is the Top 10 Most Outstanding Students of Hong Kong (‘04), and holds a BA (Distinguished Hon.) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Business and Legal Ethics) from University of Pennsylvania (C’09), graduating magna cum laude.She is a proud mother of 3 and a champion for women in AI and finance.---Additional Resources:Christie Pang's LinkedIn ProfileYeti Confetti Kids WebsiteBlog: Lirvana Labs’ Yeti Confetti™ Kids App Reports Half-Grade Level Improvement in Math and English in Just 10 WeeksArticle: Yeti Confetti for RefugeesChristie’s Lifelong Learning Recommendation -Podcast: We Can Do Hard Things

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• Ep 14 - Empowering Immigrant Job Seekers with Upwardly Global

  Meet Our GuestLorenzo Vanelli, Content and Learning Senior Manager | Upwardly GlobalLorenzo has been working with Upwardly Global since 2021. In his current role, he manages processes to provide internal and external users with up-to-date, efficient, tailored, actionable content and learning resources. He has three degrees from the University of Bologna: a Bachelor’s in Anthropology, a Master’s in the Disciplines of Music, and a Doctorate in Philosophy. Lorzeno is a lifelong learner and has obtained multiple credentials in topics ranging from applied data science to social and behavioral research.---Additional Resources:Upwardly Global websiteLorenzo Vanelli’s LinkedIn ProfileChartr Newsletter

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• Ep 13 - Enabling Student Success Through Impact Partnerships with Penn Foster Group

  Meet Our GuestsKermit Cook, CEO | Penn Foster GroupKermit is the Chief Executive Officer at Penn Foster Group, a provider of digital and data-driven learning solutions that aim to prepare learners for in-demand skills and jobs. He has over two decades of experience in education, business, and finance. Kermit began his career as a high school physics teacher in St Louis Public Schools with Teach For America. Prior to becoming the CEO at Penn Foster Group, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the education technology company Cengage Group, where he was responsible for investments to grow its career education offerings. He also led Cengage's K-12 business, along with corporate functions including supply chain, corporate development, and human resources. Prior to Cengage, Kermit worked at the investment firm KKR, ultimately serving as co-head of KKR Capstone in the Americas and as a member of the Portfolio Management Committee.Andrew Shean, CLO | Penn Foster GroupKermit is the Chief Executive Officer at Penn Foster Group, a provider of digital and data-driven learning solutions that aim to prepare learners for in-demand skills and jobs. He has over two decades of experience in education, business, and finance. Kermit began his career as a high school physics teacher in St Louis Public Schools with Teach For America. Prior to becoming the CEO at Penn Foster Group, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the education technology company Cengage Group, where he was responsible for investments to grow its career education offerings. He also led Cengage's K-12 business, along with corporate functions including supply chain, corporate development, and human resources. Prior to Cengage, Kermit worked at the investment firm KKR, ultimately serving as co-head of KKR Capstone in the Americas and as a member of the Portfolio Management Committee.---Additional Resources:Penn Foster Group WebsiteKermit Cook’s LinkedIn ProfileAndrew Shean’s LinkedIn ProfileExamples of Impact Partnerships:LearningMate WebsiteJob Corps WebsiteAnthology WebsiteGuild WebsiteRecommendations:Book: The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan HolidayBook: The Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory BoylePodcast: Edtech InsidersBook: Demon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverPodcast: The LearningMate Podcast Episode 4 - Rethinking General Education: The Responsibility of Higher Education Institutions in Creating Job-Ready Individuals

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• Ep 12 - Career-Focused Learning for a Skilled Workforce

  Meet Our GuestDoris Savron, MBA, Vice Provost of Colleges, Assessment and Curriculum | University of PhoenixDoris Savron has over 23 years of experience in higher education in a variety of settings including on campus and online. Doris serves as Vice Provost overseeing the strategy for University of Phoenix Colleges, program and curriculum design, institutional assessment, and faculty performance and coaching. This includes oversight of strategy for degree, certificate, and course offerings, design of curriculum, and student learning outcomes for the University. She works collaboratively with her team members to innovate academic solutions that enable the University to provide exceptional student experiences and learning environments to support student success. In her tenure with University of Phoenix, she has served in positions of associate faculty, campus vice president, regional vice president of student services, and college operations.Doris is passionate about giving back to the community and has served on several boards, including the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and Propenum College in Lusaka, Zambia. She currently serves on the board of Career Connectors. She also serves on several committees and advisory councils, including the DEI professionals committee for the Greater Phoenix Chamber and, most recently, the advisory council for UPCEA and AACRAO’s new Converge Conference in 2023 focused on the emerging field of alternative credentials in Higher Education. Doris is often sought out as a speaker for her expertise in mapping relevant skills in programs and building an infrastructure to support career tools in curriculum design, micro-credentialing, and other innovations in curriculum. Doris’s significant contributions in her profession, mentoring, and community leadership have led to her being selected as Greater Phoenix Chamber’s Private Sector Athena Finalist in 2020. Her advocacy for women in leadership has led her to project work in India, Zambia, and the U.S., supporting women to achieve their potential in their profession. She has designed, led, and presented at several international empowerment conferences.---Additional Resources:Doris Savron’s University of Phoenix ProfileDoris Savron’s LinkedIn ProfileDoris Savron’s WebsiteRecommendations:Book: Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M. R. CoveyPodcast: At the Table with Patrick LencioniPodcast: Working Genius with Patrick Lencioni

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• Ep 11 - Building Khanmigo: An AI-Powered Personal Tutor And Teaching Assistant For Teachers, Learners, And Parents

  Meet Our GuestKristen DiCerbo, Chief Learning Officer | Khan AcademyKristen leads the teaching and learning strategy for Khan Academy and works to ensure a consistent research-based pedagogical approach across their offerings. This includes leading the content, product management, design, and customer support teams and, most recently - the launch of Khanmigo.Throughout her career, Kristen has focused on the design of interactive digital technologies for learning and assessment, as well as researched and published extensively on the use of data from learner activity in games and simulations to understand what learners know and can do. Prior to joining Khan Academy, Kristen was the Vice President of Learning Research and Design at Pearson, provided research support to the Networking Academies at Cisco, and was a school psychologist in a local school district in Arizona. She has a Bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from Hamilton College and received a Master’s and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Arizona State University.---Additional Resources:Khan AcademyKhanmigoAbout Kristen DiCerboKristen DiCerbo's LinkedIn ProfileKristen DiCerbo's X (Twitter) ProfileBrave New Words by Sal KhanDaniel WillinghamBarbara Oakley

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