#295 Nicole Ponsford - EdTech, Equity & 26,000 Voices

Nov 14, 2025

Dr. Nicole Ponsford, a former teacher turned EdTech founder and researcher, shares insights from her work with the GEC intersectional inclusion platform. She explores why intersectionality is crucial in education and discusses her innovative 'kaleidoscopic data' approach that captures real lived experiences. Findings reveal which groups, like single-parent families, feel less belonging in schools. Nick emphasizes the importance of data literacy and qualitative voices in shaping inclusive policies. Discover how to join the movement of 26,000 voices seeking meaningful change.

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INSIGHT

Inclusion As A Lens

Inclusion should be treated as a lens to view decisions, not a policy checklist.
Intersectionality reveals overlapping identities that static demographic buckets miss.

ANECDOTE

From Doctorate To Platform

Nicole moved from doctoral research to founding an EdTech platform during early 2020 lockdown.
She crowdfunded and built the world’s first intersectional inclusion platform, surveying tens of thousands.

INSIGHT

Kaleidoscopic Third-Level Data

Kaleidoscopic data adds a third, multidimensional layer beyond mapping and satellite data.
This approach captures lived experience, context, and changing identities over time.

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If you've ever felt that education is changing faster than the systems meant to support you, this podcast gives you a clearer and more human way to understand that shift. You'll explore how inclusion, data literacy, AI and school culture can be viewed through a lens that actually reflects real lived experiences. In this episode you join Dr Nicole Ponsford, a former teacher turned researcher and founder of a platform built on more than twenty six thousand voices from schools around the world. Her work challenges long standing assumptions about data, belonging and leadership in ways that might change how you see your own role in education. Each conversation is designed to give you insights you can apply directly, whether you're an educator, school leader, policymaker or edtech professional looking to create real impact. With expert interviews and grounded perspectives, the podcast helps you cut through buzzwords and understand what truly drives meaningful change in schools. Follow the show to stay close to ideas and discussions that can shape the way you lead, teach and contribute to the future of learning.

Before you dive in, make sure not to miss the key developments connected to this conversation. These show how the ideas discussed in this episode are already creating real momentum beyond the conversation itself.

BETT 2026 Finalist Announcement We're thrilled to share that the Global Equality Collective (GEC) has been named a finalist for the BETT 2026 Transformational Impact Award!
Sky News Feature GEC recently appeared on Sky News discussing the launch of the second edition of the Inclusion Index. Watch the short clip here: YouTube Short Read more: Sky News Article
Exclusive Offer for School Leaders School and trust leaders can access an exclusive 10% launch discount on the GEC Platform. Simply email hello@thegec.education and use the code EDTECHPODCAST10 before the end of November.

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