Let There Be Light

In this episode of Let There Be Light, Partner & Co-president of the ASU+GSV Summit Tiffany Taylor sits down with Matthew Mugo Fields — General Manager at HMH, President of Heinemann, and a 2025 Innovator of Color Award honoree. From attending school as a low-income immigrant student to leading cutting-edge EdTech initiatives, Matthew shares how his own experience has rooted his career in purpose, access, and a deep commitment to transforming education through technology and innovation. Plus, hear his poignant perspective on why elevating innovators of color is so important for the education ecosystem.

How do you create a product-driven culture and an outcomes-driven product? GSV’s Jennifer Lee speaks with Joe Philleo, Co-founder & CEO of Edia, about building education technology that delivers real results. From product without product managers to guaranteed outcomes for K-12 customers, Joe shares how Edia’s small, AI-augmented teams craft solutions that measurably improve student success in math and absenteeism. Tune in to explore how AI, intentional design, and bold thinking are lighting the path forward in K-12 EdTech.

Garrett Lord, Co-founder and CEO of Handshake, leads the charge in democratizing job opportunities for college students. Christine Cruzvergara, Chief Education Strategy Officer, highlights partnerships with universities adapting to AI needs. Sahil Bhaiwala, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for Handshake AI, discusses the importance of expert data and foundational skills. Together, they explore AI's influence on the talent market, the role of fellowships in shaping careers, and how innovative job matching is redefining entry-level roles in a fast-evolving workforce.

Scott Watkins, Senior Director of Business Strategy at Michigan Virtual, joins GSV’s Tiffany Taylor to discuss the new Conquer EdTech Accelerator, launched in collaboration with the Michigan State University Research Foundation to support early-stage EdTech startups — part of Michigan Virtual’s larger EdTech Catalyst initiative that includes pitch contests and bootcamps to foster meaningful, mission-driven advancements. They share a bold vision for making Michigan a national leader in education innovation by harnessing local talent and deep expertise. Discover how they’re helping founders scale their ideas, engage in professional development, and bring new learning opportunities to K-12 students.

In this episode, GSV's Mujtaba Wani explores Arnav Kumar's fascinating journey in the EdTech sector. Arnav shares his family's roots in Bihar, India, as well as his own journey from IT to Deutsche Bank to the startup world. Learn how he founded and scaled companies — including co-founding Leap, a platform empowering students with global education opportunities — and hear his perspective on resilience, self-belief, and an obsession with becoming the best.--------------"Let There Be Light" is a podcast from ASU+GSV, shining a spotlight on the ideas and innovators from PreK to Gray shaping the future of learning and work. With conversations recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit, the show features bold, enlightening conversations with visionary leaders across education, technology, and impact. Tune in for fresh perspectives, powerful insights, and a front-row seat to the global learning revolution.

GSV’s Tiffany Taylor sits down with Dr. Christina Grant, Executive Director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, and Dr. Tequilla Brownie, CEO of TNTP, to discuss what’s needed to move students’ futures forward. From policy interventions to high-impact tutoring, they explore the surgical precision and all-hands-on-deck energy needed to scale impact and change generational outcomes.

Michael Ioffe, co-founder and CEO of Arist, joins Jennifer Lee to illuminate a shift in corporate learning—where behavior change, not content completion, is the goal. From “push-based” learning to the Gen Z demand for frictionless UX, this episode breaks down how to build learning that sticks, scales, and sparks real outcomes. Tune in for a fresh take on skilling that meets learners where they are: in the flow of work.

From his critical role in the success of Amazon Prime and Alexa to now leading EdTech powerhouse Coursera, Greg Hart joins GSV’s Luben Pampoulov to discuss durable customer needs, enterprise partnerships, and democratizing personalized learning. They discuss the massive impact and interest in Gen AI, as well as how Coursera is leveraging this technology to empower and upskill the workforce at scale.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education and SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. joins GSV’s Tiffany Taylor to explore how innovation in public education can drive equal access and opportunity. Drawing on his previous federal leadership and current role at the helm of the nation’s largest public higher education system, King discusses bold strategies for transforming systems to serve ALL students — from micro-credentials and AI to the need for stronger feedback loops.