ASU+GSV Summit Sessions

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Marie Groark, Managing Director at the Schultz Family Foundation; Daniel Fisher, President & CEO of ECMC Group; Jane Swift, President of Education at Work; and Connor Harrington, CEO of Kuder, Inc. The conversation was moderated by Julie Lammers, Executive Vice President at American Student Assistance (ASA).The session explored the urgent need to support young people in navigating an increasingly complex post-secondary landscape. As education and training beyond high school become more essential than ever, panelists shared how their organizations are building scalable solutions to help learners discover the right paths for their futures. The discussion focused on what it takes to bring these tools to market at scale—and how collaboration among educators, employers, and policymakers can better align education and skills with the needs of students and regional economies.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Erica Cuevas, Director of Education Policy at JFF; Stephanie Murphy, Director of State Policy and Research at HCM Strategists; and Amy Loyd, CEO of All4Ed. The conversation was moderated by Elizabeth Texeira, Vice President of Social Impact at American Student Assistance (ASA).The session explored the growing need for robust career navigation systems to help young people make informed choices across a wide array of post-secondary options. Panelists shared insights from policy, practice, and lived experience, discussing actionable solutions for scaling these systems equitably. The conversation highlighted early findings from a forthcoming policy report focused on funding and advocacy strategies and showcased examples of cross-sector collaboration—from government to philanthropy to the private sector. Together, they examined how to shape sustainable policies and investments to ensure all learners have access to high-quality career guidance.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President of Southern New Hampshire University; Richard Vedder, Senior Fellow & Distinguished Professor of Economics Emeritus at the Independent Institute and Ohio University; John Katzman, CEO of Noodle Partners PBC; and Scott Carlson, Senior Writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education. The conversation was moderated by Kate Sutherland, Managing Director at Tyton Partners.The session explored the implications of a major shift in higher education: the recent approval of a 90-credit bachelor’s degree at Johnson and Wales University. Panelists examined what this move away from the traditional 120-credit, four-year structure could mean for the future of postsecondary education. The discussion addressed its potential to reduce time and cost for students, revitalize traditional residential programs, better serve non-traditional adult learners, and challenge long-held norms around credit transfer and competency-based education. The conversation raised an essential question—does this signal a moment of transformative change in higher education, or is it merely a stepping stone toward more radical innovation?

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Bryon Grigsby, President of Moravian University; Cheryl Costantini, SVP of Product at Cengage Group; Jose Ferreira, Founder & CEO of BookBaker; Nachiket Paratkar, SVP and Business Head of Higher Education & Workforce at LearningMate; and Mike Malefakis, President of University Partnerships at Emeritus.The session explored how digital learning platforms must evolve not only in delivery but in content to meet the demands of an AI-driven world. Panelists discussed the importance of teaching students more than just facts—focusing instead on cultivating the “7 Cs”: critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, curiosity, cultural competence, and character. With a blend of technology and pedagogy, the conversation examined how education can prepare learners for an unpredictable future by developing the skills that matter most.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Joseph Watt, Managing Director at ECMC Education Impact Fund; Jessie Woolley-Wilson, Operating Partner at Owl Ventures; Vivian Wu, Managing Partner of Ventures at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; and John Rogers, Partner at TPG Rise.The session explored the evolution of impact investing over the past decade, examining how impact funds have performed now that ten years of data is available. The speakers shared real-life examples of how impact companies navigate the journey from venture funding to growth and private equity, all while managing both financial and social bottom lines. They provided insights into the strategies, successes, and challenges faced by investors and founders in the dynamic and evolving world of impact investing.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Lina Bankert, Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group; Karie Willyerd, Chief Customer Strategy Officer at Learning Technologies Group; Krishna Kumar, Founder & CEO at Simplilearn; and Karine Allouche Salanon, General Manager of Enterprise at Coursera.The session examined the critical need for continuous employee training at a time when innovation is advancing faster than ever. The speakers discussed how many beloved employee learning programs have been cut due to recession fears, even as the pace of change demands ongoing upskilling. They explored the long-term risks organizations face by deprioritizing learning and shared strategies for maintaining a resilient, future-ready workforce through sustained investment in employee development.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Gordon Trujillo, Vice President of Enterprise Learning & Development at DaVita; Christine Murphy, Global Learning Leader at Deloitte; Julie Stone, Chief Learning Officer at TTEC; Himanshu Palsule, CEO at Cornerstone OnDemand; and Marci Paino, Vice President of Enterprise Learning & Growth at Cisco.The session explored the critical importance of workforce agility in today’s rapidly changing skills landscape. The speakers discussed how technological advancements, automation, and shifting business priorities are reshaping industries, making adaptability a necessity rather than an advantage. They examined how AI-driven skills intelligence is transforming talent development by enabling organizations to map skills effectively, identify gaps, and empower employees with continuous learning opportunities. The panel shared insights on emerging skills trends, innovative upskilling strategies, and how organizations can foster a culture of adaptability to future-proof their workforce.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Adeel Khan, Founder & CEO of MagicSchool AI; Chris Caren, CEO of Turnitin; Jagriti Agrawal, Co-founder and VP of AI at Kira; and Chrisman Frank, Founder & CEO of Synthesis. The conversation was moderated by Ben Kornell, Co-founder of Edtech Insiders.The session explored how the rise of foundation models and generative AI is opening new frontiers in education—from personalized learning at scale to AI-powered teaching assistants and automated content creation. Despite these innovations and a global education market exceeding $7 trillion, no edtech company has yet broken the $20 billion mark. Panelists examined whether AI can finally unlock the potential for massive scale in education technology. The conversation tackled critical questions facing early-stage startups: what it takes to launch and scale AI-driven products, the growth ceilings that may exist, and the product, adoption, and procurement challenges these companies must overcome. Most importantly, the panel discussed how emerging ventures can ensure AI truly transforms teaching and learning for the better.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Michelle Culver, Founder of The Rithm Project; Vriti Saraf, CEO & Co-founder of Ed3 DAO; and Daphne Li, CEO of Common Sense Privacy. The conversation was moderated by Nick Yoder, Associate Vice President, Academies at National University.The session explored the profound questions at the intersection of AI and human development: What happens when AI becomes a child’s first teacher, mentor, and evaluator? Panelists examined how AI is shaping children’s connections, values, and understanding of the world—and whether we can preserve humanness in a system increasingly influenced by algorithms. The discussion delved into the challenges and opportunities of growing up in an AI-first world, and what this means for the future of education, identity, and human connection.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Shalin Jyotishi, Founder & Managing Director of the Future of Work & Innovation Economy Initiative at New America; Amy Girardi, Senior Program Officer at Ascendium Education Group; Gabriela Cruz Thompson, Director of University Research and Collaboration at Intel Corp.; and Paul Fain, Editor at Work Shift.The session explored the transformative potential of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which established the first new arm of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in over three decades. Speakers discussed how the NSF’s Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate is collaborating with the STEM Education Directorate to fund initiatives that promote technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development—while building a strong national STEM workforce. With co-investment from industry and philanthropy, these efforts are creating unprecedented opportunities for stakeholders across K–12, higher education, workforce development, labor, and industry. The conversation offered a candid look at how these resources can catalyze “innovation everywhere, opportunities anywhere,” echoing the vision of NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.