Podcast: On Work and Revolution
The Critical Need for Apprenticeships with Ryan Craig, MD Achieve Partners
"An apprenticeship, first and foremost, is a full-time job that happens to have built-in training, both formal and informal."– Ryan Craig“College or Chipotle?” shouldn’t be the only options for high school graduates. Over the past 20 years, average student loan debt...
Rethinking Online Work & Learning with Beth Hollenberg, CEO of Everspring
"The array of choices that prospective students have and the array of modalities is going to lead to a really exciting innovation in this next chapter of American higher education."– Beth HollenbergPeriods of extreme challenge often spark the most significant...
Siya Raj Purohit Open AI Education GTM – Building Career Resilience
"Building career resilience means having a strong foundation in your skills and knowledge, and at the same time, being adaptable and willing to learn new things."– Siya Raj PurohitThis is such an exemplary On Work and Revolution podcast episode for 2 reasons: the...
Manny Smith CEO of EdVisorly: Day-in-the-life of an EdTech Pre-seed Founder
"I’m here for student success and I'm not just saying that as a sound bite."– Manny SmithThe life of an EdTech startup entrepreneur can be a grind, especially if you’re a minority founder. So this week on the podcast, we’re giving you a behind the curtain look at what...
Lessons from an EdTech Leader: James Stoffer Shares Abre’s Customer-Centric Approach to Growth
"At the end of the day, educators want to know that you give a damn."– James StofferIt is not often that you hear a highly successful sales leader mention the words ‘patience’ and ‘high growth’ in the same conversation. Yet, James Stoffer, President and Chief...
Jamee Herbert CEO BridgeCare – Hiring for ‘fit’ in Early Childcare
"Childcare is an issue that is only known by the people who are experiencing it. And it's one of the reasons it perpetuates as a problem."– Jamee HerbertOn this week’s episode of the On Work and Revolution podcast, we have Jamee Herbert in the guest chair. Jamee is...
Mark Grovic, Founder of New Markets Venture Partners Gives us a Status Update on Investing in Edtech
"It's a little cliche, but when you hunker down and you focus on profitability, you do come out stronger on the other side of a crisis."– Mark GrovicOn a search for a frank and realistic assessment on the challenges the EdTech industry is facing amidst the ongoing...
Solving the Data Privacy Crisis in K-12 Schools with Robert Iskander, CEO of GG4L
"A typical school district shares their data with about 1000 vendors."– Robert IskanderOne wrong click on a malicious link, and your kid’s data can be in the hands of some of the smartest cyberattackers in the world! This week on the On Work and Revolution podcast,...
Tanya Van Court, CEO of Goalsetter: Revolutionizing Financial Literacy for the Next Generation
"I launched Goalsetter with the hope of changing these kids who were senders and spenders of money into savers and investors and financially knowledgeable and capable by the time they left their parents’ houses."– Tanya Van CourtI was thrilled to discover that there’s...
Navigating EdTech’s Future: Matt Greenfield of Rethink Education on AI, Biases, and the Importance of Empathy
"The biggest cause of failure of early-stage startups is failure of product-market fit, which you could also describe as a failure of empathy for your intended customers, a failure to understand who your customers are and what their day is like and what really matters...
Reframing ADHD and Empowering Neurodiversity in the Workplace with Chris Wang, CEO of Shimmer
"Executive function is like the CEO of your brain. It's how you plan, prioritize, manage time, reach goals. That is what ties together many different neurodiverse conditions."– Chris WangWhat do remarkable individuals like Simone Biles, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson...
The Transformative Power of Mentorship: A Conversation with Erin Mayhood, CEO of Mentor Collective
"Our vision for the future is to ensure that every learner has a supportive team, leveraging both human connection and technology to foster success and drive social mobility."– Erin MayhoodThis week on the On Work and Revolution podcast, Erin Mayhood, CEO of Mentor...
Sara Leoni, CEO of Ziplines Education Spills All on Securing Series A Funding
"Our philosophy is based on providing a very hands-on, very practical, very experiential learning experience to people who are looking to upskill or reskill or really just learn something new. "– Sara LeoniThis week on the On Work and Revolution podcast Sara Leoni,...
Decoding Founder-Investor Expectations: Insights from Susan Lyne of BBG Ventures
"The best founders are people who have a combination of lived and learned experience."– Susan LyneIn this episode of the On Work and Revolution podcast, host Debbie Goodman is joined by Susan Lyne in the guest chair. Susan has led an illustrious career path, climbing...
The Future of Work is Fractional and Outcome-Based: Katelyn Donnelly, Avalanche VC
"The future in hiring is freelance, flexible, and fractional."– Katelyn DonnellyOn this episode of the On Work and Revolution podcast, host Debbie Goodman and delves into the dynamic landscape of the future of work in EdTech with guest Katelyn Donnelly. Katelyn shares...
Inside the Investor’s Mind: Steve Kupfer’s Outlook on EdTech Investments & Building Resilient Teams
"It really helps to be able to look through a lens of how much of a learner is this founder, because it makes a huge difference."– Steve KupferOn this episode of the On Work and Revolution Podcast, we dig into the dynamics of venture investing in the EdTech sector...
Navigating the Startup Hiring Landscape with Susan Liu, COO of Parallel Learning
"I would argue the value proposition for employees joining a startup is not different or worse than it was a few years ago."– Susan LiuToday, I'm thrilled to have Susan Liu, COO of Parallel Learning, in the guest chair. Parallel Learning provides virtual special...
Hiring Leadership Teams that Secure Investor Funding and Drive Growth with Rita Ferrandino of Arc Capital
"Fractional leadership is a newer concept for the market. The advantage of founders becoming more cost conscious, is they're recognizing there are many ways to populate your leadership team."– Rita FerrandinoRita Ferrandino returns to the On Work and Revolution...
EdTech Acceleration and Funding Strategies with Ash Kaluarachchi, CEO Started
"In the EdTech entrepreneurial world, success, by definition, is the exception"– Ash KaluarachchiThis week on the On Work and Revolution podcast, Debbie Goodman sits down with Ash Kualarachchi, a seasoned expert in EdTech entrepreneurship and acceleration. As the CEO...
Unraveling Private Equity Investment and Workforce Trends with Elizabeth Chou, Partner at Leeds Illuminate
"Contingent labor as an overall percentage has grown quite dramatically in the U.S. labor force over the last couple of years"– Elizabeth ChouIn this exciting episode of the On Work and Revolution podcast, host Debbie Goodman is joined by Elizabeth Chou, the...
Empowering Women in EdTech: A Conversation with Seasoned Investor, Jessica Millstone of Copper Wire Ventures
"It's never been easier to start an EdTech company and run it very lean."– Jessica MillstoneOn this episode of On Work and Revolution, host Debbie Goodman speaks with Jessica Millstone, Co-founder and Managing Director of Copper Wire Ventures and a huge advocate for...
From Heartbreak to Impact: Startup Lessons with Maria Barrera, CEO Clayful
"In 2024, our main focus at Clayful is to scale our impact. We aim to 10x the number of students we're helping, tackling the youth mental health crisis head-on."– Maria BarreraIn this illuminating podcast episode, host Debbie Goodman speaks with Maria Barrera, CEO of...
Creating a Successful Career Path: Helen Nicholson on Building Meaningful Networks
"Networking, when it really works, is about authentic, meaningful connections."– Helen NicholsonHave you been neglecting your network lately? Harvard Business Review shared that people's “professional and personal networks have shrunk by close to 16% — or by more than...
Remote Leadership Mastery with Julie Huston: CRO Strategies for High-Performance Sales in Turbulent Times
"For sales teams, accountability is paramount. Clear goal-setting and simplifying job responsibilities are key to ensuring everyone is aligned and focused on driving success."– Julie HustonOn this episode of the On Work and Revolution podcast, host Debbie Goodman...
From Rural Roots to Edtech Entrepreneur: Sabari Raja, Managing Partner at JFFVentures, shares her Remarkable Purpose-led Journey
"The main problem we were solving was that kids are learning things in the classroom, without any real-world relevance behind what they’re learning."– Sabari RajaTake a listen to Sabari Raja’s captivating journey, from her roots on a coconut farm in South India to the...
Teaching the World to Read: Elizabeth Adams, Ello Co-founder
"Our mission as a company is to maximize the potential of every child, and scale one-to-one support for children."– Elizabeth AdamsIn this episode of On Work and Revolution podcast, our guest Elizabeth Adams, shares her unexpected journey from being a self-described...
The Evolution of Careers and Education: Insights for Founders from Jessica Hinkle, SVP of Strategic Investments at Strada Education
"If you're really committed to developing a solution for EdTech, you want to be focused on how you're going to deliver change to individuals."– Jessica HinkleIn today's fast-paced world, where the traditional career landscape is rapidly evolving, continuous learning...
Rita Ferrandino’s Founder-Centric Strategies and Wisdom for EdTech Companies
"Today's investors are looking for companies to quickly move to profitability, seeking self-sustainability."– Rita FerrandinoCracking through in the EdTech industry these days requires founders to not only embrace sales but also be the face of their company. In the...
Unveiling EdTech’s Future: Owl Ventures MD Amit Patel on Growth, Funding, and Digital Education Trends
"There’s a billion more students that are going to need to be educated, and education technology is going to play a very significant role, and how that is possible."– Amit PatelGet ready for an inside look at the ever-changing EdTech landscape! It’s hard to ignore...
EdTech Triumph: Alejandra Zertuche’s Journey from Senior Analyst to CEO of Enflux and the Keys to Success
"Keep preparing, keep learning. You don’t lose anything by learning and preparing."– Alejandra ZertucheOn the latest On Work and Resolution podcast episode, host Debbie Goodman explores the remarkable career trajectory of Alejandra Zertuche, CEO of Enflux. In just one...
BLOGS / OPINIONS
The Future is Fractional Panel Talk – Cracking the Fractional Growth Formula
It turns out that when a startup investor, a talent strategist and a fractional leader walk into a Zoom room, a really productive, fast-paced and FUN conversation unfolds! Since launching Jack Hammer’s Fractional Leaders offering, we have worked with many CEOs and...
Tired of the Job Search Hustle? Refine Your Strategy with these 6 Tactics
For the first time in YEARS, job seekers are having a tough time out there. For many, this is the first time they have had to apply online for jobs, and most certainly the first time they’ve been ‘on the market’ for more than a few weeks before securing their next...
The Future is Freelance: Insights for Founders
Fact: the Gig Economy market is exploding. According to TechReport, "over a third of people working in the United States participate in the Gig Economy." What this means is - more than 34% of work arrangements are freelance, flexible, and fractional, and the numbers...
Excellent vs. Average – How to Hire a Great CMO
In this past week, several leaders in my network expressed disappointment in their recent CMO hires. Now, whilst there's always a measure of risk in any new hire at any level, I've observed that when critical elements of the interview and screening process are...
Why Fractional Hiring is on the Rise in EdTech
I’m a die-hard executive search advisor, and have been helping boards and Founder-CEOs build impactful leadership teams full time for more than 2 decades. So, I never imagined a day would come when I’d wholeheartedly recommend an alternative hiring strategy. However,...
Sales Leader Churn
– Why the Revolving Door?
Here’s a fact: there’s been a significant amount of churn with Sales Leaders in the Ed-tech/Workplace-tech sector in the last 9 months, due to resignation or layoff. Want to know why? The conversations I’ve had with CEO’s who have laid off senior sales leaders,...