Capital Class

Strategos Group Managing Partner Aam Giery sits down with Antonio Pietri, CEO of PowerSchool for a conversation about what happens when a legacy industry meets a new era of platforms, data, and AI-enabled acceleration.

Pietri comes to K–12 not from the classroom, but from decades of leading large-scale SaaS and industrial automation software including an 11+ year run as CEO of Aspen Technology. After Aspen was acquired, he expected to retire, but the pull of purpose—and the opportunity to build brought him back. At PowerSchool, he sees a mission-driven organization with the “right to win,” serving more than 60 million students across 90+ countries, and a massive runway to evolve from good to truly great.

Together, Giery and Pietri explore why education is at an inflection point: districts juggling disconnected tools, rising expectations for interoperability, and growing pressure for real-time insights. Pietri makes the case that AI shouldn’t replace teachers it should reclaim their time by automating paperwork, streamlining workflows, and turning growing volumes of student data into actionable insight. The goal, he argues, is simple: remove the mundane so educators can focus on what matters most to students and outcomes.

The episode also offers a candid look at leadership at scale. Pietri reflects on risk-taking, resilience, and what changes when the “buck stops” with the CEO. Now in his first weeks at PowerSchool, he’s moving fast on operational transformation while intentionally staying in learning mode listening, absorbing, and building conviction in a new industry.

Timestamps

06:10 "AI's Role in Education"

09:24 "AI Advancing Education Effectiveness"

11:04 "Career Inflection Points and Passion"

16:59 "Learning and Growth in Education"

20:27 "AI Solutions for K12 Education"

21:32 "Red Square: A Lifelong Fascination"

Connect with Antonio Pietri

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-pietri

Website: https://www.powerschool.com/

In this episode of "Capital Class," Strategos Partner Adam Giery dives into a powerful conversation with Michael Simpson, Co-Founder and CEO of Pairin. Michael shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a disadvantaged environment to becoming a serial entrepreneur dedicated to transforming workforce development. Drawing from his own experiences—ranging from leading marketing for a billion-dollar product division to coaching at-risk youth in Russia—Michael brings a unique perspective on resilience, career exploration, and the evolving job market.

Adam and Michael explore how career paths are shifting from conventional expectations to more individualized, skills-driven approaches. Michael reveals how Pairin is helping bridge the opportunity gap by personalizing career exploration and job matching, ensuring that people from all walks of life can fully realize their potential. The discussion touches on the challenges facing today's workforce, the pitfalls of traditional education, and why the skills trades are making a surprising comeback.

From betting everything on a career pivot to finding peace in fly fishing, Michael provides an honest look at what it takes to lead an impactful life and business. Join us for an episode filled with invaluable lessons on resilience, purpose, and the future of work—one that will inspire leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about making meaningful change.

Timestamps

09:16 Built career stacking certificates, avoiding debt.

19:56 Generational stereotypes are inaccurate; individual differences matter.

20:43 Identify, nurture, and prepare individual potential.

24:42 Using software to develop people with guidance.

28:38 Taught product management; received ambiguous roach compliment.

32:54 Rethink taking investors; it's like marriage.

35:43 Investors prioritize profit over social impact.

38:41 Pivot led to growth through a partnership with Colorado.

46:40 Finding focus through childhood curiosity and reading.

47:55 AI should educate, and inspire critical thinking skills.

Connect with Michael Simpson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellsimpson/

Website: https://www.pairin.com/about/

In this episode of Capital Class, host and Strategos Partner Adam Giery welcomes Bharani Rajakumar, founder and CEO of Transfr, for a conversation about reimagining the bridge between education and employment.

Bharani’s story begins with a deeply personal mission. Raised in a family of four living on $35,000 a year, he saw how limited access to resources can close doors for many young people. After working in finance and co-founding LearnBop, a math tutoring platform later acquired by K12 Inc., he turned his focus toward building solutions that could expand opportunity. With Transfr, he is using virtual reality to provide career exploration and rapid training for in-demand jobs, helping learners gain both confidence and practical skills.

Together, Adam and Bharani examine the macro forces driving change in the labor market: baby boomer retirements, rising higher education costs, and the acceleration of technology adoption after COVID. Bharani explains why skilled trades, once overlooked in favor of a college pathway for all, now present stable and well-paying opportunities that do not require a four-year degree. The discussion also explores the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence, which is reshaping job requirements and amplifying the urgency for adaptable, short-cycle training.

Beyond technical skills, Bharani emphasizes perseverance and self-belief as essential for success. With VR, learners can immerse themselves in real-world environments such as advanced manufacturing floors or healthcare settings, helping them discover capabilities and build confidence before stepping into the workplace.

Timestamps

03:35 From Finance to EdTech Advocate

08:34 Opening Career Paths Without College

11:35 AI’s Impact on Job Market

13:16 Future Skills: Rapid Training Essential

18:50 Perseverance: Essential Skill for Future

20:48 "Adapting to Market Changes"

Connect with Bharani Rajakumar

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bharanidharan-rajakumar-98aa1a1 

Website: https://transfrinc.com/ 

In this episode of Capital Class, Strategos Partner Adam Giery sits down with Hunter Moore, Founder and CEO of Plasma Games, to explore a bold idea with real classroom stakes: video games aren’t a distraction from learning they are learning when designed with intention.

Moore, an engineer by training, shares how his career across Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Sandia National Labs, and IBM revealed a troubling reality: the U.S. is falling behind in STEM outcomes, even as demand for STEM careers keeps rising. Rather than build another “gamified” quiz product, Moore set out to design what he calls a true fusion of gameplay and instruction where students learn science by using it to win. In Plasma Games’ flagship experience, Sci-Ops: Global Defense, learners apply real chemistry and physics concepts—like atomic energy levels, thermochemical properties, and the ideal gas law—as core mechanics for strategy, equipment upgrades, and problem-solving.

Giery and Moore unpack what it takes to introduce this kind of innovation into schools, including teacher training needs, procurement realities, and the tension between traditional classroom structures and experiential, game-based learning.

Beyond product, the conversation becomes a founder’s journey mission, doubt, and big decisions. Moore reflects on building Plasma Games through uncertainty, measuring success through student impact, and staying grounded through faith and family. The result is a candid look at how play, purpose, and engineering rigor can reshape how students engage with STEM and imagine their futures.

Timestamps

06:23 "Learning Chemistry Through Gameplay"

09:13 Balancing Education and Innovation

12:47 Games as Future Learning Tools

16:24 Student Engagement Challenges in Education

18:41 "Faith-Led Journey to Innovation"

20:23 "Faith, Stats, and Odds"

25:22 Education's Bureaucratic Financial Strain

29:57 Balancing Education Priorities

31:43 Lowering Standards Hurts Education

33:59 "Naivete Meets Harsh Realities"

37:48 Federal Cuts Spark Ripple Effect

Connect with Hunter Moore

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterryanmoore

Website: https://play.plasma.games/

In this Capital Class episode, Strategos Partner and host Adam Giery sits down with Sara Mauskopf, co-founder and CEO of Winnie, the national platform millions of parents use to discover and evaluate licensed child care. A mom of three and a vocal advocate for high-quality early education, Sara traces Winnie’s “messy first draft” from a local activity finder to a nationwide, two-sided marketplace built on trust, licensing data, and parent reviews.

Sara explains how the early-education landscape has transformed over the past decade: investor interest has grown, providers have adopted more technology, and cultural norms have shifted from “daycare as a dirty word” to early learning as a valued—often expected—step before kindergarten. She argues candidly that child care should be expensive because it’s profoundly valuable, but families shouldn’t shoulder the cost alone—public funding and employers must help close the gap. From the provider’s side, she demystifies tight margins, regulations, and what it takes to run a sustainable, recession-resilient business.

Digging into Winnie’s growth, Sara recounts the moment product-market fit clicked, why the team chose a national footprint early, how providers themselves pushed Winnie toward monetization, and what surviving shocks like the SVB crisis taught them about resilience and profitability. Tune in for valuable insights on innovation, leadership, and where the future of family tech is headed.

Key Moments

04:48 Evolving Perceptions of Childcare

07:20 Challenges Faced by Childcare Providers

12:10 Licensed Childcare Marketplace

14:35 Unexpected Childcare Marketplace Journey

17:02 Winnie's Shift to Childcare Marketplace

20:26 Monetization Dilemma for Childcare Marketplace

24:05 Event Led to Financial Strategy Shift

27:17 Profitability Over Fundraising

31:41 Oversharing and Open Book Life

35:19 Winnie Expands to K12 Education

38:25 "Growth: In-Person Customer Interaction"

Connect with Sara Mauskopf

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smausk

Website: https://winnie.com/

=============================

Learn more about Strategos Group: https://www.strategosgroup.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategos-group-public-affairs/

🚨 Subscribe to the Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@strategospodcastnetwork

=============================

PODCASTS

🎧 Capital Class with Adam Giery: https://www.strategosgroup.com/podcast

🎧 On the Clock with Todd Dallas Lamb: https://www.strategosgroup.com/podcast-on-the-clock

🎧 Swimming Upstream with Tom Luna: https://swimming-upstream.captivate.fm/listen

🎧 On Balance with Dr. Rod Berger: https://www.strategosgroup.com/podcast-on-balance

🎧 To the Point with Jim Horne and Doug Mesecar: https://to-the-point.captivate.fm/

Produced by Old Soul: https://bit.ly/3KuYfrD

=============================

#educationmanagement #educationleadership #education

In this episode of Capital Class, host Adam Giery sits down with Geordie Hyland, President and CEO of American College of Education (ACE), for a timely and thought-provoking conversation recorded live at ASU+GSV 2025. With higher education at a pivotal crossroads—confronting rising tuition, student debt, and questions of long-term value—Hyland shares how ACE is rewriting the playbook.

Under Hyland’s leadership, ACE has emerged as a standout institution: fully online, accredited, and fiercely committed to access, affordability, and quality. With 85% of students graduating debt-free and tuition for graduate degrees well below national averages, ACE is proving that high-impact education doesn't require a high price tag.

Throughout the episode, Hyland and Giery explore the state of the education workforce, the teacher pipeline crisis, and how ACE’s practitioner-led model equips educators for real-world challenges. Hyland also opens up about his unconventional path to ACE, driven by a passion for human capital development and a personal mission to make education more accessible.

This episode also highlights ACE’s impressive student outcomes, employer satisfaction, and innovative use of AI to streamline administrative tasks—freeing faculty to focus on what matters most: teaching and learning.

Key Moments

03:12 Addressing Teacher Career Progression

09:06 Career in EdTech and Education Reform

12:13 Affordable Education With High Quality

15:41 Recharging Through Challenging Hobbies

16:45 Sauna Tradition Recreated in Tampa

Connect with Geordie Hyland

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geordiehyland/

Website: https://ace.edu/

In this episode of Capital Class, host Adam Giery sits down with Jess Gartner, founder of Allovue and current Vice President at PowerSchool, for an unfiltered conversation on the intersection of education, finance, and entrepreneurship. Jess shares her remarkable journey from classroom teacher to edtech trailblazer, driven by a relentless curiosity about one fundamental question: how are school resources allocated, and are we truly funding equity?

The episode begins with Jess recounting her early days as a Baltimore City schoolteacher, where she quickly discovered the stark reality of underfunded classrooms. That experience sparked a decade-long mission to reimagine K–12 finance systems—culminating in the launch of Allovue and its eventual acquisition by PowerSchool in 2024.

Jess and Adam explore the often overlooked complexities of school budgeting, the unsung heroism of district CFOs, and the emotional toll of entrepreneurship. With candor and conviction, Jess reflects on burnout, resilience, and the hard choices behind building a mission-driven company. She also unpacks why federal COVID-era funding didn’t transform education as some hoped and how we must reframe the conversation about what schools are expected to deliver.

Key Moments

04:46 Solving the Student Achievement Gap

09:07 Evolving Role of Modern Schools

13:37 Teachers Subsidizing Classroom Resources

16:32 Public Sector Budget Efficiency

19:10 Balancing Extremes in Business

21:25 Embracing EdTech in Education

27:29 "Deep Problem Understanding through Interviews"

28:25 Understanding Data Gaps in Education

33:44 "Building Amidst Financial Constraints"

36:30 Entrepreneurial Vision and Persistence

39:52 School Budget Scrutiny Surges

41:44 Temporary Emergency School Funds Usage

46:26 Founder Reflects on Life Journey

48:38 Prioritizing Team and Mission Values

54:12 "Leading with Integrity and Resilience"

57:08 "Desert Sands: Otherworldly Experience"

59:04 "Capital Class Podcast Sign-off"

Connect with Jess Gartner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessgartner

Website: https://www.jessgartner.com/

In this episode of Capital Class, recorded live at ASU+GSV 2025, host Adam Giery sits down with Chris Curran, the Founder and CEO of Tyton Partners. A towering figure in education banking and consulting, Curran shares insights from a 25-year journey that spans public policy, entrepreneurship, and over $20 billion in transaction volume across global education markets.

Giery and Curran dive into today’s uncertain market landscape, discussing how economic turbulence impacts M&A in the education sector. Curran pulls back the curtain on the complexities of selling an education company, highlighting the risks of "unbanked" deals and the essential role of a trusted advisor in maximizing value for founder-led businesses.

Curran also reflects on the founding of Tyton Partners—a firm born from the fusion of public service, Wall Street banking, and entrepreneurial grit—and its mission to serve education enterprises with both capital and counsel. With characteristic candor, he explains how Tyton’s service-driven model and deep sector expertise have reshaped how education companies grow, merge, and thrive.

From at-risk learners and skills-to-jobs pathways to the global rise of edtech, Curran offers an unvarnished look at the trends shaping the future. Along the way, he opens up about personal lessons learned, the balance between ambition and family, and the enduring power of mission-driven work.

Key Moments

00:00 ASU GSV 2025: Education Industry Evolution

05:08 Common Business Process Pitfalls

08:23 Titan Partners: Education-Focused Ventures

11:50 Global Success in Emerging Markets

16:10 AI's Impact on Education Pathways

17:53 Cultivating Future Company Leaders

Connect with Chris Curran

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curranchristopher

Website: https://tytonpartners.com/

In the "Capital Class" podcast, host Adam Giery sits down with Ed Buckley, Chairman of Scholar Education, to explore the evolving landscape of exceptional student education (ESE) and how innovation is reshaping support for diverse learners. Buckley shares how the surge in demand for personalized accommodations has opened new opportunities to improve educational outcomes through technology. 

Buckley details Scholar Education’s mission to modernize ESE management by leveraging artificial intelligence and user-friendly digital platforms, easing administrative burdens on educators while enhancing student support. Drawing from his entrepreneurial background, including his success with fitness tech company Peerfit and its eventual acquisition by Peloton and FitOn, Buckley explains how these experiences inform his approach to scaling impactful solutions in education.

The conversation also delves into broader educational trends, such as the integration of AI and adaptive learning tools, and how these innovations are being thoughtfully embraced rather than resisted by schools. Buckley highlights the importance of empowering teachers as "force multipliers," enabling them to focus more on meaningful student engagement.

Buckley’s passion for solving complex problems and his commitment to driving positive change make this a compelling episode for innovators and educators alike.

Timestamps

02:21 – The Growing Demand for Educational Accommodations

05:10 – Modernizing ESE with Technology

07:04 – Ed’s Entrepreneurial Journey with Peerfit

09:55 – Overcoming Challenges in Startups

14:19 – Scholar Education’s Expansion Plans

15:23 – AI Integration in Education

Connect with Ed Buckley

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejbuckleyiii/

Website: https://joinscholar.com/

In this episode of Capital Class, host Adam Giery sits down with Jeff Cohen, CEO of FullBloom, a leading provider of special education, instructional intervention, and behavioral health solutions. With a wealth of experience in both education and private equity, Jeff Cohen shares insights into the evolving needs of students requiring special accommodations and the crucial role of public-private partnerships in meeting these demands.

Cohen discusses the significant increase in students requiring special education, rising from 8% in 2000 to 14% in recent years, and the growing awareness around diagnoses such as autism. FullBloom steps in to help school systems address these challenges, providing specialized services to support students with severe behavioral needs, trauma backgrounds, and diagnosed disabilities.

Throughout the conversation, Cohen emphasizes the importance of early intervention, the integration of education and healthcare, and the power of partnership in driving better outcomes for students. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how specialized education solutions, in partnership with school systems, are transforming the educational experience for students with unique needs, ultimately creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Timestamps

00:00 Special education needs evolving with increased demand.

03:51 Increasing autism challenges schools, partners assist.

07:31 We enhance the school system for specific needs.

11:20 Education and healthcare intersect in addressing needs.

15:17 95% of special ed kids can thrive academically.

17:17 Proper support enables all students to succeed.

20:28 Empower You SEL program utilizes asynchronous coaching.

23:55 Public-private partnerships improve education outcomes.

27:55 Catapult: Largest private US teacher employer, 8,000+.

32:06 Investment community committed to education mission.

36:41 Impressed by talent at Fullbloom leadership meeting.

38:09 Success is team improvement and incredible colleagues.

41:36 Our destiny hinges on prioritizing decisions effectively.

Connect with Jeff Cohen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-cohen-35097038

Website: https://fullbloom.org/