IMPACT LEARNING

Today, Maria sits down with Bruce Umpstead.

Bruce is a director of State Programs at IMS Global Learning Consortium, the world-leading non-profit organization that operates under the simple principle: “Better learning from better learning technology”.

IMS Global brings together the actors of the e-learning ecosystem who are investing in a better future for teaching and learning by collaborating on creating standards for e-learning platforms.

During our conversation, Bruce takes us through his own learning journey, starting from his childhood as a US Air Force Military’s son. He shares the impressions his overseas travels left on him that made him eager to always explore adventures and create impact with his life and work.

He later talks about his career in Edtech and e-learning, the challenges and the excitement he has experienced over the years.

Together, we unpack the future of learning in light of how analytics and big data are creating a better and more personalized learning experience for students.

A rare inside look into the future of learning with someone who’s making it happen!

Today, Maria talks with Heath Evans. Heath is a marketing and communications strategist at the Melbourne Accelerator Program (or MAP), a startup accelerator powered by the University of Melbourne, which has been ranked the 8th best University-aligned Accelerator in the world.

Heath says he has inherited three wonderful traits from his grandfather – the love of life, the love of stories, and most of all, the love of challenges. Over the past decade, these three passions have helped him thrive across the sporting, not-for-profit, and startup sectors, while also launching a start-up and becoming a coach at Seth Godin's altMBA.

Together, they unpack his learning journey. Heath takes us through his quaint childhood neighborhood outside of Melbourne rallying friends to play sports. We then move on to his business and marketing studies at the university and his early career in sports. Heath talks about his work in the non-for-profit organisation World Vision and the famous “Run India” project he led.

After discussing his contribution at the Seth Godin’s altMBA, he shares his current work at Melbourne Accelerator Program (or MAP) along with his dreams and aspirations. A wonderful chat with a person who loves to connect the dots and help people make their business more human.

Today Maria sits down with David Reynolds. David is the professional learning director at the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the director of the Impact Project. He retired from the public school system where he served as a teacher, an assistant principal and a principal. Today, the focus of his work at PAGE is on developing and strengthening classroom, school, and district practices to ensure that all decisions are made for the benefit of students and learning and that all of our work leads to adult and student engagement. David takes us through his learning journey from devouring books in the Free Public Library in Louisville, Kentucky and later on majoring in Industrial Arts in college. He talks about how his curiosity and commitment to learning has guided his career and led him to a broad range of roles and experiences in the public school system and today, at PAGE where he brings together the community of educators and guides to lead students how to learn. David is also the host of the podcast “Lead - Learn - Change”. A truly engaged conversation!

On this episode, Maria takes us through the learning journey of a chemist from Greece turned into VP of a global enterprise. She reflects on her career aspirations, the forks in the road, and the serendipitous moments that shaped the first decade of her corporate path. She talks about the opportunities she attracted through her commitment to people and customers and how she was able to leverage her experience and skills to achieve both business results and her professional goals. Tune in for some great insights from Maria that will inspire you to think deeply about your own career and life choices.

Today, Maria chats with Karena de Souza, speaker, coach and host of the TILT the future podcast. Together, they unpack Karena’s learning journey starting from her childhood as a refugee in India, through her universities studies in computing and math in the UK and her corporate banking career in the USA. They explore the implications of algorithms on the way we learn, the power of strategic corporate scenario planning and the importance of human connection and advocacy for the others to help us design our lives in the future of work. They also tell the story about how trust and vulnerability brought them together on a shared journey that guided them to build an impactful connection with each other. A lively conversation between two women passionate about the future of learning and work and the impact they want to create in the world!

Today, Maria chats with Adam Ashton, co-host of the "What You Will Learn" podcast where he and his co-host Adam Jones read a new book each week and share the biggest lessons and best takeaways. Maria and Adam talk about his learning journey, starting from his childhood and his love for books. He shares the side projects he started while he was still a university student and how his entrepreneurial personality led him to carve his career path after a short tenure in the corporate banking world. Together, they also explore the wonders of books and how this abundant resource can guide us to discover new ideas, foster our curiosity, design our learning journey and create the work we want. An insightful conversation between two book nerds!

Today, Maria interviews Dr. Robert Zeitlin, a psychologist, dear friend, altMBA alumni and co-host of the “I’m the worst parent ever” podcast. Together they discuss Robert’s learning and life journey from a clinical school psychologist, and business owner, to a parent, positive psychologist, blogger, and podcaster. They explore the forks in the road and his adventures that led him to the meaningful work he is doing today with parents, kids and wonder women!

Dr. Robert Zeitlin is also the author of Laugh More, Yell Less: A Guide to Raising Kick-Ass Kids, a parenting book rooted in positive psychology and what he calls character’s strengths.

On this episode, Maria reflects on her learning journey that guided her studies and the work she decided to do after grad school. She shares stories from her childhood and throughout her public education in Athens, Greece, that led her to join corporate America. Maria opens up about how she made the big decisions when she found herself at different forks in the road. She talks about how she kept learning, exploring and adapting to new situations, allowing her intuition to guide her and trusting herself to keep moving forward.

Today, Maria interviews David Dvorkin, the founder of Hire Cause. During this inspiring conversation, David explores his love for how human beings organize systems and cultures that led him down his entrepreneurial path. He discusses how Hire Cause is empowering students through civic engagement programs to develop professional skills and become leaders in their community. David ends with his family story that has shaped his beliefs and continues to guide his work today and in the future.

Today, Maria interviews Tamara Kemper, the founder of The Process Mentors. Tamara shares what she learnt during her years as an elementary school teacher, why she joined the ed-tech world and how she decided to run her own business coaching company, The Process Mentors. Tamara talks about how investing in a personal coach and educational programs helped her kickstart her business and how she discovered a greater joy for writing. An insightful and delightful conversation!