March 13, 2026

The Accidental Leader: Emad Rahim Live at Quantum Leap 2026

28 minutes

Episode Summary: Emad Rahim — born in a concentration camp during the Khmer Rouge Genocide in Cambodia, raised as a stateless refugee in Brooklyn, and now a three-time doctorate holder, Fulbright Scholar, TEDx speaker, and award-winning educator — sits down for a fireside chat with N2N's Storyteller in Residence, Dr. Rod Berger, about the intersection of technology, education, and the power of human storytelling.

Key Topics Covered:

Emad's journey from a dyslexic, first-generation college student to an acclaimed educator and author

The role mentors played in redirecting his life at critical moments

How AI and competency-based learning can level the playing field in education

COVID's impact on young people's social skills and mental health — and how AI can help

The power of vulnerability and storytelling as tools for human connection

Using AI to enhance (not replace) the storytelling experience

The "Choose Your Own Adventure" metaphor for navigating an AI-driven future

Accessibility of technology and its potential to celebrate culture and community

Notable Quotes:

"It took a vice principal at a high school to see something in me and refuse to give up on me."

"I would say I'm a storyteller… I know my story more than anybody else."

"When you allow people to be vulnerable, they take advantage of it right away."

"I think with the resources available, they can choose their own adventure."

"There's a sense of fear that exists, and it's natural… but there also needs to be a sense of opportunity."

Guest Bio: Emad Rahim was born in a Cambodian concentration camp during the Khmer Rouge Genocide and arrived in Brooklyn as a stateless refugee in the 1980s. Once a dyslexic student who barely graduated high school, he went on to earn three doctorates, become a Fulbright Scholar, TEDx speaker, and college dean. He is an award-winning educator, acclaimed author, and globally recognized motivational speaker, profiled in Forbes, HuffPost, StoryCorps, and PBS.

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