The Education & Empowerment Podcast

In this episode, we explore the intersection of educational entrepreneurship, innovation, and workforce transformation with Dr. Antoinette Farmer-Thompson, President of Strayer University. With over twenty-five years of leadership experience across corporate America, academia, and economic development, Dr. Farmer-Thompson has held executive positions at institutions including Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University.

Dr. Farmer-Thompson is deeply committed to empowering students—especially adult learners balancing work, family, and education—to achieve academic success and economic mobility. By leveraging technology, adaptive learning pathways, and partnerships with local employers, she creates innovative solutions and personalized support that help students prepare for workforce demands.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Farmer-Thompson shares insights from her extensive experience in academic leadership, discusses strategies for fostering innovation in higher education, and highlights how educational entrepreneurship can drive meaningful impact for students, institutions, and communities alike.

Story Notes:

• Career Journey and Leadership Across Academia and Industry
• Educational Entrepreneurship: Driving Innovation and Workforce Readiness
• Strategies for Supporting Adult and Nontraditional Learners
• Leveraging Technology, Adaptive Learning, and Employer Partnerships
• Challenges and Considerations in Implementing Educational Initiatives
• Future Outlook: Higher Education as a Catalyst for Workforce Transformation and Economic Equity

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University, to explore how visionary leadership, strategic innovation, and a commitment to student success can transform a regionally ranked private institution into a nationally recognized university. Since her inauguration in 2018, Dr. Becerra has led Marymount through bold initiatives that modernize curriculum, expand access, and elevate the University’s profile—earning national rankings, Carnegie classifications, and widespread recognition for research and student outcomes. 

Dr. Becerra shares the story of her strategic plan, “Momentum,” and the long-term efforts behind cultural change, academic program innovation, and institutional modernization. From launching market-driven degrees in AI, computer science, and biomedical fields to establishing fully online doctoral programs and cutting-edge facilities, she reveals the behind-the-scenes work that drives measurable impact for students, faculty, and the community. She also discusses diversity, equity, and inclusion, highlighting Marymount’s designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and how it shapes a vibrant, global learning environment. 

Listeners will gain insights into leadership strategies that balance innovation with operational excellence, learn how partnerships with industry and community stakeholders accelerate student success, and discover how transformative education can serve as a catalyst for workforce readiness and social mobility. Dr. Becerra’s journey—from immigrant and STEM scholar to academic leader and changemaker—offers invaluable lessons for higher education leaders seeking to elevate their institutions. 

Story Notes: 

• Leadership Journey and Vision for Marymount University
• Strategic Planning and Institutional Modernization
• Curriculum Innovation and Market-Driven Degree Programs
• Research, Diversity, and Student Outcomes
• Industry Partnerships and Community Engagement
• Navigating Cultural Change and Elevating National Recognition
• Lessons for Higher Education Leaders

In this Episode Dr. Oksana Malysheva, an accidental venture capitalist with a background in physics, shared her journey from Ukraine to becoming a venture capitalist in Austin, Texas. She emphasized the importance of following passion and serendipity in entrepreneurship. Oksana highlighted the need for educational institutions to adapt to change, equip students with skills for uncertainty, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. She discussed the balance between profitability and social impact, using Rex K12 as an example of a successful education venture. Oksana also noted the global distribution of talent and the emergence of venture capital opportunities beyond traditional hubs like Silicon Valley.

Once part of the strategic teams of McKinsey and Motorola, Sputnik ATX Managing Partner and CEO, Dr. Oksana Malysheva used her skills and passions in leadership and education to shift focus to building strategies for positive social change and innovation. Malysheva is a trained PhD physicist originally from the Ukraine, and found Austin to be a location with great weather and beautiful sights, along with the structure and flexibility to host a new accelerator for local business growth.

Although she has an educational background in physics (Dr. Malysheva holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in physics as well as a B.S. and M.S. in physics from the Moscow Institute of Technology), Dr. Malysheva's professional interests are driven by her passion for leadership, mentorship, innovation and education. As a venture capitalist, her interest in elevating the trajectory of the people she associates with to reach their fullest potential is central to her mission and her vision in all of her professional endeavours.

Story Notes:

• Educational Entrepreneurship
• Overcoming Challenges in Educational Innovation
• Role of Venture Capital in Education
• Global Perspectives and the Future of Education
• Importance of entrepreneurship in education

In this episode, James Herbertson is the co-founder and Chief People Officer of Bayswater Education, a social enterprise in international education that operates ten year-round colleges across the UK, France, Cyprus, Canada, and South Africa. Bayswater offers a range of micro-credentials in Digital Marketing, International Business and Customer Service. For every student Bayswater teaches, they educate another from a disadvantaged background.

With over 18 years of experience in the study abroad and education industry, James has held diverse roles, including agent, service provider, language school owner, and charity trustee. His journey began with learning Spanish at Malaca Instituto, inspiring him to found and run the language travel agency Answer English. After selling the agency, he launched London Nest in 2010, addressing the need for high-quality, affordable student accommodation in London. London Nest served many leading language schools before James sold his stake in 2018.

James has been Secretary of the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Development Programme (ZRSDP) for 23 years. The charity has raised over £500,000 since 2001, funding the construction of an AIDS education centre, classroom blocks, teacher accommodation, and boreholes in eight rural Zimbabwean schools. In 2011, James formed a relay team that swam the English Channel, raising more than £50,000.

In addition to his role at Bayswater Education, James serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees for English UK, the national association of English language centres. He served for 6 years on the board of the British Educational Travel Association (BETA). James also organised a Guinness World Record-breaking event for the largest number of nationalities in a language lesson.

Story Notes:

• The Value of Global Upskilling
• Facing Challenges in Study Abroad & Youth Travel Market
• The Importance of Micro-credentials
• The Future of Educational and Youth Travel
• Advice for Young People Hoping to Study Abroad

Learn More about James Herbertson:

Linked-in: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesalexanderherbertson

Bayswater Education: www.bayswater.ac

English UK: www.englishuk.com 

ZRSDP: www.zrsdp.org 

In this episode, John Lucas is President and CEO of the International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP Study Abroad), the world’s largest community of more than 350 post-secondary institutions in over 50 countries cooperating to provide affordable, life-changing programs of studying, interning, and volunteering abroad for a diverse student population. 

Previous leadership roles include Provost and Executive Vice President at the School for International Training (SIT), Associate Vice President of Academic Programs at IES Abroad, and Center Director in Barcelona and Alicante for CIEE.

He holds a PhD and MA in Spanish Linguistics from Penn State University, where he was an Edwin Erle Sparks Fellow in the Humanities., as well as an MA in Management from SIT. Dr. Lucas is the Past Chair of the Board of the Forum on Education Abroad and serves on the Advisory Council of the Global Leadership League.

He publishes widely and has held adjunct faculty roles at Georgetown University and the Universidad de Alicante, Spain. He speaks Spanish, Catalan, French, and German.

Story Notes:

• Importance of International Exchanges, Managing uncertainty
• Being an International Educator
• Value of the International Education
• Challenges of International Education
• Future for International Exchange Programs

In this episode, we have the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Timothy Touchette, who is the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Brandeis University. He brings over 18 years of experience in student life and operations to share innovative ways to improve student wellness. We'll get the best practices, tools, and mechanisms for transforming on and off-campus housing at T1 and T3 institutions in this episode with Dr. Timothy Touchette.

Story Notes:

• Discussing the steps Dr. Timothy Touchette took to start his career in higher education
• Examining the different housing search experiences students have
• Analyzing Sky Factor and the 360 Evaluation Tool and discussing their significance
• Identifying problems and solutions within the student experience to improve student wellness

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Federica Fornaciari, Professor, researcher, children’s book author, and the Academic Program Director for the MA in Strategic Communications at National University. Dr. Fornaciari received a doctorate in Communication with a concentration in Electronic Security and Privacy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Marshall University. Her research and teaching revolve around emerging technologies, privacy issues, digital identities, frame theory, and media representation.

Federica has published several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including “Reframing Hate: The Changing Face of White Power Narratives” in Discourse Analysis and Conflict Studies, “What is Privacy Anyway? A Longitudinal Analysis of Media Frames of Privacy” in the Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy, and “Pricey privacy: Framing the economy of information in the digital age” in First Monday.

A storyteller at heart, Federica recently published her first children’s book, Rosa & Cammy: From Reggio to the World, to cultivate cultural bridges and ignite young minds with the magic of imagination. Federica’s multifaceted journey embodies the spirit of exploration, nurturing intellectual growth, and fostering connection amidst the ever-evolving landscape of communication.

Show Notes:

• Dr. Fornaciari’s Journey
• AI and the National University Strategy Group
• Statistics in AI
• Case Studies
• Recommendations in AI

Learn more about National University: https://www.nu.edu

In this episode, Deepesh Dhingra, Executive Director of One to World, Inc. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Deepesh first visited the United States as part of a small delegation to the UN representing the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. This inspired him to move to New York City in 2004 to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Deepesh began his professional career in the construction industry as a Project Manager focusing on a design-build approach for commercial mission critical facilities. He built experience working for industry leading firms, such as Schneider Electric, before making a career shift into nonprofit organizations to fulfill a lifelong passion for education and service.

He has always been affiliated with One To World first as an international student and Global Guide from Kenya. He taught numerous workshops and supported the organization in various ways. His work got him nominated to join the One To World Board of Directors in 2020. He then transitioned to the Executive Director in 2024. Leading the organization allowed him to give back to the international students in the way that he was supported by One To World.

Deepesh has been an active member in the nonprofit world for the past 15 years, and has contributed to organizations such as the American Red Cross, Kenya Wildlife Service, NJ Community Water Watch, The National Science Foundation, The Interfaith Food Pantry, FIRST Robotics and as a Global Guide for One To World for the past 10 years. In recognition of his service to the community, the Jersey City Police Department presented Deepesh with the Outstanding Civilian Award for community service in 2021.

Now, let's dive into our discussion on education, empowerment, and Deepesh journey from being a student to a leader.

Show notes:

• Morning Mantra and Routine
• International Student Journey 
• Challenges of Being An International Students in the US
• Being Smart about Choosing Profession, Career and Your Future Aspirations
• One to World, Non-Profits, and Deepesh as Leader

In this episode, Komil Mamajanov, Vice President of Strategic Development at University Canada West and a Director of Strategy at Global University Systems. A powerhouse in private education with over 2 million active students worldwide. With more than 15 years of leadership experience, Komil has overseen exponential growth in student enrollment across diverse regions, spearheading projects in Germany, Ireland, the USA, and Canada. His innovative strategies and global perspective have played a pivotal role in transforming University Canada West into Canada's largest independent university. 

In this episode, we’ll dive deep into his thoughts on leadership, international student mobility, and the future of education. Let’s give a warm welcome to Komil Mamajanov! 

Show notes:

• Komil's Career Journey
• History and Evolution of Student Mobility
• Benefits of International Students
• Case Studies and Real-World Examples
• Future Outlook and Mitigation Strategies
  
  

In this episode, Chris Moloney, PhD, Associate VP and Associate Managing Principal, AGB Consulting  and Ken Knueven, Chairman, CORE Education Foundation 
discuss labor shortage as Industry 4.0 transforms manufacturing and global dynamics. Job requirements are rapidly evolving, with predictions that by 2025, half of the workforce will need reskilling. Proactive measures are essential to bridge this gap and prepare for the technological revolution.

Now, let's dive into our discussion on education, empowerment, and the critical role of adapting labor shortage with our esteemed guests, Chris Moloney and Ken Knueven

Show notes:

• Upskilling and Reskilling Strategy
• Need for Alternatives in Funding and Access 
• Adapting to AI and Machine learning
• Consolidation, Competition, Technology 
• Examples of Virtual Reality

If you’re interested in connecting with our guests from today’s episode, you can reach out to Chris Moloney via LinkedIn at Chris Moloney or email him at [email protected]. For Ken Knueven, you can find him on LinkedIn under Ken Knueven or contact him via email at [email protected]. Feel free to reach out to them with any questions or further discussions on the topics covered in today’s episode.