What happens when someone who’s led edtech in the trenches steps into the role of building it?

In this episode of Leading Out Loud, Chantell sits down with Barbara Nesbitt, a former district CTO turned Vice President of Product, to explore what it really takes to bridge the gap between schools and edtech companies. Barbara shares the surprises and similarities she’s discovered on both sides of the table, and why empathy, experience, and mission alignment matter more than ever in today’s education landscape.

From building better partnerships to amplifying educator voice in product design, Barbara’s insights are both practical and powerful. If you’ve ever felt the tension between classroom needs and vendor solutions, or wondered what authentic collaboration really looks like, this episode is for you.