Capital Class invites audiences into the c-suite of market-leading businesses to share candid conversations that explore complex business challenges while humanizing the journey of constructing an enterprise. Through storytelling and humor, Capital Class provides insights to support a vibrant innovation ecosystem.
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Adam Giery Podcasts

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Debt-Free Degrees? How ACE Is Rewriting Higher Ed
19:53
19:53
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19:53In 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 shar…
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From Chalkboards to Checkbooks: How Jess Gartner Is Rewriting EdTech
59:37
59:37
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59:37In 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…
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From Startup to Sector Leader: Chris Curran on Education, M&A, and Impact
19:15
19:15
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19:15In 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…
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Improving Student Outcomes Through Early Education Interventions with Jeff Cohen
45:41
45:41
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45:41In 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 accomm…
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Insights on AI and Education from Benchmark Education CEO Tom Reycraft
23:05
23:05
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23:05In this episode of Capital Class, host Adam Giery sits down with special guest Tom Reycraft, CEO of Benchmark Education, to explore his incredible 25-year journey in the education industry, from starting a business in his basement to navigating industry shifts and technological advancements. They discuss the evolving landscape of educational materi…
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Peter Yorke: Empowering Diverse Classrooms and Teaching Beyond Degrees
29:00
29:00
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29:00In this episode, we dive deep into the world of education and the challenges faced by educators. Our guest, Peter Yorke, is a dedicated middle school educator specializing in special education at Manor Middle School, Texas. He shares his journey from his roots in Ghana to making a remarkable impact in the United States education system. We explore …
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AI in Child Education and the Power of Interaction with Bridget Hamre
37:47
37:47
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37:47In today's episode, Dr. Bridget Hamre, co-founder and CEO of Teachstone joins Adam Giery to discuss early childhood education and the role AI plays in personalized learning. Bridget shares her inspiring journey from academia to building a successful education enterprise. She emphasizes the importance of quality interactions in early education, the …
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Empowering Teachers and Inspiring Students: Project Lead the Way's Approach to Education
46:11
46:11
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46:11I'm your host, Adam Giery, and today we have a very special guest joining us on the show. Dr. Dave Dimmett, the CEO of Project Lead the Way, will be sharing his insights and expertise on the growing demand for STEM programs in education, and how they are shaping the future of learning. Get ready to be inspired as we explore the importance of hands-…
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Andrew Rozell on Upgrading Educational Outcomes and Teacher Support
45:04
45:04
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45:04In today’s episode, iTeach president Andrew Rozell shares the challenges of leading a rapidly growing business while staying true to the mission of transforming education. From wearing multiple hats in the early days to expanding into new states, Andrew’s story with iTeach is truly inspiring. We explore how this visionary leader navigates the compl…
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Navigating the Challenges of Education: From Doubts to Success in Low-Income Schools
43:40
43:40
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43:40In today's episode, we have a special guest joining us, Karim Abouelnaga! Abouelnaga is a remarkable individual who is on a mission to revolutionize the education system. Abouelnaga shares his unique perspective, experiences, and insights, challenging the status quo and discussing the barriers faced by underprivileged students. From the struggles o…
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Empowering Teachers, Engaging Students: The Success Story of Legends of Learning with Sandy Roskes
38:06
38:06
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38:06In today's episode, we have a fascinating guest joining us. Sandy Roskes, the co-founder of Legends of Learning and the EVP of District Partnerships at Hooked on Phonics. Here's the question: Can we actually learn from games? Today, Sandy Roskes will shed light on this intriguing topic. Roskes’ research studies focus on the efficacy of using games …
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Navigating the AI Revolution and its Impact on Tech & Education with Skip Hansen
43:19
43:19
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43:19In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sits down with Skip Hansen. They explore the pressing issues facing the education system and the innovative solutions that Lifelong Learning and Learn4Life are implementing to make a difference. The conversation spans challenges pregnant teens face in school to providing industry connections and skills t…
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Capitalizing on Innovation: How Proximity Learning is Transforming the Education Landscape
47:43
47:43
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47:43In this episode, we dive deep into the world of education and the challenges educators face. Our guest, Evan Erdberg, founder and CEO of Proximity Learning, shares his journey and insights into transforming the education system. From managing a team and remote instruction to the impact of COVID-19, Evan sheds light on the struggles faced by teacher…
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Life Skills and Healthy Choices: Empowering Kids Through Cooking with Rainbow Chef's Academy
45:17
45:17
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45:17On this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sits down with Svetlana Elgart, the founder, and CEO of Rainbow Chef's Academy. Svetlana passionately shares how Rainbow Chefs Academy fosters literacy, math, history, and science through the art of cooking. Get ready to explore the hidden layers of knowledge that sizzle within every dish, enriching youn…
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How One Founder's Contrarian Mindset Led to Success in Venture Capital
1:00:31
1:00:31
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1:00:31On this episode of Capital Class, we welcome Ryan Whittemore, an experienced venture capitalist. Whittemore shares their successful journey in the industry, breaking down the challenges and strategies they used to achieve their goals. They discuss the importance of developing a clear financial forecast, how to create a well-prepared deck for invest…
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Technology Developed for Teachers Provides Fully Adaptive Personalized Instruction
50:51
50:51
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50:51In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sits down with Mohannad Arbaji, Founder and CEO of ChalkTalk, to discuss a journey that shaped the development of teacher-led and humanized personalized learning for students throughout the world. Arbaji discusses his early beginnings as an international student that embraced a love for education as a ve…
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The Impact of Innovative Technologies on Education with Scott Kinney
56:03
56:03
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56:03The Impact of Innovative Technologies on Education In this episode of Capital Class, we are joined by Scott Kinney, Chief Executive Officer at Discovery Education. Scott is a thought leader and influential voice in the education sector, dedicated to supporting the success of every student and teacher. His commitment is demonstrated in three decades…
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The Future of The Internet for Educators with Saif Ishoof | Founder of Lab22c
1:02:15
1:02:15
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1:02:15The Future of The Internet for Educators In this episode of Capital Class, we have Saif Ishoof, startup entrepreneur and founder of Lab22c. Saif is a speaker and believer in authentic partnerships. He serves as a thought partner to companies, founders, funders, and institutions looking to grow and scale their impact and reach in Miami’s innovation …
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Empowering Teachers and Students with A New Way of Learning Math
49:11
49:11
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49:11In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sat down with educator-turned-entrepreneur Anarupa Ganguly. They discuss how her experience with Teach for India inspired the thought process that led her to start her company Prisms. Anurupa's entry point to education began as a physics and math teacher in the Boston Public Schools. For 10+ years since …
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In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sat down with Johanna Mikkola, an entrepreneur who risked jail time and deportation to realize her dream. Johanna’s story of founding a coding school in an obscure corner of Miami to advising the White House on the future of computer coding is a compelling lesson in determination and persistence. Johanna…
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In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sat down with entrepreneur Samyr Qureshi, co-founder and CEO of Knack, an innovative online tutoring platform that matches college students with tutors in relevant subjects. Learn from this insightful conversation as Samyr discusses scaling a once highly localized, one-on-one service into a profitable, g…
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Season #2, Episode #4: Christiane Maertens, Founder, DoGoodery In today's episode, Adam sat down with Christiane Maertens. Read her bio below: Christiane Maertens has a palpable love for life. For over 15 years, Christiane (Kris-tee-on-ah Mair-tens) has built values-driven brands that create positive social impact on a global scale. Christiane is t…
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Season #2, Episode #3: Lauren Brill Castle, CEO & Founder, Sweet Loren's Inc. In today's episode, Adam sat down with Loren Brill Castle. Sweet Loren’s, Inc. is a clean food company that is redefining what it means to be delicious, better-for-you, and convenient. Sweet Loren's offers irresistible cookie dough made from non-GMO, plant-based, gluten-f…
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Season #2, Episode #2: Olli Vallo, CEO of Education Alliance Finland. In today's episode, Adam sat down with Olli Vallo. Olli is the CEO of Education Alliance Finland. He has worked in the Edtech field since 2012, has an MSc in Education, and has previously worked as a primary school teacher. Education Alliance Finland is specialized in quality eva…
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Season #2, Episode #1: Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart In today's episode, Adam sat down with Tom Vander Ark. Tom Vander Ark is an advocate for innovations in learning. As CEO of Getting Smart, he advises schools, districts, networks, foundations and learning organizations on the path forward. A prolific writer and speaker, Tom is author of Ge…
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Episode #6: Michael Hernandez, Teacher & Education Consultant In today's episode, Adam sat down with Michael Hernandez. Michael is an award-winning teacher, author, and consultant in Los Angeles whose work focuses on media literacy, digital storytelling, and innovation in learning. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator, National Geographic Grosveno…
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Episode #5: Lord Jim Knight, Director of SUKLAA Limited | Member of the House of Lords In today's episode, Adam sat down with Lord Jim Knight. Jim Knight works in education, MedTech and as a legislator. He is an expert in politics, leadership, digital disruption, and talent recruitment and development. Jim is the Chief Education and External Office…
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Episode #4: David Linke, Managing Director of EduGrowth | Global EdTech Innovator In today's episode, Adam sat down with David Linke. David leads EduGrowth, Australia’s education technology, and innovation industry hub. Through connection and collaboration, EduGrowth is accelerating Australia’s EdTech ecosystem globally. David has decades of experi…
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Episode #2: Claire Lessinger, Chief Operating Officer - Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee | Vice President of Events - Tampa Bay Sports Commission On July 30, 2012, Claire Lessinger joined the Tampa Bay Sports Commission team and now serves as the Vice President of Events. Lessinger and the TBSC are responsible for driving economic and social …
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Episode #3: Alex Lazarow, Global Venture Investor | Author | Adjunct Professor In today's episode, Adam sat down with Alex Lazarow. Alexandre (Alex) Lazarow has spent his career working at the intersection of investing, innovation, and economic development across the private, public, and social sectors. He is a venture capitalist with Cathay Innova…
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Episode #1: Ash Kaluarachchi, Cofounder at StartEd | Producer at EDTECH WEEK In today's episode, Adam sat down with Ask Kaluarachchi. Ash Kaluarachchi advises and enables growth for organizations solving problems in education and workforce learning. As an entrepreneur and advocate for entrepreneurs he has advised, launched and operated multiple acc…
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