Career Development Episodes

In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson delve into the intricacies of LinkedIn optimization, emphasizing the critical nature of establishing a polished professional profile. Key recommendations include utilizing a professional photo and cover image, crafting a compelling headline, and specifying your location. The hosts also advocate for featuring a portfolio or website link in the designated section. They caution against sharing proprietary content, suggesting a shift towards more generi...

In this discussion, Holly provides advice on how to navigate job descriptions when applying for roles in instructional design or the learning and development (L&D) field. She emphasizes the importance of identifying the sector you want to work in, such as corporate, education, government, ed tech, or nonprofit. Holly also suggest that applicants should not be deterred if they don't meet 100% of the qualifications, as many companies are open to candidates who meet 60-70% of the criteria and are w...

In this episode, we got to interview Josh Kamrath, CEO of Bongo, an EdTech company that uses video assessment to help learners demonstrate skills or competencies. Kamrath shares his journey from being the first employee of Bongo to becoming its CEO. He discusses the role of AI in education, particularly in facilitating personalized learning and validating learners' knowledge. Kamrath also highlights the importance of data privacy and security in EdTech, and how Bongo ensures both. He envisions a...

Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson discussed their experiences transitioning into instructional design and ed tech roles. They emphasized the importance of knowing what you want to do, conducting thorough research, and networking. They also highlighted the value of freelancing to gain experience and build a resume. They recommended using Teal, a job search platform that helps track applications and provides resources for job seekers. They also suggested spending 20 minutes a day on job searching to a...

Holly takes us on our journey and discusses the challenging (and anxiety-inducing) interview stages. By the end of this episode, you will feel comfortable and confident when stepping into the your next interview. Our journey starts with an understanding of the interview stages, from initial phone screenings to the final panel interviews. We kick off with the phone or video screening stage, discussing common questions like "Tell me about yourself" and "Why are you interested in this role?" We pr...

In this live demo, Shaunak Roy, founder and CEO of Yellowdig an EdTech company, showcased the platform's features and functionalities. Yellowdig is a tool designed to enhance student engagement and learning in higher education institutions. It allows students to create and share content, fostering a sense of community and active participation in the learning process. The platform also provides data to instructors, helping them understand student engagement levels and improve course delivery. Yel...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and DaNadia Johnson interview Taylor Shead, the founder and CEO of Stemuli, an educational technology company. Shead shares her journey from aspiring to be a reconstructive plastic surgeon to becoming an entrepreneur in the EdTech space. She explains that Stemuli is focused on addressing the US workforce shortage by engaging students in education and aligning their credentials with future job requirements. The company combines education and care...

In this episode, we interviewed returning guest Kate Udalova, the Chief Product Officer and co-founder of 7taps. Udalova discusses the progress of 7taps, a platform that simplifies the microlearning creation process. She highlights the company's recent delve into AI technologies, which has resulted in the 7taps Microlearning Transformer that converts existing training materials into microlearning content. Udalova also mentions the launch of Microlearning Con, a free virtual event where learning ...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, we interviewed Amanda Bratten, Vice President of Content and Curriculum at Propello. Bratten shares her journey from PR to teaching, and how her desire to provide resources for teachers led her to educational publishing and eventually to Propello. Propello is an online teaching and learning platform that offers a full year of 6th to 8th-grade science content, with the ability to personalize and align lessons to standards. The platform also offers translation int...

We made it to episode 100 and this is a GREAT one to celebrate this amazing milestone! In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, I got to interview Tia Samuel, a Senior Program Manager in Education at Intellum. Samuel shares her journey from being a K-12 teacher and trainer to founding a private school and eventually transitioning into the ed tech industry. She discusses her role at Intellum, where she manages various projects, including the development of certification programs for Intellum's content a...