Hello everyone, and welcome to The Share Learning Report, Canada’s learning technology e-magazine, where we spotlight the stories and leadership defining the global future of education. In this special impromptu episode, recorded live at the inaugural Ministerial Global Symposium at BETT 2026 in London, host Robert Mlanchi connects with fellow Pepperdine alumna Christina Ishmael, the former director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of EdTech. Together, they reflect on how their graduate studies served as a definitive “turning point,” tracking Ishmael’s remarkable trajectory from an ELL teacher in Nebraska to a high-level policy leader under the Biden administration. The discussion explores the rising status of AI as a top-level decision-making priority for global leaders, the preservation of vital edtech artifacts by New America and the European EdTech Alliance, and the enduring value of communities of practice—from chance encounters with Jerry Seinfeld in Malibu to the collaborative efforts of international ministries. Join us for this unique conversation on how personal history and professional networks continue to shape the learning technology landscape, and, as always, keep the learning curve steep.
