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Co-Founder and CEO of AI for Education, Amanda Bickerstaff joins us for an exciting conversation sharing her work and insights on the use of AI in education. Amanda is a former high school biology teacher and EdTech executive with over 20 years of experience in the education sector. She has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that AI can offer. She is a frequent consultant, speaker, and writer on the topic of AI in education, leading workshops and professional learning across both K12 and Higher Ed. Amanda is committed to helping schools and teachers maximize their potential through the ethical and equitable adoption of AI.

This is a special panel episode of the Perkins Platform Podcast with Dr. Janice Gassam Asare and Sara Taylor in an important conversation on the latest on resistance to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives currently underway across industries. The discussion wraps up with practical strategies for leaders to support what's next in the fight for diversity, equity and inclusion. A must-listen for leaders in all disciplines, HR managers and executives and consultants.

Dr. Janice Gassam Asare, Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology, is a leading racial equity expert with over a decade of experience as a professor and facilitator. A LinkedIn #1 Top Voice in Racial Equity, two-time TEDx speaker, and MIPAD Global Top 100 Under 40 honoree, she has authored three Amazon best-sellers and written over 400 articles for Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Insider, and Fast Company. Dr. Gassam Asare teaches on LinkedIn Learning and Udemy Business and is an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University. She has collaborated with major organizations like Google and Amazon and is recognized as a Top 30 Diversity & Inclusion Leader by LeadersHum and a Top 25 Workplace Expert by Gusto. She also engages her growing audience through a weekly LinkedIn Equity Newsletter.

Sara Taylor, founder of deepSEE Consulting, is a cultural competence expert, speaker, and best-selling author. Since 2002, she has helped organizations like Walmart and Coca-Cola improve inclusion and leadership. She previously directed Diversity and Inclusion for Ramsey County and developed leadership programs at the University of Minnesota. Sara authored Thinking at the Speed of Bias (2024) and Filter Shift (2017). She is active in HR and diversity organizations and holds a master’s in Diversity and Organizational Development. Sara divides her time between the Dominican Republic and Minneapolis with her husband, Miguel.

This is an engaging conversation with Lisa Bodell, a global expert in simplification, collaboration, and innovation. Lisa shares her insights on how organizations can transform by reimagining the way they work and driving innovation at every level. She shows how reducing complexity sparks creativity, boosts morale, and improves employee engagement and retention. Lisa is the author of Why Simple Wins and Kill the Company, and ranks among the "Top 50 Speakers Worldwide," known for inspiring audiences to challenge the status quo and focus on what matters most.

After earning her business degree from the University of Michigan, Lisa launched her career at Leo Burnett, later founding two businesses before focusing on simplification with FutureThink, a leading global source for innovation research and training.

Lisa’s insights have impacted top organizations like Google, SAP, and Citigroup. A frequent media contributor, she has appeared in Forbes, Fast Company, WIRED, and more. She’s also taught innovation at American and Fordham Universities and delivered a popular TED Talk on the subject. Lisa serves on multiple advisory boards, including the World Economic Forum and the U.S. National Security Agency.