Ashish Fernando talks with Jason Barnard about AI innovation in global education.

Ashish Fernando, CEO and Founder of iSchoolConnect and EDMO, was the first edtech partner with Google Cloud and created an AI-powered platform that matches students with the right institutions. He is a member of the Forbes Council and speaks on education, AI, international student life, leadership, and future skills.

Ashish talks about his journey, from earning a full MBA scholarship to creating an AI-driven platform that supports millions of students in pursuing international education. He also shares valuable insights on securing investments, and the philosophy of prioritizing employee well-being to ensure business success.

Having faced the difficulties of applying to US universities, Ashish leveraged his viral YouTube success to launch a mission-driven business. In this episode, he discusses how his perseverance and focus on customer-centric innovation helped him navigate investor skepticism and build a thriving edtech company.

What you’ll learn from Ashish Fernando

00:00 Ashish Fernando and Jason Barnard

00:58 Ashish Fernando’s Brand SERP

01:10 What is Missing in Ashish Fernando’s Knowledge Panel?

02:41 What Does Ashish Think About His Own Personal Brand?

02:55 Where Has Ashish’s Focus Been Lately When it Comes to His Personal Brand?

03:47 What is the Inspiration Behind Ashish’s iSchoolConnect, EDMO, and His Career?

03:53 What Inspired Ashish to Pursue an MBA in the US?

04:06 What Challenges Did Ashish Face When Trying to Afford an MBA in the US?

04:42 What Was the Outcome of Ashish’s Efforts After Three Years of Research?

04:50 Where Did Ashish Go After Receiving a Full-Ride Scholarship for His MBA?

04:56 What is the Title of Ashish’s First Video on YouTube?

05:09 Why Did Students Start Reaching Out to Ashish for Advice?

06:38 How Did Ashish Transition so Quickly to Becoming a Leader and Start Looking for Investors?

08:01 How Did Ashish Leverage His First Investor Beyond Just Their Recommendations to Friends?

09:56 What Did Ashish Find About His Team and His Role in Driving the Company After Getting Investors?

12:29 Why Do Profitable Bootstrapped Businesses Get Less Recognition Than Funded Startups?

13:01 What Do Founders Need to Prioritize in Their Businesses?

13:39 Which Industry Was the First to Be Hit When COVID-19 Hit?

15:06 How Can Founders Bootstrap Their Businesses?

17:05 How Did Ashish’s Failures Along the Way Help Him Move Forward?

18:43 How Can Unexpected Product Pivots Lead to Greater Business Opportunities During Crisis?

19:33 How Does Prioritizing Employee Wellbeing Drive Sustainable Business Success?

This episode was recorded live on video January 14th 2025

https://youtube.com/live/iJu7gGnsGAI

Links to pieces of content relevant to this topic:https://youtu.be/ayI1T5KRwm4?si=UFrUi8WUs8wyX1ykhttps://youtu.be/AiFq3TcvyyQ?si=CbaedyrKCxKx9jXDhttps://youtu.be/JDS2pljhObQ?si=Mb8PnutgZjtheP5VAshish Fernando

The event is 100% free:

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Organized by Kalicube.