DisruptED

When the US Centre for Advanced Manufacturing launched in June, Cynthia Hutchison, the Head of the Centre, met up with me and Kevin Czinger, CEO of Divergent3D & Czinger Vehicles.Czinger is simply a phenomenon.  He comes from a proud family of mechanics and drag racers in Cleveland who influenced his interests at an early age, and encouraged him to become a voracious reader. Kevin burst onto the scene from there.  A lifelong learner at Yale, he received undergraduate and advanced degrees in biophysics, biochemistry, and electrical engineering at Yale and Arizona State.  Afterward, Czinger cofounded a successful EV battery manufacturing company in California. “When first researching how to transform an internal combustion engine vehicle into an EV, Czinger realized, “I spent more on the conversion of that car than all the capital that we spent on technology development for that car.” Although uni-body construction systems were automated, they were also analog and not optimized. Czinger points out, “It’s still the architecture of a fundamental analog system and here we have an industry being digitized everywhere except at its core.”Czinger knew he needed to figure out digital assembly to create an entirely new factory model and digital manufacturing system. So he did! Inspired by Kelly Johnson’s pioneering work as the first team leader at Lockheed Skunkworks, Czinger shares his own gripping story. A blank slate, seven years, over 500+ distinct patents, and over $400M in invested capital, his 3D printed high performance C21 HyperCar just beat the McLaren P1 at the Laguna Seca Roadway by 6 seconds/ As Hutchison insightfully suggests during their multi-episode podcast, the two common ways people respond to this kind of massive disruption are through the lens of fear or opportunity. Czinger is clearly one of the latter-- a generational visionary who is leveraging his voracious American-born competitiveness to bring innovative technologies to scale. And Hutchison is equally passionate about bringing thought leaders together as she launches programming for the Centre.  The US Centre for Advanced Manufacturing is a proud sponsor of DisruptED Advanced Manufacturing.  As Hutchison shares, “We want to shine a light on advanced manufacturing here in the US.”  It is electrifying listening to these two firsthand as Kevin’s digital manufacturing system launches, as the world watches and takes notice. 

When the US Centre for Advanced Manufacturing launched in June, Cynthia Hutchison, the Head of the Centre, met up with me and Kevin Czinger, CEO of Divergent3D/Czinger Vehicles. Czinger is simply a phenomenon. He comes from a proud family of mechanics and drag racers in Cleveland who influenced his interests at an early age, and encouraged him to become a voracious reader. Kevin burst onto the scene from there. A lifelong learner at Yale, he received undergraduate and advanced degrees in biophysics, biochemistry, and electrical engineering at Yale and Arizona State. Afterward, Czinger cofounded a successful EV battery manufacturing company in California. “When first researching how to transform an internal combustion engine vehicle into an EV, Czinger realized, “I spent more on the conversion of that car than all the capital that we spent on technology development for that car.” Although uni-body construction systems were automated, they were also analog and not optimized. Czinger points out, “It’s still the architecture of a fundamental analog system and here we have an industry being digitized everywhere except at its core.”Czinger knew he needed to figure out digital assembly to create an entirely new factory model and digital manufacturing system. So he did! Inspired by Kelly Johnson’s pioneering work as the first team leader at Lockheed Skunkworks, Czinger shares his own gripping story. A blank slate, seven years, over 500+ distinct patents, and over $400M in invested capital, his 3D printed high performance C21 HyperCar just beat the McLaren P1 at the Laguna Seca Roadway by 6 seconds/ As Hutchison insightfully suggests during their multi-episode podcast, the two common ways people respond to this kind of massive disruption are through the lens of fear or opportunity. Czinger is clearly one of the latter-- a generational visionary who is leveraging his voracious American-born competitiveness to bring innovative technologies to scale. And Hutchison is equally passionate about bringing thought leaders together as she launches programming for the Centre. The US Centre for Advanced Manufacturing is a proud sponsor of DisruptED Advanced Manufacturing. As Hutchison shares, “We want to shine a light on advanced manufacturing here in the US.” It is electrifying listening to these two firsthand as Kevin’s digital manufacturing system launches, as the world watches and takes notice.

Returning guest Pete Hall, executive director of educationhall.com and author of YA novel Chasing the Show, joins hosts Ron Stefanski and Dr. Ceasar Mickens to talk about his new book and the valuable lessons of communication and empathy between parents, coaches, and kids.While Hall’s other books focus on lessons of self-reflection, this story takes on a new approach: “How do I navigate what my life is going to be?,” said Hall. To create an audience receptive to learning while also engaged in the story, Hall focused on figuring out what people wanted most, “Part of the motivation beyond writing it was to build connections,” he said.Schools today are trying to figure out the metric for success and part of that equation needs to be building connections. The human need for interaction was reflected sharply in the pandemic-era remoteness and isolating digital aspect, taking a toll on many people’s mental health. When Hall’s friend returned to the office, one of the reasons he stated was, “‘I miss interacting with human beings,’” said Hall.The book is reflective of those human connections, “It’s a young adult novel…It follows the rises and falls of that dream [of an athlete],” explained Hall, “As the story unfolds, it also follows the interactions between the kid and his parents, the kid and his classmates and teammates, the kid and one of his teachers in particular, the parents and their friends who are school psychologists.” The book is aimed at explaining the importance of providing and nurturing support for his goals while also communicating effectively and developing a “Plan B” in case Plan A does not pan out.Not only does Chasing the Show help facilitate conversations between parents and kids, but it’s an important tool for learning how to communicate effectively. A lot of kids “don’t have the skills and knowledge to go and talk to their coach…” said Hall, this book aims to disrupt that.

Returning guest Pete Hall, executive director of educationhall.com and author of YA novel Chasing the Show, joins hosts Dr. Caesar Mickens and Ron Stefanski to talk about his new book and the valuable lessons of communication and empathy between parents, coaches, and kids.While Hall’s other books focus on lessons of self-reflection, this story takes on a new approach: “How do I navigate what my life is going to be?,” said Hall. To create an audience receptive to learning while also engaged in the story, Hall focused on figuring out what people wanted most, “Part of the motivation beyond writing it was to build connections,” he said.Schools today are trying to figure out the metric for success and part of that equation needs to be building connections. The human need for interaction was reflected sharply in the pandemic-era remoteness and isolating digital aspect, taking a toll on many people’s mental health. When Hall’s friend returned to the office, one of the reasons he stated was, “‘I miss interacting with human beings,’” said Hall. The book is reflective of those human connections, “It’s a young adult novel…It follows the rises and falls of that dream [of an athlete],” explained Hall, “As the story unfolds, it also follows the interactions between the kid and his parents, the kid and his classmates and teammates, the kid and one of his teachers in particular, the parents and their friends who are school psychologists.” The book is aimed at explaining the importance of providing and nurturing support for his goals while also communicating effectively and developing a “Plan B” in case Plan A does not pan out.Not only does Chasing the Show help facilitate conversations between parents and kids, but it’s an important tool for learning how to communicate effectively. A lot of kids “don’t have the skills and knowledge to go and talk to their coach…” said Hall, this book aims to disrupt that.

“Getting Shit Done” is the outstanding theme highlighted in DisruptED. Hosts Ron Stefanski and Dr. Ceasar Mickens  sit down with two extraordinary women, Kristin Harrington and Elizabeth Hofreuter, both with high GSD index scores to talk about their impact on fearless learning in the education space.Hofreuter originally began her journey in the education space when her dyslexic daughter struggled to adapt to classroom learning. Now, as the Head of the Wheeling Country Day School, Hofreuter noted the importance of providing a flexible learning opportunity to all.“On a national level 20% of children have…dyslexia,” said Hofreuter. Combined with the widespread learning loss due to covid, kids need structured literacy to catch up.After a phone call sparked a shared passion between Hofreuter and Harrington, a founding partner for a nonprofit leadership consultancy, they teamed up to create a program aimed at building fearless learning.“So, we used the pandemic as an acclerant. We learned over the pandemic that our kids who needed tutoring could be tutored remotely and, out of necessity…So we took our program online and once we were online we realized it could go anywhere,” said Hofreuter.To branch out to kids who need to the most help, Hofreuter and Harrington work through out of school network programs, such as the Boys and Girls Club, which provides mentors for each kid and help them learn during their “power hour.”Hofreuter explained, “So, we’re providing life changing literacy work within a life-changing program.”Hofreuter and Harrington’s program teaches to the edges, so that no one is excluded. Their goal is to help kids learn that school shouldn’t be about survival - it should be about being fearless. For many kids with learning challenges, learning how to be fearless in education will transform their lives.“We are happy to talk to anyone who wants to work collaboratively on this effort to bring fearless learning to students across Appalachia,” said Harrington, noting that their efforts don’t have to just be about dyslexic students, but rather can be applicable to all, “...Every intervention we are offering is just as applicable to students who are experiencing learning loss or interrupted learning as a result of the pandemic…Students are just struggling coming out of the pandemic.”

“Getting Shit Done” is the outstanding theme highlighted in DisruptED. Hosts Ron J Stefanski and Dr. Ceasar sit down with two extraordinary women, Kristin Harrington and Elizabeth Hofreuter, both with high GSD index scores to talk about their impact on fearless learning in the education space.Hofreuter originally began her journey in the education space when her dyslexic daughter struggled to adapt to classroom learning. Now, as the Head of the Wheeling Country Day School, Hofreuter noted the importance of providing a flexible learning opportunity to all.“On a national level 20% of children have…dyslexia,” said Hofreuter. Combined with the widespread learning loss due to covid, kids need structured literacy to catch up.After a phone call sparked a shared passion between Hofreuter and Harrington, a founding partner for a nonprofit leadership consultancy, they teamed up to create a program aimed at building fearless learning.“So, we used the pandemic as an acclerant. We learned over the pandemic that our kids who needed tutoring could be tutored remotely and, out of necessity…So we took our program online and once we were online we realized it could go anywhere,” said Hofreuter.To branch out to kids who need to the most help, Hofreuter and Harrington work through out of school network programs, such as the Boys and Girls Club, which provides mentors for each kid and help them learn during their “power hour.”Hofreuter explained, “So, we’re providing life changing literacy work within a life-changing program.”Hofreuter and Harrington’s program teaches to the edges, so that no one is excluded. Their goal is to help kids learn that school shouldn’t be about survival – it should be about being fearless. For many kids with learning challenges, learning how to be fearless in education will transform their lives.“We are happy to talk to anyone who wants to work collaboratively on this effort to bring fearless learning to students across Appalachia,” said Harrington, noting that their efforts don’t have to just be about dyslexic students, but rather can be applicable to all, “…Every intervention we are offering is just as applicable to students who are experiencing learning loss or interrupted learning as a result of the pandemic…Students are just struggling coming out of the pandemic.”

Life is full of challenges. Often, it can take a while to learn how to overcome and succeed in the challenges presented to us. For Dr. Howard Liebman, CEO of Smart Horizons Career Online Education (SHCOE) and Kari Greenfield, VP - Academic Partnerships, accomplishments coincide with a high GSD index - get stuff done. DisruptED hosts Ron Stefanski and Dr. Caesar Mickens invited Dr. Liebman and Greenfield to share how their mindsets help them overcome stifled progress along the education spectrum.“I think, you know, passion is important because if you’re going to try mindsets and you’re going to change schemas of thinking you really have to be passionate about what you’re trying to do,” stated Dr. Liebman.Disruption along the traditional education system can be extremely positive. For Dr. Liebman and Greenfield, this meant building a program that helps to re-engage adults back into the educational system to complete their high school diploma.Dr. Liebman noted, “There’s 40 million adults in the country who don’t have a high school diploma. If we’re going to reengage that we’ve got to take a very tactical and strategic approach to how we’re going to do that moving forward.”To do this, SHCOE designs their program around mitigating the traditional flight stimula presented in students' brains, “We want to eliminate that stimula in the brain to activate the flight [response],” Dr. Liebman said, and to do this, “Our students declare a major upon point of enrollment.” In addition to taking just their major over the first four months, SHCOE also provides a relatable academic coach to help students re-engage.Greenfield noted that many SHCOE students lead busy lives, “Our average age student is mid-30s, 70% are women…63% of our students are parents…these are busy individuals…”Through SHCOE, students are able to learn occupational skills and obtain their GED to provide a better life for themselves and their families.

Education is about growth. Growth of skills, learning, and communicating. When Pete Hall, founder of educationhall.com was an educational leader, growth was his priority. The problem was, no one else seemed to know where to start. Hosts Ron Stefanski and Ceasar Mickens  sit down with Hall to discuss his role in education as a disruptor and what he learned along the way.Hall was shocked when he transitioned from teaching into an administrative role. Some teachers had brilliant methods of course design and concepts, others were decades behind. To challenge this, Hall recongized the need for growth in educational faculty. A school of great teachers comprises of positive self-reflection, “It’s how we oriente energy towards what we’re doing that makes the greatest impact,” said Hall.Though, finding the time to implement and reflect as a teacher is hard-pressed, Hall said that it’s pertinent others learn to look at it like a necessary exercise for growth, afterall, you can’t build muscle if you’re not in the gym. He said, “We need to take our teachers to the reflective gym.” In this, administrators must make it explicitly clear how self-reflection is a great learning tool. Using methods like free-journalling or assigning specific reflective writing prompts helps create strong and empowered teachers. In utilizing these methods, Hall learned that educators threw away words of doubt like “but” or “should” and replaced them with action, which, in turn, created a positive learning environment for the students. These methods can be actioned individually, but to really transform an education, schools and districts must work together and make self-reflection a cultural habit. To learn more about Hall’s work, check out his authored and co-authored educational titles: “Creating a Culture of Reflective Practice”  and “Building Teacher’s Capacity for Success” as he continues to disrupt education in a positive way.

Education is top of mind for Jeffrey J Mimms, Jr., Mayor of Dayton, OH, and Dr.  David Lawrence, Education Advisor for Dayton, OH. Mimms, a longtime educator himself with over forty years in education, is a pioneer in establishing equitable funding for public schools across Ohio. DisruptED’s Ron Stefanski and Ceasar Mickens spoke to Mimms and Lawrence about an extraordinary concept they’re championing: creating a city of learners in Dayton. Mimms said the challenge in education today, especially in underserved areas, is getting kids engaged and excited to come to school and learn every day. Mimms listed the four A’s essential for education success: attendance, attitude, activities, and achievement. When schools provide the programs that allow students to hit the four A’s, those lessons carry through beyond school and into life. The City of Learners concept design will make education equitable and expansive throughout Dayton and allow children to achieve their goals.“The City of Learners rests on five core principles,” Lawrence said. “Every child must attend a high-quality K-12 school. Every child must have expanded access to preschool for all children. We must grow our partnerships with businesses, recruit mentors for young children, and increase the number of high-quality summer and after-school programs.” And Lawrence knows the power of mentorship because Mimms served as his mentor, and the lessons he imparted were invaluable. Mimms has ambitious goals for education, but they are all connected with the mission to build a better, more sustainable community. “Those communities experiencing a high quality of life have three major pillars,” Mimms said. “One is high-quality education. Two is safety. We are involved in a very strong police reform effort that we started about twelve months ago. The other thing that is a key issue is recreation. We are in the process of how we can improve the quality of recreation.” Local businesses that recognize the benefits when everyone works together for the common good bolster these efforts.

For years now, a lot of discussion surrounding the STEM field has mostly focused on the lack of students pursuing the academic fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Although the shortage remains true, there’s also been a lot of work done to improve the numbers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In an episode of DisruptED, hosts Ron J Stefanski and Dr. Caesar Mickenstalked to two Croatian nationals dedicated to changing the current landscape of what education looks like, the gaps that exist, and how they are emphasizing STEM. Guests Marin Troselj, the CEO of STEMI, and Slobodan Velikic, a Chief Business Officer and Partner with STEMI, talked about their platform’s mission and their thoughts and solutions to what needs reorganizing.Mickens stated that STEM numbers are concerning and there needs to be some kind of reinvigoration of the field to get the youth more readily interested and involved. While the U.S. once was No. 1 in STEM graduates, they are seeing lower numbers, and they are not alone. Globally, there’s been a drop in STEM graduates and professionals, said Mickens. But getting students to seek out STEM isn’t the only issue; it starts with going up against an increasingly outdated structure and teaching methods.“In my opinion education around the world is going in the wrong direction,” said Troselj. “We are teaching kids to be experts in tests and not how to build meaningful stuff. We teach kids that the right answer is always in textbooks and don’t prepare them for the real world.”Troselj stated that much of education was built to support the educational needs to produce a workforce for factories. Despite it evolving since, it still maintained its industrial roots.With STEMI, Troselj and Slobodan Velikic are reshaping that landscape by making the testing and textbooks schools take a backseat. But more so, by turning education into something students can use outside of schools to solve real-life issues in their communities.

Ron Stefanski and Caesar Mickens Jr talk with David Richards on this episode of DisruptED. The episode focuses on optimizing technology in education requires professional development for teachers. The educators consider the lack of technology infrastructure to factor into 2020’s learning loss. Richards and Michens share insight into how technology and education are vital cycle breakers of social inequality.Richards started as a tech director in the early nineties. He was motivated by his educators, who showed him that he could break the cycle of poverty. Initially, his school experience was for sports and socialization, but Richards learned that education was a path of opportunity. He believes that every child deserves more. To this day, Richards believes that education is the “most dramatic game-changer” in fighting the growing wealth disparity.As the tech director, Richard’s principal and mentor focused much of the school development budget on Richards. He traveled all over learning computers and leveraged technology for education in the school curriculum. Richards recognized the opportunity to leverage a resource that would level the playing field.A huge hurdle is the inequality of resources, especially when computers were first released. That technology was primarily accessible to upper-middle-class families and schools. Richards likens introducing technology to in-person teachers to the process of grief. There’s anger, denial, sometimes bartering, and acceptance. In training, Richard recommends approaching it from a place of empathy - understanding that these teachers have found success in the traditional model and shifting to the digital model is an entirely different science. Start with the reasoning for technology to relieve resistance. Traditional teachers need to understand that technology will provide a lot of ways to enhance the teaching process. The return on investment comes down to improving student achievement. The education system can move the needle significantly by using voice, video, or data. Listen to the entire episode for more recommendations.

Taking on a new and relevant topic in the education space, DisruptED, hosted by Dr. Caesar Mickens and Ron J Stefanski, is centered on the disruption seen in the confluence of education today and the agents of change. In this premier episode, Co-hosts Dr. Mickens and Stefanski sit down with Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership to talk about their game-changing work in education development.Norington-Reaves emphasized the fact that there will be jobs in the future that do not exist today, “60% of 8-year olds are going to work in jobs that did not exist at the time.” Finding a way to build skills to perform those jobs starts with education.Public schools must start emphasizing career engagement and exposure early, Norington-Reaves highlighted. Education must begin early to identify talents, aptitude, and interests in order to build, “competent, knowledgeable, capable” adults to help beat down the racial wealth gap that exists.The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership has helped bridge the gap in public-private partnership. When talking about workforce development, Norington-Reaves said that flexibility is key, “Removing all of those responsibilities from government and putting them into non-profit which would create nimbleness.” Which then helps to provide, “a central space for policy creation” for people to make informed decisions about the industries they want to pursue.Norington-Reaves work within education, really in disrupting it in a positive, impactful way, has helped place more than 100k people since inception, “It’s not just about getting people hired, it’s getting them connected to career pathway opportunities that lead to economic self-sufficiency…and really advance in those careers.”Co-host Stefanski shared in this answer, “Agility is the answer to disruption.” Being adaptive in this space allows flexibility in the long-run.Norington-Reaves agreed and emphasized that bringing in partners and co-creators helps to create nimbleness and to have shared ownership in the outcomes of the progress, which is how to continue evolving with the times.

The digital world continues to race forward and Web 3.0 and blockchain technology are taking center stage. This surge of interest is driven by the global demand for more secure, decentralized, and transparent online interactions, particularly in the wake of heightened cybersecurity threats and privacy concerns. The stakes are high and according to a recent report by Gartner, blockchain's business value-add is projected to grow more than $176 billion by 2025, and exceed $3.1 trillion by 2030.How can Web 3.0 and blockchain technology reshape our digital interactions to be more secure and transparent?Join us on this episode of DisruptED as host Ron Stefanski and esteemed guest Jerad Finck, the CEO at Cosmic Wire, delve into the revolutionary impact of these technologies on our digital world. Their conversation will explore:The basics of Web 3.0 and its potential to democratize the internet.How blockchain can offer solutions to longstanding issues of digital identity and trust.Real-world applications of these technologies are already changing industries.Jerad Finck brings a unique perspective with a background that spans from medical studies to a successful music career, and now to pioneering efforts in blockchain and Web 3.0. His journey from a small farm town to leading tech innovation underscores his diverse expertise and visionary approach.

Dan Miller, CEO of Steward, discusses farming and how advanced technology can assist farmers and the greater agricultural industry.

The publishing industry stands at a crossroads, not defined by an era of digital upheaval but driven by the need to adapt and thrive in it. As readers' preferences shift from the tactile pleasure of paper to the convenience of digital formats, the industry's response to these changes not only dictates its current state but also outlines its future. This pivotal moment, underscored by the growing influence of social media and the rise of self-publishing platforms, raises critical questions about the essence of publishing in the 21st century.How does an author or publisher distinguish themselves in an expansive and crowded market?DisruptED, hosted by Ron Stefanski, with the episode's guest, Literary Lion Larry Kirshbaum, former CEO Time Warner Books delves into this question. Their conversation seeks to unravel the complexities of the publishing industry's evolution, providing listeners with insights into navigating its challenges and opportunities.The two discuss:The impact of digital transformation on traditional publishing practices.Strategies for authors and publishers to build and sustain a brand in a competitive landscape.Reflections on the unchanging core values of publishing despite the industry's evolution.Larry Kirschbaum's storied career, marked by his leadership at Time Warner Book Group and his firsthand experience with significant industry shifts, offers a rich backdrop for this discussion. His journey from journalism to the pinnacle of publishing success highlights the importance of adaptability, strategic thinking, and a deep love for the craft of storytelling.

As we navigate the complexities of the modern professional landscape, the concept of thought leadership has taken on new dimensions. No longer just for those in academia or executive roles, becoming a thought leader is now a tangible goal for professionals in various industries aiming to influence and inspire within their digital communities.Amidst the demands of a full-time job, how can one establish themselves as a thought leader?"DisruptED," a series by Ron Stefanski now on LinkedIn Live, aims to demystify the process of building and sustaining thought leadership in the digital age. With a backdrop of a rapidly evolving digital landscape, where an estimated 70% of professionals believe thought leadership is critical to their career growth, this episode couldn't be timelier. This episode features guest Tim Maitland, co-founder of MarketScale where the discussion ventures into the balancing act of nurturing thought leadership alongside managing career responsibilities.The dialogue traverses through several focal points, including:Leveraging personal stories and experiences to connect with and grow your audience.Practical tactics for integrating thought leadership pursuits with day-to-day job demands.The significance of authenticity and personal connection in digital engagement.Tim Maitland's background in co-creating MarketScale, a platform dedicated to empowering digital marketing and community building, adds depth to the episode. His journey from advertising professional to entrepreneur and thought leader provides a blueprint for listeners aspiring to make their mark.

Gone are the days when space travel was confined to the realm of astronauts and the exceedingly wealthy. With the unveiling of Space Neptune by Space Perspective, the dream of exploring the vastness of space is becoming a reality for a broader audience. This bold step forward reflects a seismic shift in how we perceive our place in the universe and underscores the growing trend towards making space more accessible.At a time when technological advancements are reshaping our world, how will the democratization of space travel change the way we view our planet and ourselves?"DisruptED," hosted by Ron Stefanski, welcomes Jane Poynter, the Founder and co-CEO at Space Perspective in its latest episode to explore this new frontier of exploration. The conversation delves into the creation of Space Neptune, a vessel designed to carry passengers to the edge of space, and the vision behind Space Perspective's mission to open up the cosmos to more people. The two discuss:The technical and philosophical milestones behind Space Neptune, which promises to make space travel a more common part of human experience.Jane Poynter's journey from her early work on Biosphere 2 to founding Space Perspective, emphasizing her dedication to expanding the boundaries of human potential.The scientific contributions and educational opportunities that accessible space travel can offer, particularly in enhancing our understanding of Earth's climate and ecosystems.With a storied career in space exploration and engineering, Jane Poynter's contributions to the field are unparalleled. From her integral role in the Biosphere 2 project to founding Space Perspective with her husband Tabor MacCallum, Poynter's work is a testament to the power of visionary thinking and perseverance. Her latest endeavor seeks not just to revolutionize space travel but to transform our relationship with the cosmos

The digital revolution continues to transform industries in today's fast-paced world where the narratives of individuals who have navigated the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship emerge victorious are both inspiring and instructive. With a marketplace increasingly dominated by tech-driven innovations and the rise of the gig economy, understanding the DNA of disruptive ventures has never been more critical. Amidst this backdrop, the story of how ordinary individuals undertake extraordinary journeys to redefine markets and consumer experiences stands out. Such narratives not only fuel the entrepreneurial spirit but also offer valuable insights into the mechanics of innovation and success in the digital age.This installment of DisruptED by Ron Stefanski delves into the heart of entrepreneurial disruption, featuring a conversation with Chris Kaufman, a serial entrepreneur whose journey from a design student to the co-founder of ArtClvb and StockX, a platform with a current market cap of $3.8 billion, encapsulates the essence of turning visionary ideas into reality. Alongside guest host Ashley Williams, CEO of Rizzarr, this episode explores Kaufman's unique perspective on creating impact and the critical elements that contribute to the success of a venture.Highlights of the conversation include:Kaufman's foundational years, including his pivotal interaction with Dan Gilbert, the CEO and Founder of Quicken Loans and the Rocket Family of Companies and the inception of StockX.The importance of solving genuine problems and authentically engaging with the community one aims to serve.Kaufman's insights on the iterative process of design and product development, and its significance in crafting user-centric solutions.About Chris Kaufman: In this evolving narrative of entrepreneurship within the context of the digital revolution, Chris Kaufman's story serves as a powerful testament to the impact of embracing change, pursuing passion with purpose, and the importance of building connections that transcend traditional business boundaries. With a rich background in design and customer experience, Kaufman's academic journey at Eastern Michigan laid the groundwork for his ventures. His entrepreneurial spirit, fueled by mentorship from Dan Gilbert, led to the co-creation of StockX, a revolutionary platform in the secondary market for sneakers. Kaufman's dedication to innovation and his ability to navigate the complexities of starting and scaling a business make his story a beacon for aspiring entrepreneurs.

In a world increasingly defined by rapid technological advancements and an undeniable need for human-centric solutions, Joe Salesky's remarkable trajectory exemplifies the potential of technology to foster human capacity, empathy, and opportunity. Having been at the forefront of significant technological innovations, including the creation of the first web conferencing platform and contributing to the digital streaming revolution, Salesky's latest venture, Fixing.World, is a testament to his visionary approach towards utilizing technology for the greater good. His efforts underscore the urgent discourse on the role of technology in addressing complex societal challenges, particularly in the realms of education and human development.How can technology be harnessed to not only advance human capability but also nurture empathy and connectivity in an increasingly digital age?To tackle this question, Ron Stefanski the host of DisruptEd dives deep with Joe Salesky. Salesky shares insights from his extensive experience in leveraging technology to solve intricate problems, consistently emphasizing the importance of human-centric solutions in every technological endeavor.This episode of DisruptEd delves into several pivotal themes:The transformative impact of early technological innovations on present-day digital consumption and communication practices.The crucial role of simplicity in technology, making complex solutions more accessible and effective.The potential of technology to bridge gaps in educational resources, highlighted by Salesky's ambitious project to distribute a trillion books globally, emphasizing the importance of early childhood enrichment for future learning and empathy development.Joe Salesky's journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to utilizing technology as a force for positive change. His work in the Clinton Administration and various entrepreneurial endeavors illustrate a deep-seated belief in technology's potential to enhance human experiences and address pivotal societal issues. With a background that spans significant technological milestones and a vision aimed at addressing educational inequities through digital platforms, Salesky's contributions offer valuable perspectives on the intersection of technology, empathy, and human growth.

The digital divide is becoming increasingly pronounced, and the need for genuine connection and community building through social media is more critical than ever. As cities like Detroit navigate the complexities of modern urban renewal, the role of social media in shaping community identity and fostering engagement has taken center stage.Against this backdrop, the story of Ethan Lloyd, the Social Media Director of Black Tech Saturdays , emerges as a compelling narrative of innovation and impact. With Lloyd's efforts, the city's social media presence has transformed into a dynamic platform for storytelling and community engagement, highlighting the potential for social media to be a force for good in urban contexts.But what does it take to turn an ordinary social media account into an extraordinary tool for community engagement?In the latest episode of DisruptEd, Ron Stefanski dives deep into the journey of Ethan Lloyd, from his early beginnings in social media marketing to his current role as a catalyst for digital inclusion and community engagement in Detroit.The transformative power of social media in community building: Lloyd discusses how leveraging social media has allowed Detroit to connect with its residents on a more personal and impactful level.Bridging the digital divide with 'Digital Undivided': Lloyd shares his initiative to empower seniors and bridge generational gaps in digital communication, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age.The role of grassroots movements in technological empowerment: The episode highlights the success of Black Tech Saturdays, a testament to the vibrant tech community in Detroit and its role in fostering innovation and inclusion.Ethan Lloyd, a native Detroiter and Wayne State University finance student turned social media maestro, brings an intriguing mix of grassroots community involvement and digital innovation to the table. Despite his non-traditional path into the world of social media, Lloyd's impactful work, including his leadership role in "Black Tech Saturdays" and efforts to bridge the generational digital divide, showcases his dedication to leveraging technology for social good.