How does an education technology founder channel curiosity to spark change in a system often criticized for disengagement and rigid expectations? What kinds of questions does it take to challenge how students learn and how mentors teach? Is nurturing curiosity the missing link between passion and academic success? In this episode, Antonia goes deep with Audrey Wisch, founder and CEO of Curious Cardinals, a transformative ed-tech company pairing high school students with college mentors to bring learning to life. Audiences will get a first-hand look at how thoughtful questioning shapes career pivots, drives product innovation, and instills a culture of lifelong learning.

From this episode, you can expect to learn about:

• How diverse interests and non-traditional backgrounds give founders a unique edge in education and tech


• The art of asking the right questions to identify and pursue impactful startup ideas


• What it means to learn from failure and how self-reflection (driven by honest questioning) propels growth


• How effective questioning empowers both students and mentors


• What it takes to build an environment that sparks curiosity in students who feel disconnected from classroom learning


• The behavioral science behind effective mentor matching and the key traits to look for (Spoiler Alert: contagious passion and humility)


• How feedback from students and mentors leads directly to product improvements and better learning experiences


• Why continuous learning and intentionally embracing a “thinker and doer” mindset matter as education, technology, and kids’ needs evolve