In Conversation with Daphne Kis | WorldQuant University – Edu Unlocked Podcast

Daphne Kis

Guest

Daphne Kis is the CEO of WorldQuant University (WQU), a pioneering not-for-profit institution dedicated to making advanced, high-quality education accessible to capable students everywhere. Under her leadership, WQU has become a global model for scalable, tuition-free online education in data sciences, serving nearly 4,000 students across more than 90 countries.
At WQU, Kis has led the transformation of an innovative idea into a fully accredited university, offering programs such as the Master’s in Financial Engineering and a 16-week Applied Data Science module. Her strategic vision centers on bridging the global skills gap in data-driven disciplines and connecting talent with opportunity through technology and community.
A lifelong entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for education and innovation, Kis has spent decades identifying and transforming emerging trends across technology, health, and business. She is deeply committed to advancing global entrepreneurship, particularly for women, and serves on the boards of Springboard Enterprises’ Tech Council and SheEO, both of which empower and celebrate female innovators worldwide.
Kis also contributes to the World Economic Forum’s Future Skills Alliance, reinforcing her dedication to workforce transformation and lifelong learning. Beyond her work in edtech, she is an Executive Board Member of Young Audiences: Arts for Learning, where she chairs the Strategic Planning Committee and helps guide a national network of teaching artists reaching over five million children annually. Additionally, she serves on the Leadership Advisory Council of the Grameen Foundation, reflecting her belief that empowerment begins with access to knowledge and opportunity.
Key Highlights:
1. CEO of WorldQuant University, leading global access to free, advanced online education.
2. Scaled WQU to serve thousands of students across 90+ countries.
3. Advocate for lifelong learning and skills development through the World Economic Forum’s Future Skills Alliance.
4. Board member of SheEO and Springboard Enterprises’ Tech Council, promoting female innovation and entrepreneurship.
5. Executive Board and Strategic Planning Chair at Young Audiences: Arts for Learning.
6. Leadership Advisor to the Grameen Foundation, advancing global empowerment through education.

Ashish Fernando

Host

Founder & CEO, EDMO
Ashish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements:
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives