About This Episode
In this episode of EDU Unlocked, Ashish Fernando sits down with Ajita Talwalker Menon, President & CEO of Calbright College, to explore what it really takes to build a community college designed for today’s learners.
Ajita shares that Calbright’s transition to a fully online model was not just about moving courses online. Instead, it was intentionally designed to better serve adult learners, those balancing work, childcare, and other life responsibilities through a flexible, fully online approach.
The conversation dives into the shift from seat-time education to competency-based learning, where the focus is on building real-world skills aligned with workforce needs. Ajita explains how Calbright prioritizes asynchronous, self-paced learning and emphasizes career navigation alongside education, ensuring students are prepared not just to learn, but to succeed economically.
She also highlights that the value of online education goes beyond program offerings. True impact lies in combining accessibility with strong learner support systems that help students persist and complete their goals.
The discussion then turns to the rapid rise of AI and its implications for higher education. Ajita takes a clear stance that there is no room for a “wait and see” approach. Institutions must actively build AI readiness while ensuring that learners develop not only technical capabilities but also durable skills like critical thinking, resilience, and adaptability.
At the heart of it all, she underscores a powerful idea: even in a technology-driven world, human connection remains essential to meaningful learning.
Ajita also reflects on her journey into higher education, shaped by her experience in federal policy, the nonprofit sector, and the influence of her mother.
This episode offers a thoughtful look at how institutions can rethink access, outcomes, and the future of learning.
Host & Guest
Ajita Talwalker Menon
GuestAjita Talwalker Menon is the President and CEO of Calbright College, California’s fully online public community college focused on expanding access to education, workforce training, and economic mobility for working adults and underserved populations. Under her leadership, Calbright has become a national model for competency-based education, skills-focused learning, and workforce-aligned credential pathways designed to meet the evolving needs of learners and employers. Calbright College as Special Assistant to the President for Higher Education Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council, where she led initiatives focused on college access, affordability, completion, and innovation. She has also held leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. House of Representatives, and as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges system.
Key Highlights:
1. President and CEO of , California’s online public community college search3
2. Former Special Assistant to President for Higher Education Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council economic mobility initiatives , workforce readiness, skills-based hiring, and the future of higher education 0search4
3. Member of the and contributor to national conversations on student outcomes and educational innovation
Ashish Fernando Founder & CEO, EDMO
HostAshish 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
Show Notes
- 1 0:00 – Why students care more about jobs than credentials
- 2 0:30 – Welcome to Edu Unlocked & introducing Ajita Menon
- 3 0:46 – Building California’s first fully online community college
- 4 2:08 – Why Calbright College is free for California learners
- 5 3:04 – Ajita’s journey into higher education and public service
- 6 5:53 – Can online education finally get it right?
- 7 6:35 – Why the online vs. in-person debate misses the point
- 8 7:20 – Designing education around learner outcomes instead of course delivery
- 9 8:03 – Why employers talk about skills while colleges talk about credentials
- 10 8:53 – Reimagining student support through technology
- 11 9:26 – AI in higher education: separating the signal from the noise
- 12 10:14 – Preparing learners for an AI-driven economy
- 13 10:38 – Using AI responsibly without losing institutional control
- 14 11:44 – Why durable skills matter more than eve
- 15 12:38 – Human connection in an AI-powered world
- 16 13:28 – Balancing innovation, affordability, and learner success
- 17 14:00 – Co-designing education with learners
- 18 14:22 – Final thoughts on the future of online education
Key Quotes
"When you talk to students, it is about the job. It is about the value that they're getting from the experience."
"We have to design backwards from the learner."
"The human connection in education is critically important—not just for learning, but for the world we want to live in."
Resources
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