About This Episode
In this heartfelt and deeply insightful episode of Edu Unlocked, host Ashish Fernando sits down with Dr. Ravi Pendse, Vice President for IT and CIO at the University of Michigan, to explore leadership rooted in humility, empathy, and gratitude—and how these timeless values shape the future of education and technology.
From a powerful childhood lesson about mangoes and humility to running one of the most advanced AI initiatives in higher ed, Dr. Pendse opens up about:
His leadership journey shaped by mentors, students, and family
The importance of AI literacy across all institutions—big or small
How small acts of gratitude can transform culture
His take on the myths and realities of AI in education
Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever for tech leaders
Bonus: Learn why Dr. Pendse calls relationship-building the true infrastructure of innovation—and the one habit he swears by every night.
Whether you’re a CIO, aspiring leader, or edtech enthusiast—this is one episode you won’t want to miss.
Host & Guest
Dr. Ravi Pendse
GuestVice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, University of Michigan
Dr. Ravi Pendse is an accomplished Information Technology leader, educator, and researcher with extensive experience in higher education. Since August 2018, he has served as the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the University of Michigan, providing university-wide leadership and strategic direction for information technology. As an executive officer of the university, Dr. Pendse oversees initiatives that enhance digital transformation, data security, and collaborative innovation across the institution.
A servant and transformational leader, Dr. Pendse is known for his ability to build, inspire, and empower high-performing teams. He combines a deep understanding of technology with exceptional communication and people skills, fostering a culture of collaboration and creativity. His research interests span the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, and he takes great pride in mentoring students and advancing technology’s role in education.
Prior to joining the University of Michigan, Dr. Pendse served as Vice President for Computing and Information Services and CIO at Brown University, and earlier as Vice President for Information Technology and CIO at Wichita State University. His academic career includes securing over $21 million in external research grants, developing university courses, publishing numerous scholarly papers (many co-authored with students), and earning multiple teaching awards.
In 2023, Dr. Pendse was appointed as the University of Michigan’s first-ever Special Advisor to the President for India. In this capacity, he leads efforts to strengthen relationships with U-M alumni and industry leaders in India, while expanding opportunities for talented Indian students to pursue higher education at Michigan.
Dr. Pendse holds a B.S. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, and both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Wichita State University.
Key Achievements:
1. Provides strategic IT leadership as VPIT and CIO at the University of Michigan.
2. Appointed U-M’s first Special Advisor to the President for India (2023).
3. Secured over $21 million in external research funding.
4. Award-winning educator and scholar with expertise in IoT, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
5. Known for transformational leadership, innovation, and a collaborative, team-driven approach.
Ashish Fernando
HostFounder & 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
Show Notes
- 1 00:05 Dr. Ravi introduces his leadership values, emphasizing humility, empathy, character, integrity, and transparency as essential for effective leadership.
- 2 01:26 Ravi shares a Sanskrit phrase taught by his mother, acharia devo bhava (teacher is made in the image of God), and explains how he sees a teacher in everyone, shaping his approach to learning and leadership.
- 3 04:53 - Ravi recounts a childhood story about a mango tree, illustrating a lesson in humility taught by his mother, which profoundly influenced his leadership philosophy.
- 4 09:11 - Ravi discusses building relationships with his team, using the example of his colleague Bob Jones, and highlights the importance of trust and camaraderie in a tech-driven environment.
- 5 13:00 - Ravi describes his habit of making nightly calls to five team members to express gratitude, emphasizing how small gestures strengthen team relationships and morale.
- 6 19:02 - Ravi reflects on the rapid advancements in AI since late 2022, noting how AI is now driving innovation and augmenting human creativity rather than replacing it.
- 7 43:06 - Ravi shares a heartfelt story about former students reaching out after his accident, demonstrating the deep impact of his relationships with students and reinforcing his commitment to mentorship.
Key Quotes
"Acharia devo bhava, teacher is made in the image of God and should be respected as one would respect God... when one sees a teacher in everyone they interact with, then you're always in a receiving mode and you learn a lot by doing that."
"Expressing gratitude is really, really important for all the leaders... those five calls honestly take me less than 8 to 10 minutes of time, but it goes a long way to building those relationships."
Resources
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