About This Episode
In this inspiring episode of Edu Unlocked, host Ashish Fernando sits down with Bianca Alvarado Director of the San Diego STEM Pathways Initiative at Digital Promise, social innovator, educator, and EdTech leader to explore her powerful journey across the U.S. Mexico border, her creative ventures in bilingual education, and her mission to design equitable pathways for Hispanic students.
From publishing bilingual children’s books to launching community-focused tech initiatives and leading the San Diego STEM Pathways project with Digital Promise, Bianca shares how personal experience, experimentation, and cross-industry collaboration can shape the future of education.
Key topics:
1. Designing your career with the scientific method
2. Supporting immigrant and first-gen learners
3. Bridging innovation between San Diego & Tijuana
4. Building sustainable education ecosystems
Host & Guest
Bianca Alvarado
GuestDirector, San Diego STEM Pathways Initiative at Digital Promise
Bianca Alvarado, MA, is an experienced leader in STEM education and community engagement, serving as the Director of the San Diego STEM Pathways Initiative at Digital Promise. In this role, she leads efforts to expand equitable access to STEM opportunities across San Diego County, fostering collaboration among schools, community organizations, and industry partners to strengthen pathways for underrepresented students in science and technology.
In addition to her leadership at Digital Promise, Alvarado serves as the World Design Capital (WDC) Design-to-Action Network Lead for Science and Technology, supporting the 2024 World Design Capital initiative. She has also mentored high school students through The Aspen Challenge and previously worked as Associate Director of EdTech and Innovation Impact at the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, where she advanced technology-driven learning solutions and equity-focused education models. Earlier, she developed online curriculum for La Casa Azul Productions and began her career as a high school teacher in the Sweetwater Union High School District. Her fellowship with the National Science Foundation emphasized the intersection of STEM and art to inspire innovation and creativity in learning.
Alvarado holds a Master’s in Social Innovation from the Kroc School at the University of San Diego and a Bachelor’s degree in International Conflict and Human Resolution from San Diego State University.
Key Achievements:
1. Leads the San Diego STEM Pathways Initiative to promote equitable STEM access.
2. Serves as the WDC Design-to-Action Network Lead for Science and Technology (2024).
3. Former Associate Director of EdTech and Innovation Impact at the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education.
4. NSF Fellow advancing innovation in STEM through art and design.
5. Experienced educator, mentor, and curriculum designer committed to inclusive education and community engagement.
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 00:00 Introduction to Bianca Alvarado's work in technology and focus on preserving and promoting Hispanic heritage.
- 2 01:47 Bianca shares her backstory, growing up on the San Diego-Tijuana border and her family's immigration experiences.
- 3 03:35 Discussion of Bianca’s master’s degree at the University of San Diego’s Kroc School, focusing on social innovation and Hispanic heritage projects.
- 4 05:02 Bianca describes her role as co-lead for a science and tech initiative under the World Design Capital (WDC) 2024, promoting cross-industry collaboration in San Diego and Tijuana.
- 5 07:00 - Introduction of Bianca’s ebook, Using the Scientific Method to Design Your Professional Life, available on her website, addressing career design for first-generation students.
Key Quotes
"I talk about designing your career life so how can you design your career journey through experimentation."
"We’re working on bringing them together so that they can actually build something that is sustainable for the region."
Resources
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