The Learning Ideas Conference’s “Preparation for the Workplace: The Changing Role of Higher Education” event is pleased to have the following confirmed speakers!
Agalia Ardyasa, originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021 with a degree in Economics and Mathematics and a minor in Business. After graduation, she joined Microsoft as a Customer Success Account Manager, managing strategic manufacturing clients to drive the adoption and effective use of Microsoft technologies. Beyond her professional career, Agalia co-founded BecomeMore Indonesia, a Jakarta-based non-profit providing self-development opportunities for middle and high school students to bridge educational disparities nationwide. She is also a third-generation family business owner of a leading K-12 private and international education institution in Jakarta, which has over 21 years of experience and serves over 1,700 students across three campuses.
Jeremy Boles has dedicated nearly 30 years to empowering adult learners across diverse industries and organizational settings. His career spans corporate training, nonprofit initiatives, and educational institutions, where he has developed and facilitated learning programs tailored to the unique needs of adult audiences. Jeremy's expertise lies in designing interactive, learner-centered experiences that not only transfer knowledge but also foster skill development and personal growth. He is passionate about making learning engaging, impactful, and memorable, often integrating innovative strategies and tools to ensure participants remain actively involved in the process. His commitment to excellence in adult education has made him a sought-after professional in the field.
Check out Jeremy Boles’s full bio. Jeremy will be a panelist discussing “The Employer Perspective: Skills, Gaps, and Expectations."
Jie Chen is an accomplished instructional designer who is passionate about creating engaging and effective learning experiences. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Learning Sciences and Technologies program, Jie combines deep expertise in Learning Experience Design with a strong foundation in digital media.
With professional experience spanning the electric vehicle industry, Jie has contributed to organizations such as Tesla and Fisker, where she played a key role in designing instructional programs to support innovation and growth. Currently, Jie is leveraging her skills at Amazon, focusing on Amazon Logistics (AMZL). Here, Jie designs impactful learning solutions that empower teams and drive operational excellence in one of the world's most dynamic and fast-paced environments.
Kate Fessler is the senior director of outreach for RISE Up at the NRF Foundation, where she works with organizations across the country – including high schools, workforce organizations and community colleges – to introduce and deliver the RISE Up credentials to learners preparing for first jobs and second chances in retail and beyond. Prior to joining NRF, Kate worked for UVA’s Darden School of Business, overseeing the Board of Trustees and advisory boards, and at the American Staffing Association, where she was the director of education. She also oversaw operations and coaching standards for a D.C. soccer club after playing and coaching the sport for many years. Kate has a B.A. in International Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill and an M.Ed. in Administrative Leadership from Vanderbilt University.
Ariel Fleurimond is a dedicated practitioner and researcher in online learning and higher education. With nearly two decades of experience in education, Ariel has dedicated her career to reimagining how we design, deliver, and experience learning in a rapidly changing world. As the Senior Director of Instructional Design and Curriculum Support at Columbia University, Ariel leads multidisciplinary teams that transform traditional education into immersive, engaging online and hybrid experiences. She has worked with faculty to develop courses that span diverse fields—from Social Work to Strategic Communication, Technology Management to Human Capital Management—empowering learners to thrive in both academic and professional landscapes. Ariel also serves as adjunct faculty at Columbia University’s Teachers College and SUNY Brockport, where she shares her expertise with the next generation of educators and instructional designers.
Dr. David Guralnick envisions a new approach to education and workplace learning. His vision integrates progressive learning theory, advanced technology, and creative, entertaining storytelling to create learning experiences that help people learn to think critically, reflect, and make thoughtful decisions. Among other role, David is President and CEO of Kaleidoscope Learning, current president of the International E-Learning Association; founder and chair of The Learning Ideas Conference, and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University.
Dr. Zachary Herrmann serves as a member of the professional faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. Dr. Herrmann’s areas of interest are collaboration, negotiation, team effectiveness, and leadership. Dr. Herrmann is the founding director of the Penn Leadership Education Institute, which supports leadership development for students. Dr. Herrmann teaches a course called “Collaboration & Conflict,” which engages students in an interdisciplinary exploration of how people work together to solve complex problems, and “Negotiation,” within the MBA program at The Wharton School, which is a course that focuses on strategies and tools to secure agreements and solve problems.
Check out Zachary Herrmann’s full bio and the abstract for his talk, “Taking on Almost Impossible Problems.”
Junghwa (“Sam”) Lee is a seasoned learning and development professional with over 12 years of experience designing innovative learning solutions that drive business impact. As Senior Learning Manager at Microsoft, she leads initiatives that empower business leaders and professionals with AI-driven, future-ready skills to transform their work. Previously, Sam led impactful skilling programs at McKinsey & Company, Udacity, and Columbia Business School, focusing on scalable learning solutions for digital and tech leadership. A graduate of Columbia University with a master’s degree in international educational development, she is dedicated to helping professionals thrive in a tech-driven world. As a proud working mom to a 7-year-old, Sam loves painting, traveling, and building LEGOs with her child.
Dr. Ou Lydia Liu, Associate Vice President of Research, is a globally recognized expert in assessment of critical skills and competencies in higher education and workforce. She has also managed large-scale grants awarded by government and private funding agencies in the U.S. and international countries including India, China, and Korea. Dr. Liu has authored and coauthored over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, research reports, and book chapters in the fields of applied measurement, higher education, and science assessment. Her research appeared in Science, Nature Human Behavior, Educational Researcher, and other influential outlets. She delivered over 100 invited seminars and peer-reviewed conference presentations domestically and internationally.
Check out Ou Lydia Liu's full bio and the abstract for her talk, “Skills for the Future Workforce.”
Stella Porto is currently a Senior Learning Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, DC. She has been with IDB since September 2014. The IDB, through its Knowledge and Learning division, offers a variety of e-learning products to the Latin American and Caribbean regions. Stella manages the design, development, and delivery of several of these. She is also the head of CredencialesBID, IDB’s open badge initiative.
Prior to the IDB, Stella was the director of the Masters of Distance Education and E-learning (MDE) at the University of Maryland Global Campus, where she also held other positions since 2001. Prior to that, she was a Professor of Computer Science for around 9 years in her native country, Brazil. Stella holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, a Masters, and Doctoral degrees in Computer Science, and much later, she added a master's in Distance Education.
Michael Russo is a Software Verification Engineer at ENSCO Avionics, based in Brooklyn, NY. With expertise in electrical and computer engineering, Michael Russo earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 2020 and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering in 2022, both from NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
Rosie Shen serves as a Career Coordinator at Engineering Career Services, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she has been advancing student career development since September 2022. In her role, she empowers students through individualized coaching, teaching a first-year career development course, and leading the International Student Job Search Team program. Rosie is passionate about supporting diverse student populations by designing innovative career education initiatives and fostering meaningful connections between students and professional opportunities.
Genevieve Thévenin, an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW), is a career and academic coach dedicated to serving diverse student populations including international students, nontraditional students and underserved students. She has over ten years of experience in coaching, advising, tutoring, and teaching students across secondary, higher, and postsecondary education. At TC NEXT she provides resume/cover letter/curriculum vitae review, job search strategies, salary negotiation advice, and interview preparation to TC students and alumni helping hundreds of students secure jobs and internships.
Dr. Alexandra Urban is the Learning Science Research Lead at Coursera, focused broadly on platform innovation, content design, and online pedagogy. Her background is in Educational Neuroscience, applying how the human brain learns to improve teaching environments. She completed her doctorate in Mind, Brain, and Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, where she created novel interventions for better supporting women in online STEM courses. Before that, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Educational Neuroscience from Brown University and a Master's in Mind, Brain, and Education from Harvard University.