The field of education technology, or edtech, is rapidly evolving and expanding, and there are a number of individuals who have emerged as influential personalities within the industry. These individuals are thought leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are driving change and making a significant impact on the world of education. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the biggest edtech personalities, based on their contributions to the industry, their level of influence, and their overall impact.
- Salman Khan Salman Khan is the founder of Khan Academy, one of the most popular and influential edtech platforms in the world. Khan Academy offers free, high-quality educational content in a range of subjects, from math and science to history and economics. Khan’s approach to education, which emphasizes self-paced, personalized learning, has been hugely influential and has helped to democratize access to education for millions of learners around the world.
- Angela Duckworth Angela Duckworth is a psychologist and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of educational psychology. Her research on the concept of “grit,” which refers to the combination of passion and perseverance, has been influential in shaping how educators approach student motivation and success. Duckworth is also the founder of the Character Lab, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting character development and educational excellence.
- Andreas Schleicher Andreas Schleicher is the Director for Education and Skills and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Schleicher is responsible for the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures the performance of education systems around the world. His work has been hugely influential in shaping education policy and practice globally.
- Sal Khan Sal Khan is the founder of Khan Academy, one of the most popular and influential edtech platforms in the world. Khan Academy offers free, high-quality educational content in a range of subjects, from math and science to history and economics. Khan’s approach to education, which emphasizes self-paced, personalized learning, has been hugely influential and has helped to democratize access to education for millions of learners around the world.
- Anant Agarwal Anant Agarwal is the founder and CEO of edX, one of the largest and most influential online learning platforms in the world. EdX offers free online courses from some of the world’s top universities, including MIT and Harvard. Agarwal’s vision for edX is to democratize education and make high-quality learning accessible to anyone, anywhere.
- Sebastian Thrun Sebastian Thrun is the founder of Udacity, an online learning platform that offers courses and degrees in a range of subjects, from computer science and data science to business and psychology. Thrun is also a former Google executive and a pioneer in the field of autonomous vehicles. His work in edtech has been influential in shaping the way we think about online learning and the potential for technology to transform education.
- Shantanu Narayen Shantanu Narayen is the CEO of Adobe, a leading software company that offers a range of tools and services for digital media and marketing. Under Narayen’s leadership, Adobe has become a major player in the edtech space, offering a range of tools and platforms for digital education and training. Narayen’s vision for Adobe is to help educators and learners create and deliver engaging, interactive content that supports learning and development.
- Reshma Saujani Reshma Saujani is the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization that aims to close the gender gap in technology by teaching girls to code. Saujani’s work has been influential in promoting gender equality and diversity in the tech industry, and she has been recognized as leader in edtech!