Make change your only constant
A life lesson for how to succeed in edtech
What have I learned in nearly 30 years of building successful edtech products? That my only constant—for success—is change.
Enabling technologies change (now, faster than ever). Educational practices change. Customer preferences change. Competitors change. Successful business models change. Required talent and organizational design change. Processes and workflow (should) change.
So, how do you stay ahead of so much potential disruption? My personal guiding light is this: make change your only constant. Turn change from an unknown threat to an explored opportunity.
Let me share a personal story of how.
Why “knowing how to do your job” is an alarm you should listen to
After a career growing through the ranks of various education companies and exploring change through a variety of leadership roles (in strategy, product, technology, publishing, and learning science), a few years ago I sought change again—and launched my own strategic consulting company.
Why? Because I had a growing sense of comfort in “knowing how to do my job.” For some, that is reassuring and builds confidence. But for me, it’s strangely unsettling. I like to feel out of my depth. Yes, change is stressful, but it’s how I set myself ambitious goals. It’s how I’m inspired. How I overcome challenges. How I (personally) find fulfillment. And (with hindsight), how I’ve grown.
Fasten your seatbelts for change
In the four years since launching enablinginsights—a business that’s helped a diversity of edtech companies to successfully accelerate their growth—I’ve never looked back. It’s been the most challenging, fast-paced, and rewarding chapter of my career. I tackle change every day with each of my clients—and it’s thrilling.
So, my advice is this: unleash your curiosity and make change your only constant to succeed in edtech—you’ll never look back.
A huge thanks to all the edtech leaders enabling change
A heartfelt thank you to all the brave edtech leaders tackling change who’ve invited enablinginsights in to help and who I’ve had so much fun working with:
Thank you: Gauthier van Malderen @ Perlego, Andy Moss @ Kineo, Gjergj Demiraj @ Gutenberg Technology, Alison Pendergast @ The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seshni Jacobs @ Hodder Education, Tom Nixon @ Faculty, Vincent Favrat @ Nolej, Yaron Jacobs @ 1on, Michael Forshaw @ edtech impact, Susan Winslow @ Macmillan Learning, Jeremy Waters @ elastik, Ben Roberts @ Codon Learning, Joel Hellermark @ Sana Labs, Ben Buckwold @ ellii, Diane Janknegt @ Wizenoze, Mark Pemberton @ Studycat, Gerald Cai, Stephen Haggard and Adam Salkeld @ Digital Learning Associates, Amy Jacobs @ xyz textbooks, Amy Laitinen @ New America, George Metcalfe and Aaron John @ Tranquiliti, Simon Potter @ Kwiziq, Sarah Coward @ In the Room, and many others.
Can we help?
Are you an edtech or education company with bold ambitions? Do you have a clear plan for how to grow? If want an incisive and experienced assessment of your strategy or edtech and practical advice for how to shore both up, please contact me using the form below—I’d love to help.