From Conversation to Action
Over the past year, Insight Jam has convened more than 50 educators, learning leaders, and workforce innovators across a series of video panels and keynote discussions focused on the future of work and learning in the age of AI.
These conversations brought together voices from universities, school systems, enterprises, and emerging AI-focused organizations – each sharing how they are navigating rapid change, experimenting with new models, and preparing people for what comes next.
Across these discussions, a clear pattern emerged: while there is no shortage of ideas about AI, the most valuable insights are coming from practitioners doing the work in classrooms, campuses, and workplaces.
The Mesh Awards were created to build on these conversations. They transform dialogue into a platform for capturing, recognizing, and sharing real-world programs that are helping people develop the skills, confidence, and opportunity to thrive alongside AI.
Education Leaders
Dr. Marina A. Badillo-Diaz — Adjunct Professor — NYU, UKY, Columbia
Bart Banfield — Founder — B2 Educational Consulting, Former School Superintedent
Courtney Bock — AI Implementation Specialist — Mead School District
Dave Cameron — Professor & Consultant — University of Chicago
Dr. Paula Caliguiri — University Professor, Author, Co-Founder and President — Skiilify
Dr. Susan Ray — Associate Professor Of English — Delaware County Community College
Dr. Justin Lawhead — Assistant Vice President for Career Readiness — University of South Carolina
Michael Lubelfeld — Superintendent of Schools — North Shore School District 112
Keith McCormick — Bodily Bicentennial Professor of Analytics — University of Virginia
Dr. Mark McNees — Director of Social and Sustainable Enterprises — FSU
Kathleen Perley — Professor & AI Advisor — Rice University Business
Nick Polyak — Superintendent — Leyden High School District 212
Shai Reshef — President & Founder — University of the People
Jeffrey Shaffer — Professor of Analytics — University of Cincinnati
Sandra Watts, PhD — Interdisciplinary Faculty, Program Coordinator — University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Stephen Arthur — Director of AI and Analytics — ECPI University
Workforce & Learning Leaders
Jerry Almendarez — Founder — Creative Futures Collaborative
Paul Carney — Founder & President — Ishtot
T. Scott Clendaniel — Chief Learning Officer — Nautilus-AI.com
Jonathan Cornelissen — Co-Founder & CEO — DataCamp
Michael Crawford — Vice President of Strategic Initiatives — America Succeeds
Dr. Priyanka Dave — Upskilling Lead and Learning Process Owner — Oregon State University
Kieran Gilmurray — CEO & Founder — Kieran Gilmurray and Company
Daniel Hungerford — Founder & CEO — EverFriends.ai
Asha J. Palmer — SVP, Compliance Solutions — Skillsoft
Josh Cardoz — Chief Creative and Learning Officer — Sponge
Joshua Roberts — L&D Program Manager — Cushman & Wakefield
Tiffany Shogren — Services Enablement & QRM — Optiv
Tim Taylor — Co-Founder & President — America Succeeds
Walker Williams — Director of Learning and Development — Goodway Group
Chad Wolpert — Senior Enterprise Customer Success Manager — LinkedIn
AI & Innovation Leaders
Anna Atlasova — AI Educator, Consultant, & Founder — AI Literacy Lab
Dr. Michelle Ament — Co-President — Human Intelligence Movement
Leanne Shelton — Chief Executive Officer — HumanEdge AI Training
Dr. Mark Zeiler — Director of Human-Centered Leadership — Human Intelligence Movement
Andreas Welsch — Founder & Chief Human Agentic AI Officer — Intelligence Briefing
Ben Tasker — AI & Workforce Transformation Expert — National Grid
Eric Siegel — CEO & Cofounder — Gooder AI
Vin Mitty — Senior Director of Data Science and AI — PPLSI
Sameer Yami — Founder — Augment Me
Paul Siegel — Founder — Starweaver
Anshul Sonak — Principal Engineer — Intel Corporation
Andrew Madson — LinkedIn Learning Instructor
Jessica Wynter Martin — Fractional Chief AI Officer — JWM Concepts
Bhavani Kola — CEO & Founder — Eclatech Solutions
Pritish Nawlakhe — AI Advisor — AI Novaris
Monica Kay Royal — Founder — nerdnourishment
Anne Murphy — CEO & Founder — She Leads AI
Michelle Muncy Silva — Executive Director — She Leads AI
Arvin Ross — Co-Founder & Chief Culture Architect — ProSolve
Sania Khan — Founder — Inflection Point Strategy
Kunal Dalal — Keynote Speaker & Agentic Leadership Strategist — GenerativEducation
Clyde Seepersad — SVP & General Manager, Education — The Linux Foundation