Digital Readiness and Leadership in Educational Technology with Lisa O’Masta
In this episode, Teddy Lampert and Tushar Mehta sit down with Lisa O’Masta, CEO of Learning.com. With a career spanning leadership roles at Learning A-Z and Illustrative Mathematics, Lisa shares her vision for a future where technology is a safe and responsible tool for growth. Tune in to hear about her journey from financial services to EdTech, her anti-silver bullet philosophy, and how she fosters a culture of driving innovation in and out of the classroom.
Welcome back to Debugged, the Congressional App Challenge’s podcast where we bridge the gap between today’s youth and the innovators shaping our digital world.
In this episode, hosts Teddy Lampert and Tushar Mehta speak with Lisa O’Masta, an experienced executive who has dedicated over 25 years to transforming the educational landscape. As the CEO of Learning.com, Lisa brings a unique perspective on how we can help students and teachers alike build healthy and proficient relationships with technology.
But Lisa’s journey didn’t start in a classroom; rather, it began in financial services. However, she quickly realized that her true passion was in building solutions that mattered. This drive led her through influential roles at Learning A-Z and Illustrative Mathematics, where she learned a vital lesson: a product can be perfect technically, but useless if it doesn’t work for real teachers in real-world classrooms. She emphasizes that the most impactful innovations aren’t always the most advanced, but the ones that are accessible and sustainable.
This conversation dives deep into the concept of digital readiness, which she breaks down into three pillars: safety and wisdom, creation and problem solving, and knowing when to unplug. Lisa also provides a new look at leadership, highlighting the importance of active listening and curiosity. She has powerful advice for aspiring leaders: focus on the outcome, not just the effort.
Tune into this week’s episode of Debugged to hear Lisa’s insights on the future of Edtech and learning how to think, not just how to click!