Podcast
DisruptED
Hosted by MarketScale · EN
Follow along every month as Ron J Stefanski and Dr. Caesar discuss the future education and e-learning.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Powering Up Detroit’s Workforce: How Per Scholas Is Connecting Local Talent to Tech and Energy Careers
Nov 1800:22:29Tap to summarizeDetroit is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation—one driven by innovation, community leadership, and an urgent demand for a new kind of workforce. As energy and tech sectors accelerate, organizations and employers are racing to prepare Detroit’s workforce for jobs that didn’t exist a decade ago. Workforce researchers note that tech-enabled roles across industries are growing faster than traditional pathways, raising the stakes for cities working to ensure residents have equitable access to these opportunities.How does Detroit build a workforce that is both future-ready and deeply rooted in community—one that reflects the city’s diversity, grit, and entrepreneurial spirit?In this episode of DisruptED, host Ron Stefanski sits down with Per Scholas’ Executive Vice President, Ken Walker, and Detroit Managing Director, Laura Chavez, during the PowerUp Detroit workforce conference. Together, they explore the innovations, partnerships, cultural dynamics, and opportunities reshaping tech education and career access in Detroit.Highlights from the Conversation…Detroit’s workforce momentum is real: From human-centered workforce strategies to deeper employer collaboration, leaders across the region are co-designing solutions that meet community needs—especially in the energy and tech sectors.Community movements like Black Tech Saturdays are rewriting the narrative: Grassroots innovation proves that when there’s no seat at the table, Detroiters build their own—and create pathways for underrepresented talent to enter and lead in tech.Per Scholas is reimagining tech training for the modern learner: With more than 25 career tracks and flexible delivery models, the organization is expanding training access while customizing programs to Detroit’s culture, employers, and industry needs.Ken Walker is the Executive Vice President at Per Scholas, where he has been a driving force in the organization’s national growth since joining in 2005. Under his leadership, Per Scholas has expanded from a $4 million nonprofit to an $80 million national powerhouse with 24 locations and over two dozen tech training pathways. A leading voice in workforce innovation, Ken specializes in aligning training to emerging technologies, employer demand, and equitable talent development.Laura Chavez is the Managing Director of Per Scholas Detroit, a lifelong educator, community leader, and advocate for equitable workforce development. With a background in bilingual and bicultural education and deep roots in Southwest Detroit, Lara has built a career around empowerment, authenticity, and relationship-driven community engagement. Her work focuses on dismantling barriers for learners, expanding tech access for underrepresented communities, and strengthening Detroit’s diverse talent ecosystem.
Transcribe →Greenland Energy Corporation Is Leading Responsible Oil Development in Greenland’s Jameson Land Basin
Oct 3000:43:57Tap to summarizeThe global conversation around oil is evolving—shaped by the forces of energy transition, geopolitical tension, and accelerating technology. Even as the world races toward decarbonization, demand for reliable, dispatchable energy continues to climb. Oil and gas together still supply just over half of global primary energy, underscoring their enduring role in the world’s power mix even as renewable capacity expands year after year. Whoever controls the next wave of energy discoveries will shape not only markets but geopolitics.Could a remote, largely unknown oil basin in Greenland disrupt the world’s balance of energy power?Welcome to DisruptED. In the latest episode, host Ron J. Stefanski welcomes Larry Swets, CEO of Greenland Exploration Limited, and Robert Price of March GL Company, to discuss the formation of Greenland Energy Corporation—a newly merged venture focused on developing the Jameson Land Basin in East Greenland. The conversation explores how decades of ARCO seismic data, innovative financing strategies, and a commitment to responsible energy exploration are converging to unlock one of the Arctic’s most promising untapped oil and gas basins.Key insights from the conversation…Using previously unreleased seismic data from ARCO (a prominent former global oil and gas company), Price and his team identified major oil markers genetically linked to the North Sea, suggesting billions of barrels of generated oil in the Jameson Basin.Swets partnered with Price through the merger of Greenland Exploration and March GL Company, forming Greenland Energy Corporation to advance oil and gas development in Greenland’s Jameson Land Basin.While pursuing oil exploration, the team emphasizes responsible energy transition—integrating carbon sequestration, hydrogen alternatives, and supporting Greenland’s path toward economic independence.Larry Swets is the Chief Executive Officer of Greenland Exploration Limited, one of the founding companies behind the creation of Greenland Energy Corporation through its merger with March GL Company and Pelican Acquisition Corporation. Under his leadership, Greenland Exploration has played a central role in advancing responsible oil and gas development within Greenland’s Jameson Land Basin, one of the Arctic’s most promising undrilled hydrocarbon regions. Swets has been instrumental in aligning financial strategy with energy innovation, guiding the company’s efforts to responsibly unlock new resources that could reshape Greenland’s economy and strengthen Western energy security.Robert Price is a veteran energy executive with extensive experience in oil and gas exploration and project development. At March GL Company, he has overseen the reprocessing of 1,800 kilometers of ARCO’s historical seismic data, identifying more than 50 potential oil and gas targets within Greenland’s Jameson Land Basin. Price has been a driving force behind the technical and operational foundation of the Greenland Energy Corporation, emphasizing environmental responsibility, regulatory collaboration, and modern exploration methods to advance one of the Arctic’s most significant new energy frontiers.
Transcribe →AI for Mental Health Support: How Kai Blends Human Empathy with Technology to Close the Care Gap
Oct 2300:17:43Tap to summarizeThe mental health crisis has reached alarming levels across the globe. Rates of anxiety and depression continue to climb, with the World Health Organization estimating that one in eight people worldwide now live with a mental health disorder. At the same time, access to care remains limited — especially for young people and those in underserved communities. But as AI becomes more capable of mimicking human conversation and empathy, a new question emerges: could technology itself help close the care gap?Can artificial intelligence not only simulate empathy, but actually support emotional well-being in safe, ethical, and clinically informed ways? Or does introducing AI into this most human of domains risk deepening mistrust and misinformation?Welcome to DisruptED. In the first episode of this two-part series, host Ron J Stefanski sits down with Alex Frenkel, the CEO of Kai, an AI-powered mental health platform that blends human clinicians with conversational AI. Together, they explore whether technology can truly make mental health support more accessible — and what responsible innovation looks like when the stakes are this high.Key takeaways…Human + AI Collaboration: Frenkel explains how Kai integrates clinical expertise with AI technology to offer 24/7 emotional support — ensuring that humans remain “in the loop” at every step.Safety and Ethics in AI Therapy: The platform uses proprietary, clinician-monitored data and safety protocols to prevent misinformation or harmful responses, a critical issue in the emerging “AI for care” space.Personalized and Scalable Support: Through messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, Kai tailors programs to users’ unique emotional needs, identifying when someone requires human intervention or higher levels of care.Alex Frenkel is a seasoned technology executive and product leader with over a decade of experience driving innovation in Israel’s fast-growing tech ecosystem. As the CEO and co-founder of Kai, he leads the development of an AI-driven platform transforming how mental health care teams deliver therapy through automation, data insight, and empathetic design. Previously, Frenkel held senior product leadership roles at Kin Ecosystem, Colu, Gett, and Sears Israel, where he built and scaled user-centric digital products across AI, fintech, and mobile technology.
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