DeepSummary
The podcast episode features an interview with Audrey Wish, the founder and CEO of Curious Cardinals, an edtech company aiming to empower K-12 students to discover and pursue their passions with the guidance of college mentors. Audrey shares her journey of starting the company as a freshman at Stanford University, where she was pursuing a degree in history. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit a year later, Audrey decided to take a leave of absence from Stanford to focus on Curious Cardinals full-time.
Audrey discusses the founding story of Curious Cardinals, which began as a simple tutoring initiative during the pandemic but grew into a global community of over 500 top college students mentoring kids across the world. The company's approach emphasizes near-peer mentorship, passion-based learning, project-based learning, and the importance of representation in education. Audrey also shares her experience with fundraising for Curious Cardinals, highlighting the role of happy customers and delivering an exceptional experience.
The conversation also delves into the impact of AI on education and Audrey's efforts to teach parents about leveraging AI for their children's learning. Audrey emphasizes the importance of resilience, continuous learning, and surrounding oneself with the right people in the entrepreneurial journey. Throughout the interview, she reflects on her personal growth, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned as a young founder.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Curious Cardinals' approach to education emphasizes near-peer mentorship, passion-based learning, project-based learning, and the importance of representation.
- Audrey Wish stresses the importance of resilience, continuous learning, and surrounding oneself with the right people in the entrepreneurial journey.
- The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Audrey to take a leave of absence from Stanford and focus on Curious Cardinals full-time.
- Audrey's initial hesitation towards entrepreneurship stemmed from her perception of an ego attached to it, but she ultimately embraced it as a means to solve important problems.
- Delivering an exceptional experience for customers and having happy customers played a crucial role in Curious Cardinals' successful fundraising efforts.
- Audrey recognizes the potential of AI in transforming and personalizing education for the next generation and has been actively teaching parents about leveraging AI for their children's learning.
- Audrey's entrepreneurial journey has been marked by continuous learning, personal growth, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Surrounding oneself with the right team, advisors, and mentors is vital for entrepreneurial success, according to Audrey's experience.
Top Episodes Quotes
- βI've always been someone who's just like, let's find the good, let's find the silver lining. Like, I don't like complaining. I don't like being upset. Let's just move forward and laugh about it or learn from it, and that's all you can do. That's, like, one of the single things I will attribute to being able to be an entrepreneur. Resilience moving forward, lifelong learning.β by Audrey Wish
- βSo often that fear of failure inhibits students from even trying. And so we aim to detach that fear and encourage exploration.β by Audrey Wish
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Episode Information
She Leads
Carly Malatskey
6/12/24
Audrey is the Founder and CEO of Curious Cardinals, an edtech company committed to empowering K-12 students to discover and pursue their passions with the guidance of college mentors.
Audrey started Curious Cardinals as a freshman at Stanford University, where she was pursuing a Bachelors degree in History. Just one year later, the COVID pandemic hit and Audrey ultimately decided to take a leave of absence from Stanford to pursue Curious Cardinals full time. Today, Curious Cardinals is a global community of over 500 top college students mentoring kids across the globe.
Audrey has spoken on CNN, the Today Show and in Forbes to share her vision to create a community of lifelong learners and doers. She was also recognized in the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 Education and Youngest category.
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Past guests include Margaret Wishingrad, Kara Goldin, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Ann Miura Ko, Linda Avey, Sarah Leary, Becky Sauerbrunn and many more.
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Show Notes:
1. Welcome to She Leads
2. Audrey's Upbringing in NY
3. Audrey as a Child - being her own CEO
4. Going to Stanford with a 10-year Plan
5. The Impact of COVID
6. Founding Story of Curious CardinalsΒ
7. Power of Project-Based Learning and Mentorship in Education
8. Fundraising for Curious Cardinals and Lessons Along the Way
9. The Role of AI in Education Today
10. The Power of Resilience and Continuous Learning
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