Delivering high impact AI-enabled online learning
Esme Learning supports individual executives, universities, and corporations to deliver leading technology and the latest business trends that enable learners to transform their careers, launch new ventures and improve business acumen.
Leading universities, such as the University of Oxford, partner with Esme Learning to develop and deliver high quality, innovative online courses at pace with market demand. And, by offering the Esme Learning portfolio of courses to their key executives, corporations feel confident about their teams' ability to manage the impacts of digital transformation.
Combining learning science with AI-enabled technologies keeps students on track and focused on the material that will help them get ahead in their career. Presenting leading academics and industry leaders through superior content production keeps students engaged and involved. Our experienced team of learning design, production and technology professionals deliver high standards that reflect the standards one would expect from innovative, elite academic institutions.
We teach executives as they work - in cross functional teams. Learners participate in interactive simulations and team projects which reinforce applied learning and enhance collaboration and complex problem solving skills.
Our cognitive artificial intelligence enabled coach improves learning communication skills and builds team effectiveness.
In our Oxford Cyber Security Programme students participate in a live cyber attack simulation where each team member assumes a specific role within a fictitious organization that has been victim of a cyber breach.
The Esme Learning Approach provides a dynamic digital scaffold that uses varied pedagogy, and lessons from cognitive and neuroscience, to maximize each learning experience.
A recent study, funded by the National Science Foundation, proved that the Esme Learning Approach delivers 30-35% improvement on metrics such as grades and retention and our completion rate of courses is typically over 90% against the industry average of 3-5%.
We've assembled a world class team of course production professionals, instructional designers, and multimedia experts. Through our unique collaborative design process, the Esme team works side-by-side with some of the world's top business and academic minds to render their ideas in natively digital experiences.
The quality difference is superior to other online programmes and results in higher learner engagement.
The easy to use design of our online interface and interactive content modules use best practices around cognitive load and multimedia variation.
We make it efficient for students to take our courses in a user-friendly learning environment. Features such as searchable text in the video player and downloadable transcripts ensure our courses are suitable for the on-the-go professional.
A personal success coach that will help define your goals and keep you on track.
Improves your communication skills and team effectiveness.
Build long-lasting connections with your learning team.
Learn from the most current thought leaders and academics on the most pressing business topics impacting your career.
Receive a certificate from a globally recognizable university which will add immediate value to your professional profile.
Esme Learning’s lifelong approach to supporting your innovation journey connects you to a global network of innovators.
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Beth Porter is the Co-Founder of Esme Learning Solutions and Founder & CEO of Riff Analytics. A former VP at Pearson Education and edX, Beth’s highly sought-after expertise stems from a deep passion for education and desire to provide the highest quality tech-enabled learning experiences. Beth has led pioneering research and developed products that transform online teaching and learning, including driving the Open edX initiative at edX and architecting the original Texas OnCourse program. Her engagements in higher education include researcher and lecturer at the MIT Media Lab and Boston University Questrom School of Business.
Co-Founder and Managing Director
David is a globally recognized thought leader in technology and educational innovation, serial entrepreneur, and author. The portfolio of digital classes he created for MIT and University of Oxford have engaged more than 15,000 innovators in over 140 countries, and revolutionized the model for university short-course offerings.
He is a Professor of Practice (AI and Innovation) with Imperial College Business School, and holds a secondary appointment as Associate Fellow with SaÏd Business School, University of Oxford. David has published five books in the past five years focused on technology disruption, the three most recent of which with MIT Press or Little Brown. His latest book, Augmenting Your Career: How to Win at Work in the Age of AI will be published by Little Brown in spring 2021.
CFO
Mike Wilson is an operations-focused finance executive with a proven track record of supporting organizational growth. At Esme Learning, he is responsible for accounting, finance, legal, and human resources functions. Mike began working in edtech in 2013 as a finance director at Pearson, and has previously led high-performing teams as VP of Operations for Jones and Bartlett Learning and ClickSafety, two Ascend Learning companies.
CMO
Becky Wang is a business leader with expertise in building high-performing marketing, commercial, and product organizations. At Esme, Becky oversees brand, growth, research, and creative.
She led digital and brand transformation projects at Crossbeat New York, a design consultancy + innovation studio that helps F500 and startups navigate category disruption. Previously, she was head of Data Strategy at Droga5 and SVP/Global Head of Insights & Analytics at Saatchi & Saatchi. She published Creativity & Data Marketing, a textbook taught at NYU, SF's CCA, and other institutions. She worked as a film executive and on award-winning campaigns for Prudential, New Museum, Beyonce's UN "I Was Here". Becky is featured in SXSW, FT Times, CBS, Co.Create/Fast Company on the future of media and impact of BigTech on culture & politics.
VP of Comms
Amanda Shareghi is VP of communications at Esme Learning, and has years of strategic communications experience spanning Silicon Valley startups, NYC agencies, and international newsrooms. She most recently built and led the business technology practice for startup-focused PR agency, Sling & Stone as its first US VP, directing PR campaigns for venture-backed US and international companies. Amanda oversaw communications strategy for a portfolio of early-stage startups across SaaS, edtech, fintech, and deep tech/frontier tech industries, including high-profile launches and funding rounds. She currently mentors startup operators on PR & communications through First Round Capital's Fast Track program.
VP of Course Operations
Julia has spent her career leading learning experience, course operations, support, and success teams focused on educational technology and online learning at scale within companies including Pearson, edX, and O’Reilly Media. Julia sits on the board of Open2All, an educational technology startup. She is passionate about innovation in technology, lifelong learning and learning theory, experimentation culture, and agile methodologies.
VP of Curriculum Development
Mark has a career history of translating complex technical topics into easily-understood material for a broader audience. He has been leading technical content, training and enablement for Cybereason, a cybersecurity company, where he built the Cybereason Academy. He previously was the Head of Technical Communications for edX, and has held senior technical writing roles with IBM, Cisco, and Sun Microsystems.
VP of Strategic Development
Alfie is an experienced startup executive with deep insight into digital learning and innovation. He helped launch and run online classes for MIT and Oxford which built a global audience of over ten thousand innovators in 130 countries to develop their projects and capabilities and to drive change at scale. In addition to his corporate work, Alfie has advised multiple startups and coaches founders on Red Bull’s Academy for Social Entrepreneurs.
VP of Business Development
Maren operates in the nexus between academia, industry, and government. She is a senior strategic advisor on national security for BMNT/Hacking for Defense, a MIT Lincoln Laboratory research affiliate, and on the MIT Enterprise Forum board. Maren is a start-up programs mentor at HBS, MIT, and the USAF and was a venture capitalist and co-founder and general manager for several AI start-ups. At MIT, she was a food and water systems lab director, technological innovation center assistant director, and corporate relations liaison. She was manager of technology strategy, a missile defense systems engineer, and a program manager at Northrop Grumman. She holds masters degrees in engineering and business from the University of Pennsylvania and bachelors degrees in engineering and economics from RPI.
VP of Production
Ruth Berry brings a wealth of production management experience to her role as VP of Production at Esme Learning. Formerly a VP of STEM Content Production at Pearson, Ruth has built her career around creating exceptional educational courseware and improving the quality and accessibility of online education. Adept at building teams around strategic initiatives, Ruth pioneered the production and rapid expansion of Pearson's highly successful MyLab Math program, and she is deeply committed to ongoing innovation in educational content and technology.
Board Director
Michael is Managing Director at Adit Ventures and a well-known market strategist and corporate advisor, an expert on macroeconomics, global markets, and alternative investments, and advises a wide variety of global institutional clients and fiduciaries. He writes daily on global markets and is a frequent expert panelist on networks like CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News, CNN, and Bloomberg, and is cited frequently by publications and websites like CNNMoney.com, Barron's, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.
Chia brings to Esme Learning nearly two decades of experience in the financial and technology industry, having worked in Singapore’s GovTech and NTUC Income. An alumnus of NUS and NTU, he is the founding president of Singapore Fintech Association, a founding board member of the Global Fintech Institute, and co-chairman of the Blockchain Association Singapore. Chia is a council member of and strategic advisor to numerous fintech startups and organizations, such as ASEAN AFIN, IEEE C/BDL, Singapore Sichuan Trade & Investment Committee, IBF, and a Fellow of the Singapore University of Social Science (SUSS). He frequently speaks on topics related to fintech and blockchain at international events and universities.
Kevin is a 23-year veteran of the IT and telecommunications industry with extensive experience in telco technologies, cloud computing, cybersecurity, fintech, and MoneyGram. He contributed his skills to IBM, HP, CSC, BT, Orange, Tata, Telstra, and now helps startups. Kevin has conducted workshops on startup formation, value creation, and fund-raising. He holds advisory roles in areas of blockchain and cryptocurrencies and the development of payment tokens and STOs. Kevin has an MBA from University of Leeds and is a pioneer graduate of the MIT and the Oxford Fintech Programs. He is chairman of the SGTECH Blockchain Committee and founding top board member of Exco, ASEAN Chapter.