Engineering a Future of Opportunity with Siya Raj Purohit

To kick off this season of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Siya Raj Purohit, an Education Go-To-Market Leader at OpenAI and General Partner at Pathway Ventures, for an inspiring and insightful conversation. Siya shares her remarkable journey from being an ESL student to becoming a leading voice in the education and technology sectors. They dive deep into the transformative power of education, exploring how it can change lives and open up new opportunities. Siya also discusses the importance of making learning accessible, practical, and relevant in today's fast-paced world, offering listeners a unique perspective on how education can bridge the gap between different communities and empower individuals to succeed.

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, where the intersection of technology, equity, and practical skill-building is more crucial than ever, Siya Raj Purohit stands out as a leading voice of innovation and inspiration. In our most recent episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, Siya, an Education Go-To-Market Leader at OpenAI and a General Partner at Pathway Ventures, shared her remarkable journey from an ESL student to a pioneering author, educator, and venture capitalist focused on the future of learning and work.

Key Takeaways 📌

The Role of AI in Education: AI is transforming the education landscape by offering personalized learning experiences, improving student engagement, and enabling teachers to focus more on individual student needs.

Equity and Access to Quality Education: Ensuring that all students, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to quality education is a fundamental goal. Technology plays a significant role in bridging gaps and providing equal opportunities for learning.

The Future of Teaching: Technology is not a replacement for teachers but a tool to enhance their effectiveness. By leveraging AI and other digital tools, educators can better inspire and reach more students, preparing them to solve real-world problems and succeed in the future workforce.

Est. read time: 5 min

A Journey Rooted in Education and Equity 📚

Immigrating to the U.S. at the age of six, Siya found herself immersed in the challenges of learning a new language and adapting to a new educational system. Reflecting on her early experiences, she shared, “When I think back to that time and everything that's happened since then, I'm so grateful for the U.S. public education system and my ESL teachers. It’s amazing to think that 11 years later, I’d become an author and win awards for writing.”

But it wasn’t just her own experiences that shaped Sia’s career path. At just 14, she volunteered to teach basic computer skills in a village in India, where she witnessed firsthand how access to technology could transform lives. “Within a few weeks of learning to browse the Internet, these children went from imagining their future in the village to dreaming of becoming scuba divers, artists, and astronauts,” she recalled. This experience solidified her commitment to bridging the digital divide and making education accessible to all.

The Impact of "Engineering America" 💡

At the age of 18, Siya authored Engineering America, a book that addressed the job skills gap in the U.S. and called for a more practical, accessible approach to engineering education. The book, which she describes as written “for other 18-year-olds,” was not only a personal achievement but also a call to action for educators and policymakers. Siya’s insights resonated with her peers, many of whom chose to stay in their engineering programs thanks to her advocacy.

Reflecting on the book’s impact, Siya said, “My personal win is that a lot of my friends, like a whole handful, or about a dozen of them, actually stayed in the program and graduated with me because of all this work that was happening.”

Addressing the Future of Education 🧑‍🏫

In the interview, Siya also tackled the challenges and opportunities in the current educational system, particularly in engineering. Despite the progress made, she noted that “not all university curriculums are still practical or lead to industry outcomes.” She highlighted the need for more accessible and practical learning models, pointing to the success of online programs and boot camps in addressing this gap.

Siya’s vision for the future of education extends beyond just technical skills. With the advent of AI technologies like ChatGPT, she believes that storytelling, strategic thinking, and understanding the human impact of technology will become increasingly critical. “The hottest new programming language is English,” she remarked, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and interdisciplinary collaboration with a focus on storytelling and humanizing relationships in the AI-driven future.

Investing in the Future 📈

As a general partner at Pathway Ventures, Siya is at the forefront of investing in innovative educational models. She and her co-founder, Taylor Stockton, focus on solutions that enable learning, earning, and community building. Their investment strategy centers on founders who are deeply connected to the problems they’re solving, reflecting Siya’s belief that “the best careers are guided by a purpose, a passion statement, or an intense feeling.”

One of Pathway Ventures’ success stories is Modal, a company that ties workforce development to tangible business outcomes. By only charging customers when learners successfully complete training and demonstrate new skills, Modal is revolutionizing how businesses measure the ROI of education.

A Call to Startups and Aspiring Innovators 🌟

Siya’s experience across startups, big tech, and venture capital has given her a unique perspective on the value of early-stage career experiences. In a piece she published on Medium, Siya advocates for starting a career at an edtech startup, citing the ownership and exposure to diverse aspects of a business as invaluable for young professionals.

“The kind of ownership that you get at a startup, and the belief that this is your company, is something you can’t really get in a bigger company,” she said. This ownership mindset, coupled with the fast-paced, dynamic environment of a startup, equips young professionals with the skills and experience they need to excel in their careers.

The Road Ahead 🛣

Looking to the future, Siya expressed a desire to explore the policy side of education, particularly how technology can be better integrated into educational policy to benefit students at all levels. Her continuous improvement mindset and passion for learning are palpable, and it’s clear that she will continue to be a driving force in the education sector for years to come.

As the interview drew to a close, Siya reflected on her journey and the work that lies ahead: “We’re in the education field, so I don’t take any of the things I need to learn personally. We’re all on this path, and we also enable those paths for other people. It’s just a really fun experience to continue on our own career paths while helping build those for others.”

Siya Raj Purohit’s story is a testament to the power of education, technology, and passion in shaping not just individual lives, but the future of society as a whole. Her work continues to inspire and challenge the status quo, making her a true visionary in the field of education.