Welcome, Huskies! We’re proud to announce the University of Washington as our newest partner. 💜

Our Mission

Prepare students for the workforce by providing the skills, hands-on experience, and professional connections they need to succeed.

Our Story

2019

Founded in 2019, Podium Education set out with a clear mission: to equip college students with the in-demand skills needed for today's workforce while earning college credit. As the program evolved, we realized that technical skills alone weren't enough—students also needed real-world experience to apply those skills and develop key abilities like intercultural communication and collaboration in distributed teams.

2023

So we expanded further. In 2023, we acquired Untapped, transforming our platform into a comprehensive career network. Now, students not only explore career paths but also connect directly with recruiters and employers, gaining the insights and opportunities necessary to land their first job.

Spring 2026

In Spring 2026, we launched the Career Discovery Experience, revolutionizing experiential learning early in students' college journey. Through this program, students are empowered to discover their passions, develop a sense of belonging and purpose on campus, and chart a path for the major and experiences they will engage with on their way to graduation.

Today

And we're just getting started. We're proud to have partnered with over 100 colleges and universities and 70 industry leading brands, bringing students real-world experiences that jumpstart their careers from the first day of classes.

Our Leadership Team

Aled Owens

VP, University Partnerships

Alex Ricken

Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer

Caroline Ickes Keating

VP, Partner Experience

Chris Laidley

Chief Financial Officer

Christopher Parrish

Co-Founder & President

Dan Blue

Chief Product Officer

David Ekedahl

VP, Student Experience Operations

Eric Mackintosh Ph.D.

VP, Operations

Isaac Gomez

Chief Technology Officer

Jocelyn Rojeck

Chief Operating Officer

John Fillmore

Chief Executive Officer

Orly Bartour

VP, Learning Experience

Tariq Meyers

Chief Careers Officer

Our Advisory Board

We strive to provide best-in-class experiences to students. That’s why we created our Advisory Board, a dynamic group of leaders across higher education and industry who challenge us and help shape the future of our programs.

Amie Grills

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs

Archie Holmes

Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Bridget Burns

Founding Chief Executive Officer

Carlo Salerno

Managing Director of Education Insights

Claire Buxton

Head of Employer Branding and Early Careers

Heather Shipley

Provost and Senior Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jaime Windeler

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Student Experience

James Devaney

Special Advisor to President, Founding Executive Director & Associate VP

Jeff Selingo

Bestselling Author / Special Advisor to President, ASU / Co-host, Future U. Podcast

Ken Baerenklau

Associate Provost

Kristen Fox

CEO

Melody Tankersley

Executive Vice President and Provost, Division of Academic Affairs

Mina Seethraman

Head of New Ventures

Noah Rost

Executive Director, Global Education

Raj Bellani

Vice President of External Affairs, Career Outcomes & Chief of Staff

Randy Bass

Vice President for Strategic Education Initiatives

Shawn Vanderziel

President & CEO

Shannon Fuller

Vice President of Talent Solutions

Advisory Board Emereti

Adam Fein

Vice President, Academic Innovation and Strategic Partnerships

Anthony Ogden

Founder and Managing Director

Cat Ward

CEO

Caryn Beck-Dudley

Former President & CEO of AACSB, Higher Education Consultant

Christine Shiau

Executive Director

Constance Yowell

Executive Director, Center on Future of Higher Education and Work

Darla Deardorff

UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence

Garret Westlake, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Innovation and Strategic Design

Holly Hudson

Associate Vice President, Global Engagement

Kalpen Trivedi

Senior Vice Provost for Global Affairs & Director, Office of Global Affairs

Kiki Caruson

Vice President USF World

Michael A. Campbell, Ed.D

Founder and CEO

Sonia Feigenbaum

Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement / Chief International Officer