Musings on tech, edtech & VC with a dose of unsolicited advice. I like nonsense.
2016 was a busy year in alternative higher education! From MOOCs to coding bootcamps to Online Program Managers (OPMs) to universities, all players kept busy innovating and pushing the boundaries to move us toward a world where more adults feel prepared to engage and succeed in society. Here's a rundown of 2016's Top 5 Trends... Continue Reading →
You can assume that everything that can go wrong, will, and still be an optimist. Trust me, I'm a pro at it. Flash back a few years ago to early 2014. At work, my division was growing like wildfire. Like a thorny weed. Like bunny rabbits. Heck it was growing so fast we couldn't remember... Continue Reading →
Across the country, universities are feeling a pinch. The cost of operating a university is rising, and increases in tuition can't keep up. Across the country, students are also feeling a pinch. Tuition is rising, and the long-promised value of a higher degree is becoming more and more dubious. To combat these issues, universities and third party... Continue Reading →
If you've read my blog you understand I love self-help advice. Giving and receiving it. One of my favorite types of self-help advice is around decision making. For years I have used a tool to help make big life decisions and shared it with all my friends. Yesterday my girlfriend and I were on the phone... Continue Reading →
"You run new ventures....so what does that mean??" This is a question I receive almost every time I tell anyone what I do. I stepped into a role at General Assembly as Head of New Ventures 5 months ago and have quickly realized the role is not just rare, but that many have no idea what... Continue Reading →
I've been meaning to post this blog for several months....I first started writing it in late 2013 as we worked behind the scenes to launch the Opportunity Fund. We launched the Opportunity Fund at GA in April 2014 and now, 6 months later, our first round of fellows have graduated with several more in class and ready to... Continue Reading →
I moderated a panel a few days ago called “The Corporate Escape” in which four panelists and I discussed how we made the transition from traditional corporate jobs at Fortune 500 companies to small tech startups. A lot of knowledge was dropped for the attendees from the Suits to Silicon Alley meetup group and I wanted... Continue Reading →
Something I never really thought about until it I heard myself uttering these words at work "Yeah, I thought about that before.....": if you are leading a team, accountable for direction and implementation, or in any way want to be recognized for a vision you're working toward, it is non negotiable that you document your... Continue Reading →
I got to speak with the folks at Course Report about where GA is going and what we're doing with WDI (Web Development Immersive) - check it out! https://www.coursereport.com/blog/q-a-with-mercedes-bent-head-of-web-development-immersives-for-general-assembly
Something I hear from a lot of students when they first enter the Web Development Immersive program at GA is they feel as thought their particular background does not lend to success in this environment they've found themselves in. Students know that the environment they are entering is grueling and that the learning experience will... Continue Reading →
