The Coursera Podcast

We sat down with Ylli Bajraktari, President and CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), to discuss how AI is transforming global competitiveness, national security, and the future of work.Ylli draws on years of leadership experience across the Pentagon, the White House, and the National Security Commission on AI to explain why AI adoption is now a national imperative. He shares the founding story of SCSP, insights on policy and leadership in the age of AI, and why public-private collaboration is essential to maintaining U.S. leadership in emerging technologies.We also cover:🌍 How AI is reshaping global power dynamics and strategic competition💼 What leaders need to succeed in an AI-driven world🏛️ Why government must prioritize reskilling and AI literacy📘 A new Coursera course tailored for public sector professionals🔍 Lessons for private sector leaders from national security AI strategies+++Explore the free AI and National Security course on Coursera.org, designed for professionals working in government, policy, and beyond. Learn how to integrate AI into day-to-day decision-making—and stay ahead in an evolving global landscape.

We sat down with Suraj Srinivasan, a professor at Harvard Business School and an expert in corporate governance, AI, and innovation, to explore how leaders can navigate disruption and drive meaningful change in an era of rapid technological advancements.Suraj shares his fascinating career journey—from investment banking to launching a retail business in India to becoming a leading voice in business education. We dive into the key challenges organizations face today, from AI adoption to ethical considerations, and discuss strategies for building resilient and forward-thinking leadership.We also cover:🌍 How businesses can develop strategies to thrive in disruptive times🤖 The role of generative AI in shaping industries and leadership🏛️ The importance of corporate governance and ethical AI adoption📈 Key lessons from Coursera’s innovative approach to AI🌱 How organizations can balance profitability with social and environmental impactThis episode is a must-listen if you're interested in leadership, innovation, and the future of work!+++Want to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world? Explore resources on Coursera.org to build skills in AI, leadership, and strategy. Whether you're a business leader, educator, or lifelong learner, Coursera has courses to help you thrive in the digital economy!

We sat down with Molly Nagler, Chief Learning Officer at Moderna, to explore how curiosity and innovation are transforming learning and development. Molly shares how Moderna is tackling challenges like AI adoption, skills shortages, and workforce transformation while making mRNA education accessible to learners worldwide. In this episode, Molly and Arunav also discuss: 🌟 The importance of curiosity in fostering a learning culture 🤖 How AI is revolutionizing training, from custom GPTs to personalized learning pathways 📚 The role of STEM education in bridging skill gaps and creating opportunities 🔄 Strategies for navigating change and building resilience in organizations +++ Curious about the science behind mRNA technology? Check out Moderna’s free mRNAs as Medicines course on Coursera. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone interested in science and innovation. Plus, explore thousands of other courses from world-class universities and companies like Yale, Google, and Microsoft. Start learning today with Coursera!

We sat down with Amanda Brophy, Director of Grow with Google, to explore how technology has transformed workforce training and career development. Amanda shared the story behind Grow with Google’s career certificates, which have empowered hundreds of thousands of learners worldwide, and highlighted the program’s focus on inclusivity, digital skills, and AI training. In this conversation, Amanda and Arunav cover: 🎓 The origins of Grow with Google and its mission to create economic opportunity for all 🌐 The global impact of career certificates, with 600,000+ graduates and growing 🤖 The rise of AI skills and their importance in today’s workforce 📈 Addressing critiques of short-term credentials with pathways to long-term success 🎯 Integrating soft skills like communication and leadership into technical training +++ Are you ready to elevate your career? Explore Google’s career certificates on Coursera and gain in-demand skills in AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, and more. Whether you’re starting fresh or switching careers, these programs offer a proven path to success. Start learning today!

In this episode, we sit down with Panos A. Panay⁠⁠⁠, President of the Recording Academy, to explore his remarkable journey—from founding Sonicbids to leading one of the most influential organizations in the music industry during a time of profound change. Panos shares insights on the transformative role of music education, the impact of emerging technologies like AI, and the Academy’s global efforts to inspire creativity. ⁠ In this episode, Panos and Arunav cover: 🎶 The universal, healing power of music 📚 The importance of music education in personal and professional development 🎤 The GRAMMY GO initiative and its role in empowering emerging artists 🌍 Expanding global access to music education and resources 🤖 AI’s influence on the music industry and the balance between innovation and authenticity +++ Are you an emerging musician ready to take your craft to the next level? Check out GRAMMY GO on Coursera to learn how to build your audience and master music production from industry experts. Plus, explore other courses from top universities and companies like Yale, Google, and Microsoft. Start learning with Coursera today!

We sat down with Dr. Vic Strecher, professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and the founder of Kumanu, a company focused on building purposeful cultures in organizations, to discuss transformative power of purpose and resilience. In this episode, Vic and Arunav cover: 🧠 The physiological and psychological benefits of having a purpose 📋 Strategies to cultivate purpose, build resilience, and set meaningful goals ⚙️ How leaders can build purposeful, resilient teams in the workplace 🤖 How AI is reshaping the way we think about purpose and work 📚 Key lessons from Vic’s popular course, Finding Purpose and Meaning in Life +++ Is your purpose to grow your skillset or learn something new? With Coursera Plus, you’ll have unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs from world-class universities and companies like Yale, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. Sign up for Coursera Plus today.

We sat down with Sayasat Nurbek, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, to discuss how the widespread adoption of online learning is helping to bridge the skills gap in his country. Minister Nurbek shares his personal journey and passion for education, as well as the initiatives he has led to reshape Kazakhstan's higher education system. In this episode, Sayasat and Arunav cover: The challenges of upskilling and reskilling a workforce, including the need for English language proficiency, quality faculty, and advanced infrastructure. Transforming education through strategic partnerships with international universities and online learning platforms like Coursera. Personalizing the learning journey for students to facilitate lifelong learning +++ Interested in furthering your own education online? With Coursera Plus, you’ll have unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs from world-class universities and companies like Yale, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. Sign up for Coursera Plus today.

We sat down with Jeff Hollan, Head of Applications and Developer Platform at Snowflake, to discuss how product design is changing and how developers are scaling up their skill sets to make the most of AI. From enhancing collaboration to unleashing new levels of imagination, Jeff’s insights will inspire you to see AI as your new creative and technical partner. In this episode, Jeff and Arunav cover: Balancing Innovation and Technical Debt Enhancing Accessibility and Creativity with AI The Role of AI in Personal Productivity Building Diverse Teams in the Age of AI An update on Snowflake's Northstar learning program on Coursera ++ Snowflake's Northstar Builder Education program on Coursera aims to reach millions of builders and help them develop skills in data and AI. With this program, you can learn at your own pace with online courses, join Snowflake for in-person training events near you, and earn badges to show off your new skills.

Steam propelled the original Industrial Revolution; electricity powered the second; automation and machines engineered the third; and intelligent computers are shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Like the revolutions that preceded it, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world; but along the way, almost every industry in every country is being disrupted. Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Azerbaijan, sits down with us to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by this disruption, and how Azerbaijan is responding to better prepare the country’s workforce for the future.

We sat down with Dr. Jules White, Professor of Computer Science at Vanderbilt and Director of the university’s Initiative on the Future of Learning & Generative AI, to discuss the rise of GenAI and the importance of prompt engineering in utilizing large language models like ChatGPT. He emphasizes that GenAI is not just a passing trend but a fundamental skill that everyone should learn. Dr. White also shares: Best practices for incorporating GenAI into higher education and the workplace Beginner-friendly prompts for everyday use of ChatGPT Advice for business leaders on optimizing talent and tech agility +++ Dr. White created one of the first and largest online courses for prompt engineering. Together with a second free course on advanced data analysis of ChatGPT, his courses have reached more than 250,000 students worldwide. Interested in learning how to use large language models for personal, professional, and academic tasks? With Coursera Plus, you’ll have unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs from world-class universities and companies like Yale, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. Sign up for Coursera Plus today.

Despite the fact that most cosmetics are targeted to and bought by women, did you know that men have an outsized influence on how they are made? In the US alone, women make up less than half of cosmetic chemists. This disparity deepens when looking at STEM as a whole, where women represent only one-quarter of the overall workforce. We sat down with Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson, an in-house cosmetic scientist at OLAY and the Senior Director and Fellow of Skin Care at Proctor and Gamble, to chat about her experience as a woman of color in her field and the work she is doing to drive more women to pursue careers in STEM. Dr. Wilkerson works closely with dermatologists, clinicians, and beauty scientists to research, develop, and report on the latest and emerging skin and hair science and technologies. Some of your staple products may be a product of her work! She also illuminates the inspiration behind Introduction to Cosmetic Science and Ingredients, a brand new Specialization from OLAY and the first in a series of STEM courses from the brand that reflects their commitment to doubling the number of women in STEM and tripling the number of women of color in STEM by 2030. +++ Interested in exploring this Specialization? With Coursera Plus, you’ll have unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs from world-class universities and companies like Yale, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. Sign up for Coursera Plus today.

As CEO of Coursera, an online learning platform with 142 million learners and hundreds of millions of course enrollments, Jeff Maggioncalda has a unique view of what’s happening around the world in edtech, higher education, and the future of work. We sat down with him to discuss: 🔮 The implications of GenAI on online learning and education 🔑 Navigating the GenAI conundrum to drive innovation and productivity at your organization 📈 What leaders should keep in mind when developing a concrete GenAI strategy 🍎 Jeff’s debut as an educator on Coursera with Navigating Generative AI: A CEO Playbook 🧠 Using GenAI as a thought partner in your day-to-day life +++ With Coursera Plus, you’ll have unlimited access to Navigating Generative AI: A CEO Playbook and 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs from world-class universities and companies like Yale, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. Sign up for Coursera Plus today.