The 2025 Catalyst Innovation Summit, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education’s Catalyst @ Penn GSE, brought together global leaders, educators, and innovators to explore how technology continues to transform the future of learning and work.
For Paismo, participating in this year’s summit was a moment of reflection on a theme that resonated throughout every conversation: resilience, and how not to waste a good crisis.
In an era where policy, funding, and technology are in constant flux, resilience is more than endurance, it’s about adaptation. Both EdTech and WorkTech sectors are redefining what it means to stay agile in unpredictable environments, where change is the only constant.
Reimagining Osmosis in a Connected World
During the panel discussion, the conversation centered around the concept of osmosis, the speed and depth at which knowledge travels through communities. The key question: as builders and innovators create meaningful learning hubs beyond Silicon Valley, how can we replicate or reimagine that same velocity of knowledge sharing across rural and emerging markets?
The dialogue underscored a powerful truth: osmosis is no longer confined to geography. In the age of AI acceleration, shifting legal frameworks, and evolving funding models, entrepreneurial resilience is what enables innovation to thrive anywhere.
Insights from the Panel
Paismo was proud to share the stage with Sherif Nessim and Rebecka Zavaleta, discussing how technology can bridge gaps in access, opportunity, and education, particularly across emerging markets. Sherif offered sharp, real-world perspectives from both an operator and investor lens, sparking thoughtful exchanges on scaling innovation sustainably.
Looking Ahead
As the summit wrapped, one message stood out clearly: the future belongs to those who can move fast, leverage wisely, and scale with purpose.
A heartfelt thank you to University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and John Gamba for hosting such an inspiring event, and for fostering the kind of dialogue that pushes all of us to rethink how learning and work intersect in a world shaped by change.
Professional Photo Credit: Ryan Collerd for Penn GSE.
