Breaking the Grade
Episodes
Best of 2025: How Education Founders Can Turn Any Conference or Summit Into a Sales Engine That Builds Trust, Authority, and Pipeline
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some episodes don’t just inspire, they show you what execution really looks like.This one’s a real-time playbook in action.Originally LIVE from th...
Best of 2025: Karim Kuperhause & Rose Hastreiter on Why Education Founders Must Sell First, Master Objections, and Build a Repeatable Process Before Delegating or Scaling
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some episodes can't just be missed… this one is one of them. Why? Because it shifts how education founders think about sales, delegation, and ...
Best of 2025: Robert Martellacci on How Education Founders Stuck Chasing Sales Can Turn Relationships, Setbacks, and Partnerships Into Scalable Credibility and Revenue Growth
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some episodes don’t just share insights, they show education founders how to turn relationships, strategy, and innovation into measurable results. T...
Best of 2025: Jolene Levine on How Education Founders Can Turn Betrayal, Burnout, and Chaos Into a Blueprint for Credibility, Alignment, and Lead Flow That Converts
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some episodes don’t just start conversations, they shift how education founders think about credibility, leadership, and lead generation. This one d...
Best of 2025: John Gamba on How Education Founders Can Rebuild Trust, Visibility, and Pipeline Through Authentic LinkedIn Strategy
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some episodes don’t just offer sales tactics; they redefine how education founders think about visibility, trust, and lead flow. This one did.When J...
The Gratitude Episode: 22 Guests, 63 Countries, and a Community That Turned 2025 Into Our Most Meaningful Year Yet
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most founders rush to the next metric, the next meeting, the next milestone.But the truth is: you can’t scale what you don’t stop to appreciate.Th...
The Headline Mistake: How eight words on LinkedIn unlocked a $100k repeatable pipeline.
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most education founders think their LinkedIn headline is just a formality.A place to drop their title. List their company. Maybe add “passionate abo...
Hesitation Is a $250K Mistake: Dr. Tamara Minott on How Education Founders Close Deals With Confidence
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most education founders don’t lose deals because their product isn’t good enough.They lose them because they hesitate, overthinking the pitch, sec...
You Crushed the Demo—But Still Can’t Close: The $100K Mistake Education Founders Keep Making
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You crushed the demo.The buyer smiled. They nodded. They even said, “This is exactly what we need.”And then… nothing.That silence isn’t harmle...
From Betrayal and Courtroom Battles to Closed Deals: Robespierre Reyes on Rebuilding Credibility, Team Alignment, and Education Deals That Close
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Robespierre Reyes had funding, traction, and a winning idea.Then came the lawsuits, burnout, and partners who betrayed him.Four companies, three failu...
From Confusion to Clarity: JD Mosley-Matchett on the Message Shift That Turns Unclear Offers into Scalable, Trust-Building Growth for Education Founders
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most education founders and EdTech leaders think their problem is marketing.But sometimes, the real issue is something more critical: ClarityIf your m...
The Mindset Reset: Mitch Weisburgh On How Education Founders Can Master Mindset, Beat Burnout, and Close Strong Deals
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve got the product, the drive, and the skills, but when pressure hits, your mindset starts to crack.Suddenly, deals stall, momentum fades, and e...
Stop Delegating Sales: Why Education Founders Must Sell Their Solution First Or Watch Their Pipeline Die
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most education founders think the next rep, agency, or AI tool will solve their sales problem. It won’t.Here’s the truth: if you can’t sell your...
From Lost Leads to Locked Contracts: Paul King on Niche Focus, Pilots That Convert, and Closing Education Deals
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you stop trying to serve every school and start solving one urgent problem for the right schools?It’s the positioning shift most f...
The Education Founder’s Blueprint: Kevin Chavous on Turning Setbacks Into Proof Points, Credibility, and Growth That Lasts
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most education founders think buyers want the perfect pitch, the flashy product, or the right political connection.But Kevin Chavous—national educat...
The Guarantee Shift: Karim Kuperhause on How Education Founders Build Trust and Win Qualified Leads Without Sounding Desperate
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a superintendent or a higher ed leader—looks you in the eye and asks: “What happens if this doesn’t work?”For most educ...
From Invisible to Irresistible: Michael Campbell on Using Research and Proof to Build Trust, Generate Leads, and Drive Education Growth
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every education founder, EdTech CEO, and school leader wants growth. But here’s the mistake almost everyone makes: they chase revenue before they’...
$9M Raised, Zero Guesswork: How YourWay Raised $9M by Solving the Lead Gen Problem Most Education Founders Ignore
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most education founders don’t fail because of bad ideas.They fail because they lean too hard on “AI-powered” buzzwords, skip the research-to-pra...
From “Great Pitch” to Signed Contract: Paul Vallas on the Buyer’s Lens That Closes Education Deals
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you finally land the big meeting… and walk out with nothing but “We’ll think about it”?It’s the growth killer most founder...
(Re-Air) The Signature Solution: Your Proven Blueprint to a Clear Offer That Generates Leads and Wins the Education Market
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your biggest lead gen problem isn’t visibility — but the fact that your offer isn’t clear enough to close?Most EdTech founders think the...
From $10M in Sales to Losing Her Company: What Education Founders Learn the Hard Way About Selling, Scaling, and Staying Aligned
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most founders think their growth problem is sales.But Jolene Levin, entrepreneur, innovator and founder of NorvaNivel proved it’s the other way arou...
(Best of) Your Demo Is the Problem: What Education Founders Must Do—and Stop Doing—to Close More Deals With Their Demos
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most EdTech demos fall flat because they focus on product—not pain. They walk through features—but skip the funding strategy.They sound polished—...
From Collapse to Credibility: Robert Martellacci’s Blueprint to Win Back Influence and Close Deals in the Education Space
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when your billion-dollar success story ends—and the market forgets your name?Robert Martellacci knows. And he didn’t quit—he reinve...
From Dead-End to C-Suite: An Edtech’s Messaging Framework That Converts Education Conversations into Contracts
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Here's the Messaging Fix You Didn’t Know You NeededIf your EdTech offer sounds “nice” but never gets past your perfect client to respond…...
Your Summer Fix: How Education Founders Can Rebuild Lead Flow Before Back-to-School
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s get one thing straight:September doesn’t start in September. It starts now—in June, July, and August.Because the biggest mistake founders ...
From Quiet Posts to Real Revenue: How Anissa Used LinkedIn to Build Trust and Attract Qualified Leads
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most EdTech founders are still chasing views.Anissa Bouderraoui is closing pilots.She didn’t wait to go viral.She showed up consistently—with clar...
The Rest Advantage: How Education Founders Use Strategic Pauses to Spark Lead Gen Breakthroughs
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most education founders treat traction like a treadmill.When the leads slow down, they don’t stop to ask why—they sprint faster.More posts. More e...
Clearer Messaging, Consistent Leads: What EdTech Founders Can Learn from MindShifting
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most education companies don’t lose leads because their product is weak.They lose them because the message doesn’t land.They try to sound professi...
Do the Opposite of Everything You’ve Been Doing: How Seinfeld’s George Costanza Unlocks Lead Gen Clarity for EdTech Founders
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s start with a sitcom—and a truth bomb.In Seinfeld Season 5, Episode 22 ("The Opposite"), George Costanza hits rock bottom. No job. ...
Breaking Borders: How Smart EdTech Founders Build Scalable Companies Without Losing Local Trust
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re trying to grow your education business beyond where you started—this episode is for you.Because whether you’re moving from one country...
The Speaking Strategy: How Education Founders Fast-Track Credibility, Confidence, and Sales Momentum
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
LinkedIn builds your credibility — Speaking amplifies it.In this episode of Breaking the Grade, I’m sharing how I went from avoiding stages entire...
From Ghosted to Booked: How Ashton Tate Filled His Calendar with Qualified School Leads
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’re not afraid of hard work.You’ve put in the hours.You’ve sent the emails.You’ve done the demos.And still—no one’s biting.That was Ash...
You Don’t Just Sell to Schools—You Earn Their Trust: How Edtech Founder Paul Moch Built an Education Business That Got Acquired
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You think your sales process is tough?Try launching a brand new EdTech company during a global pandemic—while building trust with schools that aren’...
Busy Isn’t Booked: The Silent Sales Mistake Most Founders Miss
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’re busy. But you’re not booked.You’re showing up on LinkedIn.You’re attending conferences.You’re tweaking your SEO.You’re following th...
Cracking the Code: How to Sell Education Products in High-Stakes Markets
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded live at IFE in Monterrey, Mexico, this episode features Beatriz Guillen, Executive Director at The Resource Foundation—a leader focused on ...
From Chaos to Clarity: How One Founder Rebuilt His EdTech Biz from the Ground Up to Revenue Way Up
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Too many education founders build something incredible—only to realize they can’t sell it.They try to figure it out themselves… piecing together...
Why Most Education Companies Burn Out Before They Scale—And the Fix That Actually Works
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve got the vision. The team. The momentum.So why does it feel like you’re sprinting on a treadmill with no finish line in sight?Here’s the t...
LinkedIn Connection to Contract: Josh's Proven Six-Step EdSales Method (No Paid Ads/Funnels/Cold Calls)
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve added decision-makers on LinkedIn.You’ve liked a few posts, maybe even commented.You’re showing up… but nothing’s turning into a call...
Struggling to Sell to Schools or Universities? (An Expert in HigherEd Tells You How to do it Right)
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Selling into education institutions—whether K–12 or higher ed—isn’t just about having a great product.It’s about understanding how those ins...
The Conference Playbook: How Education Companies Get Conferences Wrong (And How to Fix It)
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does this sound familiar?You just spent thousands of dollars flying to ANOTHER education conference, setting up a booth, shaking hands with decision-m...
IFE Conference 2025 (Mexico): Breaking Barriers -- AI and Strategic Partnerships Shaping Education
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The education sector is buzzing with AI, but are schools and EdTech businesses truly leveraging it for sustainable growth? In this live episode, we cu...
Why Most Startups Get Investment Wrong—and How to Fix It
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryWhen you're growing your education business, one big question always comes up—should you seek investment or bootstrap your way to succes...
Before You Hire a Sales Team...The Steps Founders Can’t Skip
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryIn this episode of Breaking the Grade, Josh Chernikoff tackles the big question: when’s the right time to bring on a sales team for your educ...
Secrets behind unlocking 7-figures in sales...How this seasoned entrepreneur transformed his sales process.
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryIn this episode of Breaking the Grade, I chat with Ernie, a seasoned leader who's been navigating the ever-changing education landscape si...
From One-Off Sales to Repeatable Revenue...How Future Makers Transformed Their Business
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryNine years of building a business—and then, overnight, everything changes. Suddenly, you’re scrambling to keep things afloat, unsure of you...
Mastering Sales Planning in the Education Space
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary:In this episode of Breaking the Grade, Josh Chernikoff and Toni McMurray tackle the challenges of sales planning for education companies as th...
Mastering the Education Sales Cycle & Secrets to Staying Top of Mind and Closing Deals
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary:Sales in the education space can feel like an endless maze—long cycles, multiple decision-makers, and constant resistance. In this episode, ...
Why Waiting to Sell in the Education Sector Can Cost You...& when’s the right time to start selling
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary:Wondering when you should really start selling in the education market? In this episode, Josh Chernikoff dives into the right timing and appro...
A Better Approach to Sales Calls for Education Companies… How to sell without being salesy.
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary:Are your sales calls feeling like one-way pitches instead of real conversations? In this episode, Josh Chernikoff uncovers a simple yet powerf...
The Better Demo Method To Sell More Education Services & Products
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary:Selling to schools and districts is more than just having a good product—it’s about really understanding the specific challenges and needs...
How This EdTech Company Transformed Their Sales Process And Went From Stagnation to Leads In Just 8 Weeks
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I sit down with Chris and Corey from Rocket PD to talk about how they revamped their entire sales process to feel more natural and focused ...
How this EdTech Startup sharpened their message & went from struggling to selling!
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryImagine a tool that could revolutionize how students manage their homework—built not by some big tech company, but by a parent and a 12-year-...
How this EdTech founder got clarity on his ideal client & product... making selling easier!
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Summary:Starting a business with the goal of solving complex educational problems is a tall order. But Sam Saarinen, founder and CEO of Edapt Technolo...
3 Powerful Systems To Grow Your Education Business With More Ease
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses the importance of implementing systems in order to scale and grow an education business. He highlights thre...
3 Essentials To Grow Your Business: Lessons I Learned From Starting, Scaling, and Selling Flex Academies
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Josh Chernikoff shares his experiences and challenges in growing his second business, Flex Academies. He discusses the importance of ...
Kathryn’s Lead Generation Transformation with the EdSales Elevation Experience
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Josh Chernikoff interviews Kathryn Adabonyan, the founder and CEO of Go Pursue, a company that helps high school students explor...
How to Build A Lead Generation System in 9 Steps
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Josh Chernikoff discusses his nine-step process for building lead generation machines that produce high-quality and high-convert...
Rose’s Lead Generation Transformation with the EdSales Elevation Experience
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t miss the Catalyst at Penn GSE Innovation Summit on June 21st at the University of Pennsylvania. It’s a must-attend event for entrepreneurs i...
Slow Burn Methods for Lead Generation in EdTech
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t miss the Catalyst at Penn GSE Innovation Summit on June 21st at the University of Pennsylvania. It’s a must-attend event for entrepreneurs i...
How to sell to multiple stakeholders in the education space
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Josh discusses the importance of identifying the main stakeholders in the education space and how to sell to them effectively. He sha...
Case Study with David Dvorkin
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Josh Chernikoff interviews David Dworkin, the CEO and founder of Hire Cause. They discuss David's experience in the Ed Sales Ele...
Transforming your LinkedIn profile into a sales page
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the host discusses how to transform a LinkedIn profile into a sales page that generates more leads. The importance of having a profes...
The most powerful tool to connect with your ideal clients
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryIn this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses how to confidently start conversations with potential clients that lead to booking more calls. He ad...
Why you need a signature solution to generate more leads and close more sales!
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryIn this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses the importance of having a Signature Solution to generate more leads and close sales faster. He emph...
How to promote your services and products in the education space without feeling icky or salesy
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses the challenge of promoting oneself without feeling salesy or inauthentic. He shares his personal experience...
Growing MyOwl: LinkedIn Strategies for EdTech Startup Growth
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Josh Chernikoff and Brent Newton discuss the power of LinkedIn for business growth and networking. They highlight the evolution ...
How do you use LinkedIn to get leads for education business?
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses how to effectively use LinkedIn for lead generation in the education industry. He debunks common myths abou...
Breaking Free from Traditional Goal Setting Methods with Rose Hastreiter
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Breaking the Grade, host Josh Chernikoff is joined by guest Rose Hastreiter to discuss breaking free from traditional goal setting....
Sher Downing: On Taking Risks, Climbing Ladders and her "Journey" to the Top
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sher Downing has been a successful business owner for over 20 years. She’s become the go-to in the ed-tech space and also hosts her own podcast, “...
Erin Dowd: Learning to Love Stories | Sowing Seeds Early in Life
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A fantastic time spent talking with Erin Dowd and how she found her true calling in life! Erin comes from a family of educators, and she always looked...
Susan Gold: On Creativity, Critical Thinking and Being a Kid Whisperer
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For as long as she can remember, Susan Gold has been the “kid whisperer.” She just gets kids and they get that she gets them. A match made in heav...
Sher Downing: On Taking Risks, Climbing Ladders and her "Journey" to the Top
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sher Downing has been a successful business owner for over 20 years. She’s become the go-to in the ed tech space and also hosts her own podcast, “...
Keltse Bilbao: On Embracing Change and Staying Curious
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A high-powered personality in the fashion industry decides she wants to move into the education space. And she is successful in her first attempt to c...
Eric Nelson: Who You Become is Just as Important as What You Achieve
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Nelson has made a habit out of turning setbacks into silver linings. Having grown up in a family of educators, Eric was taught early on to priori...
Alberto Rossi: Believing IS Seeing
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alberto Rossi always dreamed of being an airplane pilot or even an astronaut. A boy can dream all he wants, but this was a tall order for a young man ...
Lisa Friedlander: The Bumps and the Bruises That Lead To Brilliance
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Friedlander is that family member, friend, colleague, and mentor that we all want in our lives. She is strong, smart, and super driven, and that ...
Oliver Knott on Providing Hope for Diverse Learners
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Oliver Knott excelled in school from childhood through university. No surprise there because Knott was lucky enough to attend one of the UK’s presti...
Brian Zapf: On Loving Numbers, People and Telling A Financial Story That Soars
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Zapf has always been good at math. And the strategic CFO has taken those number skills from his start at a community bank to investment banking,...
Mike Lawrence: On Putting Students First, an Innovation Index and Ted Lasso
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up in California in the 1970's, Mike Lawrence was surrounded by technology. He was a fan of Jobs, Woz, and Apple before they had fans aro...
Breaking the Barriers of Language Learning with Malcolm Lee
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Virtual Reality allows learners to experience an immersive environment where they can play, engage, and explore with real-time feedback.In this episod...
Breaking and Changing the way we Write and Consume Media with Daniel Stedman
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the rise of disinformation and biased media and content, how can we raise a generation that can sift through and process information in a healthy...
Breaking The Stigma Against Autism with Dr. Celest Austin
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every child should have the opportunity to achieve their full potential regardless of their uniqueness with their own path. But what happens if neurod...
The New Era of Leadership | Breaking The Grade with Dr. Quintin Shepherd
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the era of advanced technology and rapid change, what is the role of the leaders in the education space in responding to the challenges it entails?...
Bridging the Gap Between Students and Employers with Nancy Soni
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
College students invest thousands of dollars in their education and the other things that come with it, not to mention the time and energy they put in...
Big Breaks - Celest Austin, GoManda
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
🎥 GoManda is on camera!Often an entrepreneur is inspired by an experience or maybe even a family member. In the case of Celest Austin, MD, PhD Aust...
Breaking the Silence: Inequity in Education with Alexa Escobedo
03 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our students deserve to know they belong. But equality isn’t always placed as the priority it deserves to be.Alexa Escobedo discovered this as she w...
Let’s Make SEL More Effective with Nicole Lipkin
02 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We know social-emotional learning is essential. But we haven’t all figured out how to teach it effectively.Nicole Lipkin, Clinical Psychologist and ...
Breaking and Rebuilding American Education with Kevin Chavous
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Schools are at the forefront of learning, but they don’t always feel up to par. Kevin Chavous is an education activist, lawyer, author, and podcast ...
The Importance of Co-creating Products with Your Researchers and What to Expect in the next Episodes with John Gamba
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of Breaking the Grade, we interview our very own John Gamba, Entrepreneur in Residence & Director of Innovative Programs at t...
Breaking the Grade Trailer
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Breaking the Grade is a thought-provoking podcast that follows entrepreneurs as they transform learning and advance equity and impact in the global ed...
What is Breaking the Grade?
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The future of the world’s classroom is falling into our hands. How can we help shape the next generation to learn more and live better than we do to...