From Non-profit To IPO: The Turnaround Of Grand Canyon University: Brent Richardson (Part 1)

Brent Richardson is the executive chairman of the board for Grand Canyon University. He joined GCU in 2003 as the CEO and led the transformation of a near-bankrupt university into an IPO success story. Prior to GCU, he was the founder of multiple companies and CEO of Masters Online. In his early career, he gained

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Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 7)

SM: How much philanthropy money have you raised so far for Reasoning Mind? AK: Overall, we are funded by 70 donors. We have generated huge support from both individuals and private foundations. In total we have raised just over $12 million, plus in-kind contributions such as Oracle giving us free database support.

Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 6)

SM: In moving out of state, have you had to adapt the curriculum at all? Is there any difference between curricula state to state? AK: Not much. There is some difference, but we covered it through offline lessons that we develop quickly. In our experience, 80%–90% is already there.

Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 5)

SM: In 2002 were you focusing only on math? AK: Yes, that alone was a daunting task. Our vision was to go beyond mathematics because the engine itself could deliver content in any subject.

Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 4)

SM: Is your system entirely based on AI, or do you have teachers integrated into the process? AK: In additional to the artificial intelligence system that would teach students, we have given teachers a very powerful control panel. They can get access to all kinds of just-in-time reports to see how each student is doing

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Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 3)

SM: Tell me more about your design principles. What are the core principles of the system? AK: The first shift was moving towards a curriculum program versus a math club environment. We also knew we had to deliver our curriculum to students in a very interactive way. We decided to take a curriculum that had

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Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 2)

SM: What year did the math camp occur? AK: That was around 1998. It was a Spartan moment in my thinking. If it took that much effort for my wife and I to get our son interested in mathematics, including paying $3,000 for a summer camp, which is something that not every parent is going to

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Teaching K-12 Math Online: Reasoning Mind CEO Alex Khachatryan (Part 1)

SM: Let’s start with a bit of your history. Where do you come from? AK: I am from the former Soviet Union. I was born and raised in Moscow and immigrated to the United States in 1990. have lived here ever since.