#200 – A Conversation with Chip Paucek, CEO of 2U
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What’s in this episode?
“You can do a tonne online, but it would be great to have a beer.”
In the first of our new conversations making sense of the world with COVID, we speak to the CEO of 2U, Chip Paucek. We talk about why the University campus isn’t going to disappear anytime soon, what makes remote learning high-quality, and what it’s like to experience the highs and lows of being an edtech CEO and entrepreneur.
Plus, we made it to episode 200. Thanks for listening everyone.
People
Sophie Bailey, Founder and Presenter of The Edtech Podcast | Twitter: @podcastedtech
Sophie is the founder of the iTunes new and noteworthy, The Edtech Podcast. The mission of The Edtech Podcast is to improve the dialogue between ‘ed’ and ‘tech’ for better innovation, through storytelling. The podcast is downloaded 2000+ times a week, from over 145 countries with the UK, US & Aus in the top 3. Sophie is a mentor and advisor within the edtech community. If she’s not interviewing a University Lecturer, School Leader, Ex-Angry Bird, NGO, or Investor about education innovation, she’s chasing her son around the park or binge-reading Homo Deus.
Chip Paucek, Co-Founder & CEO, 2U | Twitter: @chippaucek
Christopher “Chip” Paucek is the co-founder and CEO of 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq:TWOU), an education technology company that partners with leading colleges and universities to deliver the world’s best digital education.
Paucek’s innovative work at 2U has earned him many accolades, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012, the Goldman Sachs 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs Award in 2013, and multiple Highest Rated CEO awards from Glassdoor. In 2017, Paucek was named among America’s best chief executives by Institutional Investor magazine, ranking third among mid-cap technology, media, and telecom companies. He is a leading voice and speaker on entrepreneurship and the global education and technology landscape.
Prior to 2U, Paucek served as CEO of Smarterville, Inc., the parent company of Hooked on Phonics. Paucek began his entrepreneurial career in 1993 when he co-founded his first company, Cerebellum Corporation, which produced the award-winning educational television program and video series Standard Deviants. He led Cerebellum as co-chief executive officer until 2003. In 2004, Paucek took a break from the business world to serve as deputy campaign manager for the successful re-election of United States Senator Barbara Mikulski.
Paucek holds a BA from the George Washington University and an MBA from the 2U-powered MBA@UNC program at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. As a native of South Florida, he is an avid Miami Dolphins fan. Paucek lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife Gabbi and two sons Noah and Henry.
Quotes from this episode
References from this week’s episode
- Chip Paucek – Twitter
- Chip Paucek – LinkedIn
- Chip Paucek – about page on 2U website
- 2U – Twitter
- 2U – Website
- 10 Startups Changing the World And What We Can Learn From Them – Forbes article, 2012 (Point 2)
- Forbes Magazine – Wikipedia
- 2tor becomes 2u – Edsurge article, 2012
- 10 Tech Companies Helping HumanityThese 10 startups are changing the world. Are you? – Inc. Magazine article, 2014 (Point 9)
- Inc. Magazine – Wikipedia
- 2U on Fast Company Website – Website link
- Fast Company – Wikipedia
- George Washington University – Twitter
- SEVP modifies temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online courses during fall 2020 semester – The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) article, July 2020
- Number of International Students in the United States Hits All-Time High – Institute of International Education article, November 2019
- ICE – Twitter
- John Katzman – Twitter
- Jeremy Johnson – Twitter
- Get Smarter – Twitter
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