Global Career Tech Education Podcast: Hosted by Sylvester Chisom

Sylvester Chisom

The #1 Career Tech Education Podcast! We want to wrap a blanket of good will and support around the career tech education community. We interview rockstar career and tech education directors, teachers, & innovators to uncover best practices and insights. We also highlight industry professionals to offer a real world perspective that will lead to preparing career tech education students for success in the global marketplace.

  1. AI Brief03: AI Brief 03: AI, SpaceX & the Future of Work w/Sylvester Chisom & Rachael Mann

    4d ago

    AI Brief03: AI Brief 03: AI, SpaceX & the Future of Work w/Sylvester Chisom & Rachael Mann

    In AI Brief 03 for Education Leaders, Sylvester Chisom and Rachael Mann explore the latest developments in artificial intelligence and what they mean for education, career and technical education (CTE), and the future of work. From SpaceX's historic IPO and a former welder becoming a millionaire, to practical AI tools, entrepreneurship, AI agents, cybersecurity, and why human judgment still matters, this episode helps education leaders connect today's AI headlines to tomorrow's opportunities. Topics Covered: -SpaceX IPO Changes CTE Narrative -AI's Global Business Impact -Smarter Workflows With AI -Talent Follows Vision, Not Money -Keeping Humans At The Center BIOS Sylvester Chisom is the CEO of Global CTE Learning, Founder of Show Me The World Project, and host of the Global CTE Podcast. He works with educators and industry leaders around the world to advance career-connected learning, entrepreneurship, and the future of work through the lens of innovation and artificial intelligence. Rachael Mann is the Executive Director of the National Career Technical Education Leaders Network and a nationally recognized speaker, author, and thought leader in career and technical education. She helps education leaders prepare students for the rapidly evolving workforce through innovation, leadership, and emerging technologies.

    40 min
  2. Summer Careers Academy-Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 82

    Jun 17

    Summer Careers Academy-Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 82

    Summer Careers Academy: Building The Future Through Real World Learning Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 82 In episode 82 of the Global CTE Podcast, Sylvester Chisom sits down with Shannon Braxton, Melinda Fornes, Stephanie Smith, and Holly Fraccaro to explore how Orange County Schools' Summer Careers Academy is transforming summer into a launchpad for career success. Through an innovative partnership between schools, the Home Builders Association, and local employers, students are earning industry credentials, gaining hands-on work experience, and connecting directly to high-demand careers. Discover how this award-winning model is building the future through real-world learning and creating economic opportunity for students and communities alike. Topics Covered: • Transforming Summer Into Careers • Powerful Public-Private Partnerships • Real Work-Based Learning Experiences • Industry Credentials That Matter • Building Future Workforce Pipelines Guest Bios Shannon Braxton is the Director of Career & Technical Education, Cultural Arts, and Social Studies for Orange County Schools in North Carolina. A 31-year educator, she has helped lead innovative career-connected learning initiatives, including the Summer Careers Academy. Melinda Fornes is the Career & Technical Education Curriculum and Instructional Management Coordinator for Orange County Schools. With 25 years in education, she helps lead workforce readiness efforts and the district’s Summer Careers Academy. Stephanie Smith is a Career Development Coordinator for Orange County Schools in North Carolina. She connects students with internships, apprenticeships, and career exploration opportunities while supporting work-based learning experiences. Holly Fraccaro is the Chief Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties. She is a key industry partner helping students gain hands-on experience and build pathways into high-demand careers through the Summer Careers Academy.

    54 min
  3. AI Brief 02 - AI Brief For Education Leaders w/Rachael Mann & Sylvester Chisom

    May 27

    AI Brief 02 - AI Brief For Education Leaders w/Rachael Mann & Sylvester Chisom

    AI Brief 02 - AI Brief For Education Leaders w/Rachael Mann & Sylvester Chisom AI Brief 02 is a fast-moving conversation about the future of AI and what education leaders should be paying attention to right now. Sylvester Chisom and Rachael Mann discuss AI agents managing workflows, the rise of smart glasses and wearable AI, the growing gap between free and premium AI tools, and why school policies may already be behind the technology. The episode also explores the opportunities, risks, and equity concerns shaping the next phase of AI in education. This is an important conversation for leaders trying to prepare students and schools for a rapidly changing future. Topics Covered AI Agents & Workflow AutomationSmart Glasses In SchoolsAI Policy & Privacy ConcernsGrowing AI Equity GapFuture Of Education LeadershipSylvester Chisom is the host of the Global CTE Podcast and the co-founder of the Show Me The World Project. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, and education leader focused on the future of Career & Technical Education, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and AI in education. Rachael Mann is the Executive Director of NCLA and a nationally recognized speaker and strategist on AI, innovation, workforce development, and the future of education. She works with educators and industry leaders across the country to help prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

    29 min
  4. CTE Reimagined: The Blueprint For Education’s Future-Global CTE Podcast EP 81 w/Kristy Volesky & Jeff Frost

    May 14

    CTE Reimagined: The Blueprint For Education’s Future-Global CTE Podcast EP 81 w/Kristy Volesky & Jeff Frost

    CTE Reimagined: The Blueprint For Education’s Future-Global CTE Podcast EP 81 w/Kristy Volesky & Jeff Frost In Episode 81 of the Global CTE Podcast, host Sylvester Chisom sits down with Kristy Volesky and Jeff Frost, authors of CTE Reimagined: The Blueprint for Education’s Future, for a bold conversation about the future of Career and Technical Education. Together, they challenge compliance-driven systems and explore how leadership, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary learning, and community partnerships can transform CTE into the engine of economic opportunity and relevance for students. This episode is a powerful call for educators and leaders to rethink what school can become in a rapidly changing world. Topics Covered: -Leadership Beyond Job Preparation -Breaking Down Educational Silos -Reimagining Instructional Pedagogy -Community Driven Work-Based Learning -Future Ready CTE Systems Kristy Volesky Bio Kristy Volesky is a nationally recognized education and community strategist, author of Transformational Work-Based Learning, and creator of the EduVitality framework. Her work focuses on aligning education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community vitality to help schools and communities create future-ready systems for students. Jeff Frost Bio Jeff Frost is the founding Executive Director of the Waterloo Career Center in Iowa, a nationally recognized model for innovative, student-centered Career and Technical Education. Throughout his career, he has been known for building collaborative, real-world learning environments that connect students, schools, industry, and community partners. CTE Reimagined Book: https://www.amazon.com/CTE-Reimagined-Blueprint-Educations-Future-ebook/dp/B0FVF9NYN2/ref=sr_1_1?crid

    53 min
  5. CTE: The House Oklahoma Built for Workforce Development - Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 80 w/ Brent Haken

    Apr 29

    CTE: The House Oklahoma Built for Workforce Development - Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 80 w/ Brent Haken

    CTE: The House Oklahoma Built for Workforce Development Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 80 w/ Brent Haken In Episode 80 of the Global CTE Podcast, I’m joined by Brent Haken, State Director of Oklahoma CareerTech, to explore how Oklahoma built one of the most respected Career technical education systems in the country by treating CTE as workforce infrastructure, not a side program. Brent shares how regional skill centers, employer partnerships, industry credentials, and even correctional education programs work together to expand opportunity across the entire state. Our conversation highlights what becomes possible when education, industry, and economic strategy are intentionally aligned. It’s a powerful look at how CTE can drive economic mobility and shape the future of workforce readiness across America. Topics Covered: -Why Oklahoma leads in CTE -CareerTech as economic infrastructure -Regional skill centers expand opportunity -Employers co design workforce pathways -Credentials and second chance training Brent Haken Bio: Brent Haken is the State Director of Oklahoma CareerTech, where he leads one of the most respected statewide Career Technical Education systems in the nation. With a background in agricultural education and leadership through FFA, he has spent his career advancing workforce-aligned learning that connects students, employers, and communities. Today, he oversees a network of technology centers, school district partnerships, workforce training initiatives, and correctional education programs that serve learners across Oklahoma and support the state’s economic development strategy.

    58 min
  6. The AI Brief For Education Leaders: Brief 01 w/Rachael Mann & Sylvester Chisom

    Apr 15

    The AI Brief For Education Leaders: Brief 01 w/Rachael Mann & Sylvester Chisom

    The AI Brief For Education Leaders: Brief 01 w/Rachael Mann & Sylvester Chisom  Welcome to The AI Brief for Education Leaders, part of the Global CTE Intelligence Series presented by the Global CTE Podcast. Hosted by Sylvester Chisom and Rachael Mann, this new monthly briefing is designed for superintendents, CTE directors, and education leaders who need clear insight into how artificial intelligence is reshaping education and the future of work. In each Brief, they break down emerging developments in AI, highlight what leaders should be paying attention to right now, and share practical ideas for how schools and systems can respond. Brief 01 launches the series with a conversation about the shift from reactive AI to agentic AI, what that means for leadership workflows, and why expectations around productivity and workforce readiness are already changing. Top 5 Topics Covered • Shift from reactive to agentic AI • AI literacy becoming workforce readiness skill • Leadership workflows changing with AI agents • Privacy expectations shifting in AI era • Schools preparing students for AI collaboration Sylvester Chisom is the host of the Global CTE Podcast and the co-founder of the Show Me The World Project. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, and education leader focused on the future of Career & Technical Education, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and AI in education. Rachael Mann is the Executive Director of NCLA and a nationally recognized speaker and strategist on AI, innovation, workforce development, and the future of education. She works with educators and industry leaders across the country to help prepare students for a rapidly changing world. Subscribe to follow future Briefs in the Global CTE Intelligence Series.

    41 min
  7. Student Enterprise as a Pathway to Economic Opportunity - Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 79

    Mar 31

    Student Enterprise as a Pathway to Economic Opportunity - Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 79

    Student Enterprise as a Pathway to Economic Opportunity - Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep 79 As part of the Women in CTE Series, Samantha Lurie Carroll joins the Global CTE Podcast to share how student enterprise is expanding economic opportunity through one of the nation’s most powerful real-world learning models. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Show Me The World Project, she has helped grow a classroom idea into a multi-city program where students earn workforce credentials, college credit, and global learning experiences while running real businesses. This conversation explores how entrepreneurship, community partnerships, and international travel are helping students in St. Louis and Kansas City build the skills, confidence, and networks they need to shape their futures. Topics Covered: -Student enterprise builds economic opportunity-Real-world learning beyond classroom walls-Workforce credentials and college credit pathways-Global travel expands student career vision-Community partnerships strengthen CTE ecosystems Samantha Lurie Carroll Bio Samantha Lurie Carroll is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Show Me The World Project, a nationally recognized real-world learning model expanding economic opportunity for students through entrepreneurship, workforce readiness, and global education experiences. She began her career as a Special Education teacher and Dean of Students at Vashon High School in St. Louis, where she was named Special Education Teacher of the Year in 2015, and later served as Managing Director of Alumni Network Leadership at Teach For America Metro Atlanta, supporting educators driving innovation across school systems. Under her leadership, Show Me The World Project has grown from a classroom-based initiative into a multi-city nonprofit serving students across St. Louis and Kansas City, with continued national expansion underway. Students in the program earn workforce credentials endorsed by regional employers, receive college credit, operate student enterprises, and participate in international learning experiences in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Belize that expand their global perspective and career readiness. Samantha’s work has helped position Show Me The World Project as one of the nation’s most powerful examples of experiential learning connected to economic mobility, with support from leading partners including the Kauffman Foundation. Learn more about Show Me The World Project Here: showmetheworldproject.org

    50 min
  8. Builiding CTE Systems That Actually Work-Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep.78 w/Dr. Narineh Makijan

    Mar 24

    Builiding CTE Systems That Actually Work-Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep.78 w/Dr. Narineh Makijan

    Builiding CTE Systems That Actually Work-Global Career Tech Education Podcast Ep.78 w/Dr. Narineh Makijan In Episode 78 of the Global CTE Podcast, part of our 2026 Women in CTE Series, Dr. Narineh Makijan shares how regions can move beyond aligning disconnected systems and begin designing workforce ecosystems that create real opportunity for learners. Drawing from her leadership across the Los Angeles Regional Consortium and her work advancing human-centered AI in counseling, she offers a practical framework for building stronger connections between education, employers, and communities. This conversation challenges leaders to rethink CTE not as a collection of programs, but as essential economic infrastructure for the future of work. Topics Covered: -Designing regional workforce ecosystems -CTE as economic infrastructure -Human-centered AI in counseling -Radical asset mapping for pathways -Employer partnerships beyond advisory boards Special Guest: Dr. Narineh Makijan BIO: Dr. Narineh Makijan is Assistant Vice President and Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Consortium at Pasadena City College, where she leads workforce and economic development strategy across 19 community colleges in Los Angeles County—one of the largest regional systems in the nation. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in counseling, Career & Technical Education, and pathway development, her work focuses on building coordinated education-to-workforce ecosystems that expand access and strengthen economic mobility for students. She also serves as faculty at the USC Rossier School of Education and is the author of Beyond the Algorithm: Human-Centered AI, advancing a vision for student support systems that integrate technology while keeping the human experience at the center of learning and opportunity. Learn More About LARC: https://losangelesrc.org/

    46 min
See All (87)

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The #1 Career Tech Education Podcast! We want to wrap a blanket of good will and support around the career tech education community. We interview rockstar career and tech education directors, teachers, & innovators to uncover best practices and insights. We also highlight industry professionals to offer a real world perspective that will lead to preparing career tech education students for success in the global marketplace.

Information