Sky, Storytelling, AI and the Future of Youth Education with Nishy Lall In this episode of The EdTech Podcast, Philippa is joined by Nishy Lall, a strategic senior leader with over 15 years' experience shaping large-scale social impact, youth engagement, digital equity and inclusion programmes across the UK, Europe and the US. Nishy leads Sky's youth and social impact work, helping young people fulfil their potential through digital access, creativity, storytelling and real-world industry experiences. Through initiatives such as Sky Up Academy Studios, The Edit, and wider Sky youth programmes, she shares how Sky is opening doors into media, technology and creative careers for young people who may not otherwise see those pathways as available to them. This conversation explores how immersive media experiences, AI, creative technology and industry partnerships can help young people build confidence, communication skills, digital literacy and a stronger sense of belonging. From creating news reports in professional-style studios to using tools such as Adobe Express for storytelling challenges, Nishy explains how Sky's programmes support both teachers and learners by connecting curriculum, creativity and future skills. At the heart of the episode is a powerful message: opportunities shape futures. When young people are given access to the right environments, tools and encouragement, they can begin to see themselves differently — not as a finished article, but as someone with agency, curiosity and potential. Episode Summary Nishy Lall from Sky joins The EdTech Podcast to discuss how Sky's youth programmes are helping young people build confidence, skills and aspirations through digital media, AI, creative technology and real-world industry experiences. The conversation explores Sky Up Academy Studios, where young people step into studio environments, take on production roles, create their own news reports and experience the power of storytelling from script to screen. Nishy also shares the impact of The Edit, Sky's schools-based storytelling challenge developed with Adobe, which gives young people access to creative tools and the opportunity to explore themes such as climate change, diversity, mental health, wellbeing and media literacy. Philippa and Nishy discuss the role of AI in education, the importance of ethical and responsible use, and why young people should be supported to see technology as an enabler rather than a replacement for human creativity. They also explore digital equity, inclusion, teacher support, lifelong learning, creative career pathways and the importance of helping every young person feel that they belong in future-facing industries. Key Themes Sky's youth and social impact work Nishy shares how Sky's social impact programmes are designed to help young people fulfil their potential through digital access, creativity and future skills. Sky Up Academy Studios The episode explores how students visit immersive studio spaces, take on roles such as presenter, editor, director and camera operator, and create their own media content linked to curriculum themes. Digital equity and access Nishy describes digital equity as fairness — ensuring young people have access to tools, experiences and environments that allow them to express themselves and discover new possibilities. AI, creativity and responsible use The conversation explores how young people are already engaging with AI, why prompt literacy and critical thinking matter, and how AI can support ideation and storytelling when used responsibly. Creative technology and career pathways Sky's programmes help students understand the range of roles within media, broadcast, film, storytelling and creative technology, opening up pathways they may never have previously considered. Supporting teachers and curriculum learning The discussion highlights how media production can bring subjects such as history, geography, English, climate education and online safety to life in new and memorable ways. Belonging, confidence and inclusion Nishy shares examples of young people thriving in studio environments, including those who may struggle in traditional classroom settings, and explains why confidence and belonging are central to long-term impact. Chapter Markers 00:00 Introduction to Nishy Lall and Sky's youth impact 02:30 Sky Up Academy Studios: a hands-on industry experience 03:18 Building teamwork, communication and digital literacy 05:07 AI in education and young people's digital confidence 06:20 Inspiring creativity and confidence in young learners 08:01 Inclusion, accessibility and opportunity for all 09:23 The fourth industrial revolution and youth readiness 10:53 Real-world careers: from studio experience to industry pathways 13:20 Using media to teach history and other curriculum subjects 15:21 Supporting diverse learners and students with additional needs 18:50 Earth Day, World Book Day and meaningful media projects 21:39 Media literacy and responsible content creation 22:55 AI, creativity, ethics and prompt literacy 25:26 The future of work and lifelong learning 28:34 Sky's role in digital innovation and education 35:01 Building confidence, aspiration and belonging 37:24 Partnerships, industry collaboration and authentic learning 42:01 Preparing educators for a changing digital world 44:14 Creating opportunities for all young people 45:35 Closing reflections and future outlook 46:13 Empowering youth through creative education 46:43 Why digital equity matters 47:08 Community, engagement and the role of EdTech Guest Bio Nishy Lall is a strategic senior leader with over 15 years' experience shaping large-scale social impact, youth engagement, digital equity and inclusion strategies across the UK, Europe and the US. She brings extensive board and non-executive experience, deep governance expertise and a strong track record of financial leadership, including oversight of multi-million-pound budgets and complex programme portfolios. Nishy is recognised for influencing national conversations on skills, inclusion and media literacy, and for building high-value partnerships across industry, education and the technology sector. She is an award-winning change-maker, recognised as Asian Women of the Year 2020 — Social & Humanitarian, Drum Awards Change Maker of the Year 2022, and We Make Change Top 100 Change Leader 2025. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishy-lall-61b91415/ Resources and Links Sky Up – The Edit: https://www.skyup.sky/the-edit Sky Up Academy Studios: https://www.skyup.sky/academy-studios Access All Arts: https://accessallarts.skyarts.uk/ Sky Group on X: https://x.com/SkyGroup Adobe Creative Cloud: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html
