Building Bridges to Employment with Real World Learning featuring Sara Leoni and Jeff Sample of Ziplines Education

Send us Fan MailSara Leoni is the Founder and CEO of Ziplines Education, a career accelerator that partners with universities to deliver industry-recognized certificate courses that prepare professionals with the in-demand skills, knowledge and confidence for today’s tech-driven world. Jeff Sample was the Founder and CEO of Clicked, now the VP of Product for Ziplines Education. His background and unique perspectives as a transitioning Management Consultant and Adtech Executive led him to develop experiential learning products via work simulations to help close the work experience gap, and upskill tens of thousands of learners in tech adjacent career paths.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Ziplines Education and Clicked are addressing the experience gap in career readiness.Why experiential learning and real-world simulations are key to workforce preparation.The importance of industry-recognized credentials and their integration with academic institutions.Insights into the acquisition process and how it aligns two learner-focused companies.The role of confidence and real-world artifacts in empowering learners to succeed in interviews and careers.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:07:39] How Ziplines Education partners with universities to integrate industry certifications for learners.[00:15:08] Jeff on bridging the experience gap.[00:28:44] The role of real-world tools like Salesforce, Tableau, and Google Analytics in preparing learners for jobs.[00:37:08] Measuring learner success with confidence metrics and employer feedback.[00:41:34] Sara and Jeff reflect on the acquisition process and lessons learned about aligning values and strategy.😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! Follow our Podcast on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicSign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!🎉 Presenting Sponsor:Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.