Susie Kavanaugh began her career as an upper elementary school classroom teacher. Within this space she created a living laboratory; youth learned by participating in design challenges and entrepreneurial endeavors. Risk-taking, questioning, divergent thinking, and collaboration were celebrated as hallmarks of learning. In June 2012, Kavanaugh was awarded Excellence in Education from out of 1,000+ nominees.

Upon leaving the classroom, Kavanaugh co-founded a startup to create a platform where youth could seek and share knowledge with one another. She utilized this failed startup experience to help other early-stage EdTech companies reduce startup risk. Kavanaugh transitioned to Educator-in-Residence and Mentor for NYU Steinhardt’s EdTech Accelerator, leveraging her background in cognition and learning. She continues to mentor and coach EdTech startups on strategy, customer and product development, lean methodology, and storytelling for impact.

Kavanaugh also works with Columbia University’s School of the Arts’ Digital Storytelling Lab to prototype collaborative methods that explore the future of learning, work, and social innovation. The Lab creates tangible opportunities and experiences for exploring innovation with social and economic impact.