What skills will matter most in a future where artificial intelligence can perform many traditional tasks? How do we help young people develop confidence, curiosity, and resilience instead of simply teaching them to memorize information? And what does it take for students to truly believe they belong in STEM?

Jennifer Berry is the Chief Executive Officer of SmartLab and a leader in STEM education and organizational change. She has spent more than 15 years leading innovation across K–12 education through organizations including Presence, After-School All-Stars, Quantum Learning, and Kaplan. She holds a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. At SmartLab, she is helping schools create hands-on, project-based learning environments that foster what she calls a strong STEM identity, the belief that every student can solve meaningful problems, tackle complex challenges, and contribute valuable ideas.

In this episode, we explore how education must evolve to prepare students for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change. Jennifer argues that success will depend less on memorizing facts and more on cultivating curiosity, creativity, resilience, and the confidence to approach unfamiliar problems. We discuss why hands-on, project-based learning helps students develop these capacities and why fostering a sense of belonging is just as important as teaching technical skills.

Our conversation also examines the role of educators in shaping the future of learning. Jennifer explains why schools should move beyond traditional models of instruction and create environments where students can experiment, collaborate, and learn through authentic challenges. Rather than preparing young people for specific jobs, she believes education should help them become adaptable lifelong learners who are equipped to lead, innovate, and thrive in an uncertain future. This episode invites listeners to rethink what meaningful preparation for the future really looks like and how schools can empower every student to see themselves as capable of making a difference.