The Glass Canvas

Episode 5 | Pivots & Purpose: Dr. Amol Joshi's Startup-to-Scholar Blueprint

Ever wonder what makes someone trade Silicon Valley startup success for the halls of academia? Vibe with hosts Ashley Wilcox, John Montana, and Aarya Deshmukh as they get real with Dr. Amol Joshi, the innovation mastermind with the ultimate career plot twist. From co-founding a speech tech startup that got acquired to dropping knowledge as the Thomas H. Davis Professor at Wake Forest, Dr. Joshi's journey is giving the main character energy. This episode unpacks his origin story (spoiler: it's inspiring), explores how he went from entrepreneur to advising national innovation policy, and reveals the core motivations behind his mission to help others turn wild ideas into legit businesses. No cap—whether you're entrepreneurship curious or just love a good career pivot story, this convo hits differently. Come for the innovation wisdom, stay for the unexpected moments that shaped his "why."

Episode 4 | Beyond the Prompt: Navigating AI for Responsible Academic Use

In this episode, Dr. Shafer, Associate Dean for Analytics Programs, and Amanda Horton, Director for Integrative Student Services, share their insights alongside hosts Aarya, Ashley, and John. Together, they unpack the exciting possibilities and thoughtful considerations of implementing AI tools across the academic landscape. Whether you're a student, educator, or administrator, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on harnessing AI's potential while maintaining academic integrity.

Episode 3 | Food for Thought with Dr. Pelin Pekgun

"From optimizing hotel room prices to maximizing food bank impact, Dr. Pelin Pekgun takes us on a fascinating journey where analytics meets real-world change. In this episode of The Glass Canvas, we dive deep into how this Wake Forest professor and former software leader found her 'why' at the intersection of supply chain wizardry and humanitarian operations. Pekgun, one of South Carolina's Top 50 Women Leaders, shares how her path to academia wasn't just about crunching numbers – it was about finding ways to use data for good. Whether she's helping firms optimize pricing or helping food banks serve communities more efficiently, her story shows that sometimes the most impactful algorithms are the ones that help put food on someone else's table."

Episode 2 | Low-key superpowers

Hosts Ashley and John are joined by the Director of Career Education, Marcus Sanderlin for an insightful and thoughtful discussion about the "low-key" superpowers required in today's marketplace. We examine the LinkedIn green-skills report and McKinsey's DELTA's or the blend of skills, and attitudes, for future workforce success. These skills encompass cognitive, interpersonal, self-leadership, and digital domains. Most importantly along with producer Aarya our Gen-Z fellow we talk about how learners can pursue the development of these capabilities.

Episode 1 | "The Kick-Off"

Join hosts Ashley, John, and Roderick for an unfiltered conversation at the intersection of tech, business, and culture. In this debut episode, they bring their diverse expertise and experiences together to explore the interconnected world of modern business. Through engaging discussions with faculty, students, staff, and alumni, they tackle today's most pressing organizational challenges. Expect sharp insights, candid conversations, and a fresh perspective on the business landscape. This episode sets the foundation for the show's signature style: no fluff, just real talk and actionable insights.