2019 EdTech Insights Hub Header - Individual Page Header ET 19 - Insight Hub So-Young Kang

Gnowbe| Singapore | gnowbe.com

Share a short description about your company:

Gnowbe is a mobile-first microlearning and engagement solution designed for business impact by revolutionising corporate education through transformational learning — available anytime, anywhere. Its bite-sized social learning and gamification encourage active engagement and inspire behaviour change. Authoring Platform + Curated Content + Engagement = Business Impact

How does your current role allow you to make a difference to the education and learning space?

As pioneers of Digital Learning 2.0: MPPG (mobile-first, participatory, personalized, group-based) learning, we have been able to influence many thought leaders in education from Deans of Business Schools at AACSB and EFMD to top educators in Singapore and now expanding to the US. We have trained over 1k educators already and will have trained nearly 10k by end of this year on mobile-first instructional design. I've been invited to influence this space by speaking at places including Davos, World Bank, Asia Development Bank, leading EdTech conferences like ASU-GSV, SXSW Edu, Qudwa Forum (Abu Dhabi), Global Education Skills Forum (Dubai), EdTech Asia and have written for World Economic Forum on future of learning. Example of one article: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/09/how-smartphones-can-close-the-global-skills-gap-for-billions/

What are the key trends you believe have the power to transform the way we learn?

The proliferation of mobile is a key trend which requires mobile-first (not responsive design) instructional design expertise which is a new job role with different sets of capabilities. We are also seeing the rising importance of applied learning and moving beyond just knowing and attendance to measuring behaviour change and tying more tightly to business outcomes. Lastly learning is now about the experience, not just the content. This means that the delivery of the content in experiential, gamified ways is increasingly important.

Why is it important for all players in the EdTech ecosystem to continuously connect, network and learn from each other?

When one of us succeeds, it helps the entire ecosystem. Connecting to share best practices, challenges and networks strengthen the entire ecosystem. We are stronger together, than individually. That's why I have been proactive in supporting building of the EdTech Asia ecosystem through introducing folks to each other, speaking and providing opportunities to connect others to global ecosystem.

What should the rest of the world learn about EdTech innovation in your country?
 
I'm based in both the US and Singapore but we have been focused on Singapore these past 3 years during our early product-market fit stage so will share from the perspective of Singapore. Singapore is a great place to test new ideas, get product-market fit at relatively lower cost (relative to US and Europe) with clients willing and open to test new things. It's a dynamic place and ideal for testing and prototyping.
 

When you think about joining London EdTech Week and EdTechXEurope Summit this year, what are you looking forward to?

Building connections with European ecosystem given our organic growth in 8 countries across Europe. We are excited to learn from others on how to expand our growth in Europe.

Who would you like to meet at the event?

Potential clients, distribution partners to represent Gnowbe in the region, potential hires and potential investors for our Series A.

Find out more about the upcoming EdTechX Summit here >>