Shalinee Sharma is the CoFounder and CEO of Zearn and the author of Math Mind: The Simple Path to Loving Math. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about what it takes to instill a genuine love of math in all kids.

We begin by hearing Shalinee’s origins in consulting at Bain before she jumped into the opportunity to cofound Zearn and lead its growth to where it is today. She demonstrates ways to make math resonate with Mike as a sample pupil. Of course, there is talk of AI and how a love of math fits into the future of work and human life. And through it all, Shalinee grounds the conversation in the practical tips and surprising insights she’s gleaned from students using an online math program to solve over one billion problems.

Don’t miss this chance to dive deep into the future of math instruction with a renowned expert in the field who imparts unique wisdom about how math instruction needs to evolve for students, teachers, and parents.

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00:00 Introduction to Trending in Education

01:10 Meet Shalinee Sharma: From Bain to Zearn

02:52 The Mission of Zearn: Loving Math

06:35 Understanding Math Through Axiomatic Proofs

11:29 The Importance of Numeracy

18:48 Zearn’s Approach to Math Education

22:08 Building Competence and Confidence

23:04 Engagement Strategies in Education

26:50 The Role of AI in Education

32:33 Conceptual Understanding in Math

36:11 Practical Tips for Parents and Teachers

42:09 Final Thoughts and Takeaways