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As a part of the Morning Lazziness collection about empowering girls who encourage and do unbelievable issues with their concepts in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lindy Hockenbary.
Lindy Hockenbary—aka “LindyHoc”—is the bridge between schooling and know-how. With expertise in educational know-how, skilled improvement, and curriculum design, Lindy helps educators unpack the consequences of rising applied sciences—particularly synthetic intelligence—on curriculum and instruction.
Her journey started in a technology-equipped classroom, the place she first blended instruction with innovation. Since then, she’s supported educators around the globe, authored A Teacher’s Guide to Online Learning, and collaborated with EdTech corporations to make sure their instruments align with the wants of Okay–12 educators. In recognition of her management on this house, she was named a 2025 Women in AI honoree by ASU+GSV.
Lindy’s work is grounded in serving to children, which has led to a ardour for making know-how literacy accessible and significant for each classroom. Her mission is to empower educators with the boldness and readability to navigate the evolving intersection of know-how and pedagogy.
What impressed you to develop into an entrepreneur within the AI trade, and what led to the creation of your present enterprise?
My journey began within the classroom, not Silicon Valley particularly, in a tiny rural Montana classroom that was stuffed with “old skool” desktop computer systems with big towers and deep displays. Laptops in faculties weren’t a factor, Chromebooks didn’t exist, and AI was not a phrase spoken in faculties. Since my classroom was a pc lab, I at all times had a 1:1 setting ,and utilizing know-how as a studying software at all times got here naturally to me.
Quick ahead a number of yr,s and I had absolutely immersed myself as a Okay–12 know-how integration specialist. I rapidly realized that academics had been going to want guided assist studying to make use of know-how as a key a part of their curriculum and instruction. LindyHoc.com was born—I turned the bridge between schooling and know-how.
Quick ahead a number of extra years and AI is essentially the most transformational rising know-how now we have been introduced with as people. As a Okay-12 educator, I watched AI instruments flood the schooling house with none actual steering on easy methods to use them successfully. Lecturers had been panicking about ChatGPT, whereas college students had been already utilizing it for homework. I used to be already supporting educators with rising applied sciences, so I simply stepped into closing the hole between AI innovation and academic implementation.
As a girl in tech and entrepreneurship, what distinctive challenges have you ever confronted, particularly within the AI house, and the way did you navigate them?
The most important problem? Being taken severely in each areas. In tech, I’m “simply” an educator. In schooling, I’m “techy.” I realized to embrace this intersection as my superpower and at all times concentrate on the pedagogy. I by no means train educators what I name “level and click on” coaching—my trainings are at all times linked to instruction and curriculum. I’ve constructed credibility by specializing in outcomes—actual academics utilizing my methods with actual college students. Recognition like being named a Leading Woman in AI by ASU-GSV validates that schooling know-how deserves a seat on the innovation desk.
How do you handle the extreme calls for of constructing an AI-driven enterprise whereas sustaining private well-being and steadiness?
I inform those that I do know that AI is shifting quick when even I’m challenged to maintain up with the modifications! It’s my job in any case! The one resolution is to apply what I preach about AI—it’s a software to save lots of time and improve, not change, human connection. I exploit AI to streamline what I name the “drudgery work,” which frees up time for the high-touch work I like: creating assets and coaching educators.
What networking methods or communities have helped you most in constructing significant connections within the AI and tech ecosystem?
I’ve discovered essentially the most worth in area of interest communities on the intersection of schooling and know-how. Teams like ISTE (Worldwide Society for Expertise in Training) and FETC (Way forward for Training Expertise Convention) have been unbelievable. However right here’s my secret: I don’t simply attend occasions—I contribute. I current, share assets, supply sensible recommendation, and join with individuals. Whenever you lead with generosity, genuine relationships comply with. Additionally, don’t underestimate the ability of participating meaningfully on social media. That’s the place a lot of my finest partnerships started.
How do you method mentorship—each receiving it and providing it—and the way has that influenced your development as a founder on this house?
I at all times say that I wasn’t taught easy methods to run a enterprise in trainer prep college! Subsequently, I’ve been on the receiving finish of some superb enterprise mentors over the past eleven years. I additionally purposefully search out mentors who problem my pondering—not simply those that agree with me.
Mentorship is reciprocal although, so in return, I assist educators and Okay–12 EdTech founders navigate the steep studying curve that’s EdTech and Okay–12 schooling.
What methods have confirmed best in buying clients or purchasers in your AI services or products?
Content material advertising and marketing and occasions are every thing for me. As a substitute of chilly outreach, I create genuinely useful assets for educators—like my “AI Literacy TECH-Tac-Toe” recreation or “Navigating AI: Educator’s Rules of Thumb” infographic. Useful templates, concepts, and methods preserve educators coming again for extra.
My clients are educators, so I’m going the place they’re: schooling conferences. Phrase-of-mouth in schooling is highly effective—academics belief suggestions from different academics.
Which advertising and marketing methods (digital, content material, occasions, and many others.) have labored finest in your model, and the way do you measure their influence?
Once more, content material advertising and marketing is big for me. From authoring A Teacher’s Guide to Online Learning to my month-to-month e-newsletter, I concentrate on sharing genuinely useful assets. My newsletter has been a game-changer. I’ve a mighty viewers with a constant 50% open charge, which I’m informed by people who know far more about advertising and marketing than me that that’s extraordinary! Additionally, being in keeping with social media postings. Smarter Queue was a recreation changer for me to make sure I used to be posting persistently to all my social channels.
Actually, I’m nonetheless engaged on monitoring influence. Nonetheless, when I’ve individuals come as much as me at conferences and occasions and inform me that they’re appreciative of my work I do know that I’m making an influence far previous what I can measure.
Are you able to share a serious setback or roadblock in your AI startup journey, and the way you strategically overcame it?
Early on, I attempted to be every thing to everybody. I used to be the skilled on each EdTech software. I used to be unfold too skinny and wanted to area of interest. Within the final three or 4 years as my focus went virtually solely to AI in schooling, I really feel like my voice has been discovered. I’m coming into my very own. All of a sudden, my messaging turned clearer, my content material extra focused, and my influence extra measurable. Generally the perfect technique is saying “no” to alternatives that don’t align together with your core mission. Discovering a distinct segment is essential.
What’s one piece of recommendation you’d supply to girls who’re simply starting their entrepreneurial journey in AI or rising tech?
Don’t attempt to sound like everybody else within the room. Your perspective as a girl will not be a limitation—it’s your aggressive benefit. The AI house wants numerous voices and approaches. Begin with an issue you’re obsessed with fixing. For me, that was serving to academics really feel assured as an alternative of overwhelmed by know-how.
Is there a quote, mantra, or philosophy that persistently guides your selections as an AI entrepreneur?
Human oversight is crucial. I at all times ask: Does this assist educators and college students develop into extra succesful, inventive, and linked? If AI makes us extra human—extra empathetic, extra revolutionary, extra collaborative—then we’re utilizing it proper. The second know-how turns into the grasp as an alternative of the software, we’ve misplaced the plot.
Right here is our principal query. “What Are The 5 Issues You Want To Overcome Self-Doubt and Construct Confidence?” (If potential, please share a narrative or instance for each)
1. Begin Small, Win Large
You aren’t going to get a keynote gig with no different talking expertise. Begin by volunteering to current at occasions and conferences. Acquire expertise and work your manner up. Now I keynote occasions, nevertheless it began with three academics in a college library.
2. Simply Do It! As Nike says, simply do it! Concentrate on influence over perfection. I’m a perfectionist and it used to carry me again. Now, I do know I’ve to begin someplace and it’s higher to only begin reasonably than ready for perfection. For instance, I look again at my first weblog publish and marvel what I used to be pondering. Nonetheless, as Taylor Swift says, “there wouldn’t be this if there hadn’t been you.” I wouldn’t be the place I’m in the present day if I hadn’t had wrote that first weblog publish.
2. Share Naturally
Set a purpose to begin sharing your work naturally little by little. Make a social publish with an perception you might have or an image out of your each day work. Write weblog posts that relate to your each day work. Use what you have already got. A recreation changer for me was once I began sharing assets that I had made for myself. I didn’t assume anybody else would discover them invaluable however boy was I fallacious! Your experience grows as you share it. Once more, begin someplace and… simply do it!
3. Connections are The whole lot
Make connections with as many individuals as potential in your area. You want individuals who imagine in your imaginative and prescient, particularly whenever you’re struggling to imagine in it your self. Additionally, by no means underestimate the ability of connections for enterprise alternatives. Probably the most random connections have result in the perfect partnerships for me.
4. Embrace the Imposter Syndrome
I used to assume I wasn’t “technical sufficient” for AI or “business-minded sufficient” for entrepreneurship. Then I spotted: my distinctive perspective as an educator IS my qualification. The AI house wants individuals who perceive studying and instructing, not simply algorithms.
Okay, we’re practically achieved. You’re a individual of nice affect. In case you may encourage a motion that will deliver essentially the most quantity of excellent for the best variety of individuals, what would that be? You by no means know what your concept can set off.
I need to encourage a motion of AI literacy for all. Simply as we as soon as fought for common literacy, we now want common AI literacy. That is about crucial pondering in an AI-infused world. I envision each pupil graduating highschool in a position to consider AI outputs, perceive bias in algorithms, and use AI instruments ethically and successfully. This motion would democratize entry to AI’s advantages whereas constructing the crucial pondering abilities to navigate its challenges.
How can our readers additional comply with your work on-line?
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