Clover Learning (acquired by Ascend Learning)

Chief Operating Officer

Hannah Grey VC

Venture Partner

PATHWAYos by Vector Solutions

Chief Executive Officer (acquired by Vector Solutions), Board of Directors

Edvance - Member Benefit Management in Higher Ed

Chief Operating Officer + Chief Of Staff

PresenceLearning

Chief Operating Officer (acquired by TPG & Spectrum)

Wiley

Vice President, Operations & Strategic Partnerships (acquired Ranku: Co-founder & COO)

U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Institute for a Competitive Workforce)

Senior Director of Education Policy

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

➥ Recognized as "Business Leader in Public Policy" by Capitol Report/Politics in Minnesota

Education & Healthcare Lobbyist

CEO at Transeo 🔹 On a mission to close the skills gap by unlocking work-based learning opportunities for all 🔹 Innovative & Entrepreneurial COO (2x Exited) 🔹 Bridging Education to Workforce

Cecilia Retelle Zywicki is an experienced executive with a proven track record of driving transformative growth in the EdTech and HealthTech sectors. Expertise in defining and implementing strategies accelerating revenue and profit within highly competitive markets. Proven leader with a history of delivering exceptional outcomes, including multiple successful exits.

Cecilia is the COO of Clover Learning, overseeing all aspects of operations, including partnerships, customer success, customer support, finance, legal, and operational efficiency. She is adept at building high-performing teams, fostering collaborative environments, and maximizing operational efficiency to achieve ambitious growth objectives.

Cecilia has extensive experience leading technology-driven companies, focusing on developing and delivering innovative solutions in the healthcare and education sectors. She has demonstrated her ability to navigate complex business development transactions, including strategic acquisitions.

Passionate about upskilling the workforce and connecting education with real-world opportunities. Proven ability to scale enrollment and develop and implement online learning platforms. As a leader, she fosters a collaborative and supportive environment where team members are empowered to contribute their unique talents and achieve their full potential.

JD from the University of Denver and a BS and M.Ed. in Education from the University of Minnesota.

Cecilia Retelle Zywicki 🖥

Children’s media researcher based in the San Francisco Bay Area. My current research explores: 

1️⃣ How can we assess and design ethical AI characters for children's education?
𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘒𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘈𝘐 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘶𝘣: 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 & 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘐 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴

2️⃣ How might we explore Narrative Design Thinking in children's makerspaces to support creative learning?
𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴' 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦: 100+ 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯

3️⃣ What is the impact of Dual Empathy with fictional characters on children's reflective learning experiences?
𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴' 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦: 100+ 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯

4️⃣ What factors contribute to joyful learning experiences for families of young children?
𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘎𝘚𝘌: 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨

I leverage my interdisciplinary education and work experience to support research: 
✨DESIGN - BS Film, MFA Animation, Character Designer in the gaming industry
✨RESEARCH - PhD in Learning, Design, and Technology; academia-industry research collaborations
✨STRATEGY - 8+ years of consultation with edtech founders & children’s media creators
✨TEACHING - Graduate course instructor for UX Research and LX Design, mentor for children’s media professionals, expressive art coach for families, makerspace educator for children 

 Looking for support with building research-informed educational media for children? Let's connect! DM on LinkedIn to:

✏️ Collaborate on research related to assessment or design of AI characters for children
✏️ Review character-driven IPs including toys, games, series, chatbots, tutors, virtual influencers etc.
✏️ User test educational products with children, caregivers, and educators
✏️ Co-design thoughtful product roadmaps for kidtech products and services, based on user research

Sonia Tiwari

We’re being sold the idea that children generating AI images based on their imagination is good for their creativity. But one of the foundations of creativity is building on observation, curiosity, and lived experience…before it’s layered with imaginary details. 

I recently saw a southern magnolia seed pod during a walk, that inspired an idea of a magnolia sprite character. I take these photo and sketch notes throughout the year and eventually they become part of projects, or not. It’s a way of creative note taking, and serves as tool of curiosity and imagination. 

Later I looked up fun facts about these seed pods too:

- Each pod can hold many bright red seeds that hang on thin threads
- The shape has inspired art and jewelry in the American South
- Birds and squirrels eat the red seeds in autumn
- Magnolia grandiflora is one of the oldest flowering plants, about 95 million years old
- The pod is a fruiting aggregate made from multiple carpels of the flower
- Magnolia flowers are pollinated by beetles
- Pods appear from late summer to fall and open as they dry
- Magnolia wood has been used for furniture and instruments
- The magnolia is the state flower of Louisiana and Mississippi
- In Southern folklore, the pod symbolizes resilience and beauty

Could I use an AI tool to do something similar - generate a seed pod photo, generate a character based on it, turn that character into an animated short film, generate fun facts about the pod, turn those fun facts into a song, turn that song into a music video - yes! In some cases that could be helpful, especially for some complex topics that require additional scaffolds for learning. 

For building foundational creative skills and everyday exploration, do I need all the bells and whistles? 
Maybe not!

Where do you draw the line in your own creative practice?

Children’s Media Researcher exploring the role of characters as facilitators of learning experiences

No alternative text description for this image

This weekend I had the honor of presenting some ideas at a panel for Falling Walls Foundation Female Science Talents 2025 event in Berlin, remotely. Here are some key takeaways:

HER SCIENCE, HER STORY: LIVED EXPERIENCE DRIVING HUMAN-CENTRED RESEARCH

BREAKING TRADITIONAL BOUNDARIES
The panel explored new ways of connecting science, community, and creativity beyond conventional structures.

COMMUNITY AS CO-CREATOR
Stories showed how teachers, patients, and Indigenous leaders helped shape research and redefine success.

AUTHENTICITY IN RESEARCH
Panelists shared moments of bringing their full selves into science, blending personal stories and creativity with academic rigor.

RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
Discussions highlighted the importance of slowing down, embracing imperfection, and finding strength in collective support.

INTERACTIVE REFLECTION
Nausikaä El-Mecky’s brilliant interactive ideas were well received - audience members received envelopes containing colored ribbons and were asked to vote on the statement: “Communities should have more influence on how science and research are conducted right now.” They tied their ribbons together to form a web showing collective agreement. They also found yellow umbrellas under their seat with letters written on them, and moved around to spell the word ‘resilience’, a symbol of unity between science and society.

I brought a few props to fit in remotely - my own yellow umbrella and a ribbon to play along! To overcome the sadness of not being there in person, I went to the coffee festival in San Francisco right after the panel with my art school besties :) 

All the scientists in the cohort have been super kind, and I hope to meet them in person through other events 💖

Planning a creative holiday workshop for a local library - Bead Mix! Like an Etsy edition of Project Runway with an underlying maker curriculum. 

I’ve been wanting to offer this maker workshop for a while - combining beads that are digitally fabricated (3d prints, laser cuts) and/or derived from upcycled materials (vintage beads, bottle caps, cardboard, clay, origami - whatever you want!) to make some cool accessories!

I find that for kids and kids-at-heart there’s no bigger joy than making something and learning in the process. Good ol’ constructionism in action. 

Even in the simple act of designing and putting together a necklace or bracelet - there are opportunities to build beads with found or designed materials, applying color theory by choosing palettes, pattern creation, assembling with findings or tying a knot. 

♥️ In the image below - the star and heart beads are 3d printed and the rest were gathered from vintage stores with craft supply sections. 

💡If there’s some interest I could offer this workshop online for a wider audience!

Encouraging my network to sign this open letter crafted by Mandy McLean (AI+Edu researcher) and @Nathan Thoma (clinical psychologist) asking for specific regulation of AI companion products for children.

This is important work, in alignment with efforts of nonprofits such as everyone.AI, iRAISE, Digital Promise, All Tech Is Human, Digital Wellness Lab, Shield Global Online Safety Conference among others.

Open article: Open Letter to Protect Kids from AI Companions by openletter-aicompanions.org

Open Letter to Protect Kids from AI Companions

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Cecilia Retelle Zywicki 🖥

Sonia Tiwari

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Engagements

Likes

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