Early Learning Summit
with EdTech Week
October 23, 2025 | 8:30am - 5:30pm
Teachers College, Columbia University
Begin is proud to host the second annual, invitation-only Early Learning Summit — a gathering of 150 of the brightest minds, innovators, and decision-makers shaping the future of early childhood education and parenting.
Together, we have the opportunity — and responsibility — to imagine and build a better path forward for children, educators, and families.
Building on the success of our inaugural event, this year’s Summit will establish national priorities for child and family wellbeing, grow a diverse coalition of child advocates, and cultivate cross-sector conversation to advance a brighter and more equitable future for all kids and families.
We look forward to your voice, your ideas, and your leadership at the Begin Learning Summit.
2025 Agenda
| 8:30am | Breakfast & Networking |
| 9:00am | Kick Off & Introduction |
| 9:20am | Lightning Series: The Building Blocks Are Cracking |
| 10:25am | Break |
| 10:35am | Supporting The Village: The NY Times Education Fund |
| 10:50am | Panel #1: From Classrooms To Living Rooms: Building Integrated School-Home Models |
| 11:30am | Break |
| 11:35am | Panel #2: Whole Child, Whole Future: Breakthroughs In Outcomes That Matter |
| 12:15pm | Lunch |
| 1:45pm | Fireside Chat With Isabelle Hau |
| 2:15pm | Panel #3: The Future Plays Here: Scalable Solutions For Parent-Child Learning |
| 2:55pm | Break |
| 3:00pm | Panel #4: Hope, Hype, Or Harm? Navigating Kids’ Screen Time In The Age Of AI |
| 3:40pm | Break |
| 3:45pm | Networking For Impact & Closing Remarks |
| 4:45pm | Cocktail Reception |
2025 Speakers + Attendees
-
Abby Weinstein
President and COO at Begin
-
Adam Zalisk
EVP, Corporate Strategy at Amplify
-
Arpit Jain
Co-Founder and CEO at SplashLearn
-
Ash Kaluarachchi
CEO at StartEd
-
Ben Newton
Co-Founder and COO at Vivvi
-
Chris Curran
Managing Partner and Founder at Tyton Partners
-
Christopher Doss
Policy Researcher at RAND
-
Grace Bastidas
Former Editor-in-Chief at Parents
-
Isabelle Hau
Executive Director at the Stanford Accelerator for Learning
-
Jody LeVos
Chief Learning Officer at Begin
-
Jennifer Bailey
Early Childhood Educator and SEL Specialist
-
Jitesh Jeswani
Managing Director at PJT
-
Julie Cwikla
Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and Director of the Center for STEM Education at the University of Southern Mississippi
-
Lisa Hom
Chief Product & Merchandising Officer at KiwiCo
-
Lyman Missimer
VP at Owl Ventures
-
Michael Selkis
Executive in Residence for Jumpstart and CEO of 82nd Street Academics
-
Michelle Miller
Founder at Games & Learning
-
Neal Shenoy
CEO and Co-Founder at Begin
-
Norman Basch
Head of Business Development at Epic!
-
Rachel Robertson
Chief Academic Officer at Bright Horizons
-
Rick Segal
President at AL Mailman Family Foundation
-
Rohan Mahimker
Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Prodigy Education
-
Rosemarie Truglio
SVP of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop
-
Shilpa Shenoy
Chief Marketing Officer at Begin
-
Sid Mathur
Executive Chairman at Begin
-
Steve Youngwood
Former CEO at Sesame Workshop
-
Suraj Jain
VP, Strategy & Corporate Development at Begin
-
Tali Horowitz
East Coast Education Director at Common Sense
-
Todd Schwartz
CEO at Hooked on Phonics
-
Vivek Kamath
Partner at Tyton Partners
Last Year’s Summit
