{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Boyz of Edtech | K–12 Education Insights","title":"From Relationships to Results: Leading with Impact in Education with Thomas Davis","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2538,"description":"In this episode of the Boys of EdTech, host Rick Fernandez and the crew sit down with Thomas Davis, Board Member and Educational Innovator at Boz Institute, for a powerful conversation on leadership, mentorship, and what it truly takes to drive impact in education.\nWith a career spanning classroom teaching, edtech sales, consulting, and nonprofit leadership, Thomas shares his journey from growing up in San Diego to becoming a trusted advisor across K-12 and beyond. He reflects on how early experiences, strong mentorship, and a commitment to giving back shaped his path and continue to influence his work today.\nThe conversation dives into the evolution of education leadership, highlighting the importance of mentorship pipelines, cultural understanding, and developing future leaders who can sustain meaningful change. Thomas shares insights from his work with CALSA and other organizations, emphasizing the role of community, representation, and intentional leadership development in transforming education systems.\nThe group also explores the changing dynamics between school districts and edtech providers, unpacking why relationships, storytelling, and problem-solving must take precedence over traditional sales approaches. Thomas offers a compelling perspective on how vendors can become true partners by focusing on impact, embracing performance-based models, and aligning with district needs.\nConnect with the Boyz\nRick Fernandez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rick-fernandez-40692434/\nMatthew Millstein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-millstein/\nJacob Kantor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejacobkantor/\nRyan Patenaude: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanpatenaude/\nJeff Piontek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffpiontek/\nKey Moments\n02:58 Transition from teaching to edtech sales\n05:11 Why hitting quota defines success in edtech sales\n06:40 Growth story of CALSA and leadership development\n09:48 Mentorship as the foundation of leadership pipelines\n12:07 Cultural awareness and...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/wkLqTp5mkY2lrJRZTIPFUj-eapGDdxUdGrVrmDFKhCs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hZTQx/YmRlN2E0ZTQzNTEy/ZmQzNjQxNzQzY2Uz/NjYxYS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}