An interview with Eden Gold
Focus matters — you can only do a few things well, so choose carefully.
Ride the trends — it’s far easier to move with the tide than to fight against it.
Ask more questions — curiosity signals strength, not weakness.
Work on things that energize you — passion compounds over time.
Protect your health and relationships — they are the foundation for everything else.
The landscape of education is undergoing a profound transformation, propelled by technological advancements, pedagogical innovations, and a deepened understanding of learning diversities. Traditional classrooms are evolving, and new modes of teaching and learning are emerging to better prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. This series will take a look at the groundbreaking work being done across the globe to redefine education. As a part of this interview series, we had the pleasure to interview Stephen Hodges, CEO of Efekta Education Group.
Dr. Stephen Hodges is the CEO of Efekta Education Group, where he leads the transformation of global language learning through an AI Learning Platform. Efekta focuses on scalable, personalised English education to address accessibility and quality challenges worldwide. Previously, as President of Hult International Business School, he elevated it to a top-ranked, triple-accredited institution and chaired the Hult Prize for student-led social entrepreneurship.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the “backstory” behind what brought you to this particular career path?
Career paths only really make sense in hindsight — and mine is no exception. I started with a PhD in Computer Science, building tech companies from the ground up. After a spell as a consultant at McKinsey, I shifted gears into education, spending 16 years leading and expanding Hult International Business School. That experience gave me a front-row seat to what works in learning. And now at Efekta, I’m combining that with AI to transform education on a global scale.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I have had the great fortune of working closely with Bertil Hult, one of Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs for many years. He is a business genius, and I have learnt many things from him. For instance, when I first joined Hult International Business School, he asked me “What do you want to do with the school?”. I told him I wanted to open campuses around the world, so students could tap into expertise where it really existed — Investment Banking in New York, Innovation in San Francisco, and so on. He paused, thought for a moment, and simply said: “I can think of many ways to grow the school, but let’s go with yours.” We went ahead with that vision, and it helped transform the school into a truly global institution. Years later, I asked him why he had agreed so quickly to my plan. He told me: “Because you’re far more likely to succeed with an idea you’re passionate about than one I am.” That lesson stuck with me, and ever since I’ve tried to give my employees challenges, not tasks — and the freedom to solve them in their own way. Because when people own the idea, they’re far more motivated to make it succeed.
Can you briefly share with our readers why you are an authority in the education field?
Before joining Efekta, I spent 16 years as President of Hult International Business School, helping it grow into a top-ranked global institution with campuses across several continents. In 2018, Hult became the first U.S. business school to achieve the “Triple Crown” of accreditations — AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. I also served on the board of the New England Commission of Higher Education, which accredits universities including Harvard, MIT, and Brown.
Today, as CEO of Efekta, I’m proud to lead one of the world’s foremost online education groups. Our digital English learning platform has taught over 24 million people to date and currently supports more than four million active students, 25,000 teachers, 3,000 companies, and several governments worldwide.
Can you identify some areas of the US education system that are going really great?
One thing I really admire about the US education system is its scale of innovation. Whether it’s pioneering charter schools, experimenting with new teaching models, or building some of the most advanced edtech in the world, the US has a culture of trying new approaches and learning from them quickly.
Another strength is the higher education system — American universities are globally recognized for excellence in both teaching and research and continue to attract the best talent from around the world.
Can you identify the key areas of the US education system that should be prioritized for improvement? Can you explain why those are so critical?
I think one of the biggest priorities is equity of access. In the US, the quality of a student’s education can vary dramatically depending on their zip code. Ensuring that every child — regardless of background — has access to great teaching and resources is critical, because education is the foundation of opportunity.
And finally, I’d highlight teacher support. Teachers are at the heart of the system, but they’re often overworked and under-resourced. If we can give them better tools — whether through technology, training, or reducing administrative burdens — they’ll have more time and energy to do what they do best: inspire and guide students.
I believe AI can help with both these issues.
Please tell us all about the innovative educational approaches that you are using. What is the specific problem that you aim to solve, and how have you addressed it?
At Efekta, we’re tackling the global teacher shortage.
Our solution is to blend proven pedagogy with advanced technology. And we’re starting with English — the world’s second most-taught subject after math — but one that’s often taught poorly, since group classes aren’t well suited to building real skills.
Addi, our AI teaching assistant, works alongside teachers to give every student a truly personal learning journey. It remembers their progress, adapts in real time, and offers unlimited patience and practice — things no human teacher has the time to provide in practice. This frees teachers to do what they do best: inspire and motivate. And it gives students personalized education that used to be available only to a privileged few.
In the process, we’re not just improving learning — we’re making teaching more attractive by automating the repetitive work. Two of the biggest issues we see in education today.
In what ways do you think your approach might shape the future of education? What evidence supports this?
One of the biggest puzzles in education has always been Bloom’s 2 Sigma problem: students who receive one-to-one tutoring perform two standard deviations better than those in traditional classrooms — the equivalent of moving from the 50th to the 98th percentile. The challenge has been how to make that level of personalization available at scale.
That’s exactly what we’re solving. With Addi, our AI teaching assistant, every student gets a personal learning journey — adaptive, responsive, and patient — while teachers focus on motivation and higher-value teaching. In other words, we’re making the benefits of one-to-one tutoring available to every learner, not just the privileged few.
The results are real: in Paraná, Brazil, we’ve seen a 32.5% jump in average English test scores — across an entire population of 750,000 students. That scale of improvement is extraordinary.
That evidence gives us confidence that what we’re building isn’t just theory — it’s a practical way to deliver world-class, personalized education at scale.
How do you measure the impact of your innovative educational practices on students’ learning and well-being?
We measure impact through our Classroom AI system, which continuously tracks nearly 100 different variables to measure a student’s English proficiency hyper-accurately in real time.
This allows us to see exactly how each learner is progressing, adapt the experience dynamically, and personalize the support provided by the classroom teacher and Addi.
Because the system collects longitudinal data, we can track growth with great precision and forecast which students are on-track to achieve their learning objectives: freeing teachers up to focus on those needing additional support, before they fail.
What challenges have you faced in implementing your educational innovations, and how have you overcome them?
One of our biggest challenges has been building trust. Education systems are naturally cautious, and change can feel risky. So, we always start small with pilots and co-design workshops — giving teachers, students, and ministries the chance to see the impact firsthand before scaling up.
Another challenge is making sure teachers don’t feel threatened by the technology. That’s why we roll out with local teaching champions who train their peers on how to use Addi effectively in the classroom.
And what we’ve found is that once people see the results — students learning faster and with more confidence — teachers, parents, and administrators quickly become strong supporters.
Keeping in mind the “Law of Unintended Consequences” can you see any potential drawbacks of this innovation that people should think more deeply about?
With any powerful innovation, there are always potential unintended consequences.
In our case, one concern is that people might worry AI could replace teachers. We’re very clear that our goal is the opposite: to amplify teachers, not replace them — freeing them from repetitive tasks so they can focus on motivating and inspiring students.
Another consideration is equity. If technology isn’t deployed thoughtfully, it could widen gaps between those who have access and those who don’t. That’s why we work directly with governments and institutions to ensure our solutions are accessible at scale, not just to privileged groups.
And finally, there’s the human side. Education is more than knowledge transfer; it’s also about confidence, relationships, and values. We’re careful to design AI that supports human connection rather than replacing it.
So yes, there are risks if innovation is misapplied — but by addressing them openly, we can ensure technology enhances education rather than undermines it.
What are your “5 Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started”?
- Focus matters — you can only do a few things well, so choose carefully.
- Ride the trends — it’s far easier to move with the tide than to fight against it.
- Ask more questions — curiosity signals strength, not weakness.
- Work on things that energize you — passion compounds over time.
- Protect your health and relationships — they are the foundation for everything else.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“In theory there’s no difference between theory and practice — but in practice, there is”. It’s a reminder that even the best ideas need to prove themselves in the real world.
We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
I’ve always looked up to Bill Gates. His tech genius is undeniable, but what impresses me most is how he’s kept Microsoft at the forefront in such a fast-changing world. Even more inspiring is how he’s now using his wealth to tackle global challenges. Those qualities: vision, resilience, and a drive to make a difference — really resonate with me and the business we are trying to build.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/efekta-education
Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!
Stephen Hodges Of Efekta Education Group On Innovative Approaches That Are Transforming Education was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.