Podium Education, the leader in delivering hands-on, career-focused for-credit experiences with universities, today announced key additions to its executive team. Former Coursera Chief Marketing Officer, Kim Caldbeck, has joined as Chief Marketing Officer, and former Chegg President, John Fillmore, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer. These strategic hires reflect Podium Education’s continued focus on forging pathways for universities to provide students with innovative models that build the skills and experience needed for the modern workforce.

Kim Caldbeck brings over a decade of experience in high-growth companies. At Coursera, she was instrumental in scaling the company's revenue fivefold and leading the marketing strategy through its IPO. Caldbeck’s background includes leadership roles at Facebook, Apple, and Landor, where she helped build global brands and drive customer engagement across multiple industries. As Podium’s inaugural CMO, she will oversee all aspects of marketing, from brand strategy to growth initiatives, positioning Podium for its next phase of expansion.

John Fillmore joins Podium after a decade at Chegg, where he most recently served as President of Chegg Skills, leading the company’s focus on upskilling and career readiness. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in leading teams through Chegg’s IPO and its subsequent rise as a major player in the education technology space. Fillmore has a rich history of driving strategic growth initiatives, launching new business segments, and leading cross-functional teams. With his deep expertise in both education and technology, Fillmore will be responsible for operational excellence and scaling Podium’s platform to meet growing demand.

Brooks Morgan, CEO of Podium Education, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Kim and John to the Podium team. Both bring exceptional leadership and experience in scaling companies and driving transformative growth in the education sector. Their insights and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in higher education, expanding our programs to equip even more students with the skills and experiences they need for the modern workforce.”

John Fillmore, COO at Podium Education, added: "I am thrilled to join Podium and accelerate our mission to ensure college becomes a path to the American Dream for millions of college students, just like it was for me. As our exponential growth and expanding list of amazing University Partners shows, no one is better positioned than Podium to support Higher Education institutions in the challenge of bringing global perspectives and experiential learning to today's students."

Kim Caldbeck, CMO at Podium Education, said: “I am thrilled to join Podium Education at such a pivotal moment. The higher education sector is undergoing a transformation, and I believe Podium is uniquely positioned to partner with schools as they seek to help their students prepare for and land their dream careers. I look forward to helping shape the future of education alongside this incredible team.”

The appointments come as Podium Education continues to expand its experiential platform, the Global Career Accelerator, which equips students with for-credit, hands-on experience as part of their undergraduate degree. In addition to industry experience, the program offers comprehensive career development workshops, live events with iconic companies and exclusive access to a curated early-career recruitment platform. Since its launch, the Global Career Accelerator has helped over 10,000 students develop real-world skills and earn credentials recognized by top employers.

With these leadership additions, Podium Education is poised to accelerate its growth and further its mission of bridging the gap between higher education and career success.