About this episode
Fiona’s journey is anything but conventional: from clinical audiologist and university instructor to scaling a global edtech startup used by over 30,000 students at institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. She serves as the CEO and co-founder of Viewpoint Simulations. She shares how teaching during the pandemic revealed a gap in experiential learning—and how she and her co-founder turned a classroom tool into a thriving platform that transforms lecture content into active role-playing simulations.
Fiona shares her experiences building a fully remote, mission-driven team, why educator-to-educator referrals fuel growth, and how deep LMS integration became a non-negotiable key to adoption.
Whether you’re an educator looking to engage students in new ways, an edtech founder navigating early growth, or a leader curious about the future of experiential learning, this conversation is packed with real-world insights on innovation, empathy, and scaling with purpose.
Key Takeaways
Experiential Learning Fills a Critical Gap – Viewpoint Simulations transforms traditional lecture content into active role-playing, debate, and negotiation exercises—helping students move from passive consumption to engaged, perspective-taking learning.
Empathy-Driven Product Development – Fiona’s background as an audiologist and educator taught her that communication isn’t one-size-fits-all. This mindset shapes how Viewpoint designs for diverse learners and maintains an open feedback loop with educators.
Educators Are Your Best Advocates – Viewpoint’s early traction came largely from educator referrals and peer-to-peer sharing. Building tools that educators genuinely want to use—and making them easy to share—creates organic, scalable growth.
LMS Integration Is Mission-Critical – Deep integration with platforms like Canvas (via LTI) wasn’t a nice-to-have—it was essential for adoption. Fiona advises partnering with university teaching and learning centers to navigate integration smoothly.
Remote Teams Can Drive Creativity & Mission – Viewpoint’s fully remote, global team isn’t a compromise—it’s a strategic advantage. Hiring across time zones and cultures brings diverse perspectives and fuels innovation.
Play to Your Team’s Strengths – Successful leadership means knowing your own strengths and complementing them with team members who bring different skills. This self-awareness has been key to navigating startup highs and lows.
Partner with Publishers to Enhance Existing Content – Viewpoint’s publisher-integrated model turns static case studies into interactive simulations, adding value to existing educational materials and creating new avenues for adoption.
The Biggest Barrier Is Educator Adoption – While demand for expe
