Ultra-personalisation was identified as a trend to watch in the early 2010s and it has become increasingly evident and integral in the delivery of a broad range of services, including online education.  In our follow-up conversation with Ricardo Allen, the Founder and CEO of One on One Educational Services, he shares with us, among other things: what has been happening at One on One since our last interview in 2020; how the company has been leveraging AI in its operations;  what it is like to move from a scrappy start-up to a publicly traded company; and important lessons he has learnt during this wild and crazy journey.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Although there may always be a place for face-to-face tuition, online education and learning are increasingly becoming more mainstream and accepted. Traditionally, the classroom is where students are expected to be first exposed to concepts with online resources being used to supplement the learning that should have occurred and to test and facilitate whatever remediation that may be needed.  

However, today, technology is turning those earlier practices on their head. Increasingly, the emphasis may be shifting from teachers providing the first exposure to technology executing that task. Instead, teachers are being called upon to oversee the use of technology and to otherwise manage and support their students as they learn.

This emerging shift may not necessarily be a bad thing, as students learn in a variety of ways and technology is evolving to provide a personalised approach based on the unique needs and learning style of the individual student.

One of the champions of personalised education in the Caribbean region has been One on One Educational Services Limited (One on One), an award-winning online learning platform headquartered in Jamaica. One on One is widely used across the region, as it caters to secondary school students and businesses by providing a personalised online learning experience.

In 2020, we explored the entrepreneurial journey of Ricardo Allen, the Founder of One on One. It is nearly four years since our last conversation, and from all indications, One on One has been growing from strength to strength, which is not the norm for most small businesses and more so, tech businesses. We thus thought it timely to circle back to Ricardo and learn more about how the company has been evolving, and how he has been faring since we last spoke.

 

Introducing our guest

Ricardo Allen

Ricardo D. Allen is the dynamic Founder and Chief Executive Officer of One on One Educational Services Limited, the foremost Edtech company in the Caribbean. With its pioneering Learning Management System (LMS), One on One has empowered several regional institutions, corporations, governments, and individuals to roll out tailored, on-demand, and innovative learning solutions.

Under Ricardo’s leadership, the company has witnessed impressive growth through strategic financing, partnerships, and acquisitions, amassing over JMD 200 million in private equity investments. In a recent landmark achievement, One on One raised an impressive JMD 358 million through a share offer and secured a spot on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE).

Ricardo’s fervour for mathematics, fused with his affinity for technology and humanity, has culminated in a platform that revolutionises the way thousands across the region engage with online courses—learning and teaching at their own pace. In 2016, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious journey, Ricardo was chosen as the first recipient of the Young Leaders of the Americas Fellowship during the presidency of Barack Obama—a testament to his influential role in shaping education and leadership in the Americas.

 

Insights into our conversation

If you have the opportunity to listen to Ricardo speak, you will quickly appreciate how One on One was able to raise as much money as it has over the years. He is passionate about the company and personalised education, and his energy and intensity are sure to win you – and your wallet – over!

Personalised education has been the vision Ricardo has had for One on One since the outset, which has guided how the company’s services have been built. With artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly in the mix, an even more personalised and intelligent approach is being developed.

The last four years, since we last spoke with Ricardo have been a period of intense growth for the company, not just in scale but also in responsibility, which Ricardo openly shares. As a publicly listed company, One on One has had to evolve from a scrappy start-up jumping from project to project, to one that is more stable and accountable to its shareholders.  However, at the same time, it is still crucial to figure out how to balance today’s success and profits against investments that one hopes will pay off in the long run.

Below are questions that guided the conversation with Ricardo.

  1. Please start us off by giving us a refresher on what One on One Educational Services is and what it is trying to achieve.
  2. What has been happening with One on One since we last spoke in 2020?
  3. How has One on One integrated AI into its operations?
  4. What have been some of the successes or milestones One on One has been able to realise?
  5. What has changed for you and for the company in being listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange?
  6. How do you balance innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit against being accountable to your shareholders?
  7. Many start-ups, and more so tech start-ups fail. You and One on One have been able to do what many haven’t. What makes your journey different from theirs?
  8. What have been important lessons you have learned since we last spoke?
  9. Where would you like to see One on One in the next 2 to 3 years?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

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Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  One on One Educational Services; Gerd Altmann (Pixabay);  Julia M Cameron (Pexels);  Victoria (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez