Hi, I'm Neesha

I've worked and consulted in EdTech since 2013. In that time, I've worked on curriculum design, game design, data analytics, software development, product (and project) management, writing business plans, QA testing and more.

I have a strong background in CS (PhD) and a passion for learning and education. I am a quick learner (all those years in school did pay off) and I really enjoy (and excel at) problem solving. I believe the best EdTech focuses on delivering quality content/curriculum, has high standards for privacy protection, and most of all, creates engaging, high quality, fun learning experiences that learners choose to engage with.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been really interested in computers and technology. I was in my first computer club way back in grade 2 (1991-92!) and I have fond memories of taking apart a My Little Pony toy I had that walked to see how it worked. One of my earliest role models was Lex from Jurassic Park (a movie that is still one of my favourites to this day).

I’ve always been a huge fan of puzzles (all kinds) which may help explain why I love programming and computer science – it’s just a puzzle in another form. I started learning to code in high school by seeking opportunities outside of my school (as we had none) and have been coding ever since (over 20 years now!).

I have a PhD in Computing Science from the University of Alberta where I focused on comparing techniques to make non-player video game characters more believable and emotional.

It was during grad school that EdTech really became a passion area of mine. Between TA-ing and watching my oldest niece start school, I began to more closely examine how EdTech is used in the classroom and got interested in the connection between education and technology.

A 2013 trip to the Grace Hopper Conference was the catalyst that started my entrepreneurship journey, as it lead to the co-founding of a (long imploded) company called Alieo Games that focused on gamifying creative writing. After that I worked on a product teaching foundational reading skills for PreK to Grade 2 kids (originally called Squiggle Park). And now I work at Shoelace Learning (working on improving reading comprehension through games.

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