SAL SEZ: This week, CA-based nonprofit, Girls' Innovate, brought Khan Academy founder Sal Khan to the Crowne Plaza in Palo Alto to answer questions from the toughest audience: adolescent girls. A gathering of 9 to 15-year-old girls came prepared with questions on everything from his future mission for his nonprofit, to the future of connection and online learning. It was a blitzkrieg: Khan answered 30 of these questions in 30 minutes.
Highlights from the evening included a question about the similarities between Khan Academy and Silicon Valley for-profits. Khan responded, "All entrepreneurs start off somewhat naive and delusional, but balance that by having a focus on making something happen." The girls also expressed curiosity as to what Khan does in his free time, to which he at first answered, "What free time?" Then he followed up with:
"Basketball...piano...and foreign languages. When I was in Mexico, all I could remember was 'mucho gusto.'"
Girls' Innovate hosts events for daughters and mothers interested in developing 21st century skills and exploring innovation.
