S7E7: Brandon Krakowsky | Yes Always Opens a Door

On this episode, Geoffrey Klein chats with Brandon Krakowsky, Lecturer at Penn Engineering and Director of Data Science & Research at the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative. Brandon leads data/AI projects and experiential learning with industry partners.

Brandon tells his story of a winding path from dreams of being a hotdog vendor at baseball games, to being a communications major and gigging bassist, to a computer programmer and educator. This all shaped his approach to AI education.

Brandon breaks down how experiential learning with real company data accelerates student growth, why saying “yes” opens unexpected doors, and practical ways anyone can get AI-literate fast. He unpacks the student-built projects from Wharton’s week-long HackAI competition, plus the teaching tactics he uses to demystify Python, Java, and data science for diverse learners.

Brandon shares:

• What effective AI education looks like in practice—projects, scaffolding, and tools you can use today.
• A playbook for experiential learning with real stakeholders and real data.
• A no-fluff starter kit for AI literacy—from prompts to “vibe coding.”
• Career advice that balances craft, curiosity, and family without chasing titles.

You’ll leave with concrete steps to experiment with tools, analyze data, and stay current without overwhelm—all while keeping creativity and career fulfillment in view.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn
• Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative
• Podcast: Learn the Technology with Brandon Krakowsky
• Book/Magazine: Rolling Stone

Connect with Geoffrey:

• Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn
• E-mail Geoffrey
• Keynote Speaker
• nine dots
• Instagram
• The Content Beast (book)

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Music produced by Sam Miller.

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