Welcome to another episode of Swimming with Sharks, where we take a deep dive into AI's impact on the enterprise. In this episode, Kevin J. Dean sits down with David Pearlman,  a Senior Director at Adobe. Kevin and David joke about how long AI has been around, the different mindsets that have been applied to it and the potential future of AI within the Education sector.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Swimming with Sharks, host Kevin Dean engages in a compelling conversation with David Pearlman, Senior Director of Education at Adobe. With over two decades of experience in technology and education, David shares his insights on the transformative power of AI in enterprise settings, the evolving landscape of education, and the human-centric approach to leadership in the age of AI.

Interview Highlights

• AI as a Collaborative Partner: David discusses the concept of treating AI not as a replacement for employees but as a collaborative partner that can augment human capabilities.
• The Changing Face of Education: He emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptability, highlighting how AI tools can personalize and enhance the educational experience.
• Leadership in the AI Era: David shares his perspective on leadership, focusing on understanding individual motivations and fostering an environment that encourages growth and innovation.

Key Takeaways

1. Embrace AI as an Augmenting Tool: Organizations should view AI as a means to enhance human potential, not replace it.
2. Foster a Culture of Continuous Learning: In a rapidly changing technological landscape, continuous learning is essential for both individuals and organizations.
3. Human-Centric Leadership: Effective leadership involves understanding and supporting the personal and professional growth of team members.

A Conversation with David Pearlman

David shared a concrete example of AI’s power to declutter workflows. Managing teams across continents means receiving emails across all hours. "I use AI and say, 'Please summarize all the emails from Karen for the last day,' and guess what? I get them all summarized... I took 30 emails and got them down to maybe one or two communications."

That ability to distill high-volume input into actionable insight is where enterprise AI really shines. And David is clear about how AI is all about redirecting time and energy towards what matters most. "I'm focusing on the people instead of the process."

The New Model of Learning

David speaks passionately about the evolving world of education. 

"The idea of sitting in a lecture hall twice a week for twelve weeks doesn't serve everyone anymore."

Learners want flexibility. They want to absorb information where and when it suits them and AI is helping make that possible. David recounts how he used ChatGPT to build a personal coaching model through structured interviews, then had his kids test it. "It gives pretty dad-like Dave answers."

The point? AI had become a learning mirror and coaching tool. David even used AI to refine his public speaking delivery, getting real-time feedback on pace, tone, and engagement.

Dealing with Shadow AI and Governance

Organizations are already using AI, whether leadership realizes it or not. David warns against letting this continue unchecked. "You’re kidding yourself if you think nobody is using AI in your organization."

He stresses the importance of policy and enforcement: "A policy without enforcement is just another policy." Enterprises need to build trust, survey existing tool use, and fold AI usage into secure, centralized systems.

"It’s better to bring it all in than have it floating around the edge of your security perimeter," he says.

Reclaiming Focus Through AI

AI’s true value lies in refocusing human energy on meaningful work. “What excites me is how AI can change and provide equity and accessibility to a lot of really powerful technologies and learning opportunities.”

For David, it doesn’t matter if he is engaging students in a SUNY sales triathlon or mentoring staff, he returns to one guiding principle: "It’s never about the task. It’s really about the people."

About David Pearlman

David Pearlman is a veteran technology and education leader with over 20 years of experience, currently serving as Senior Director of Education at Adobe. He previously held senior roles at Microsoft, where he worked across enterprise, government, and education sectors. David is an advocate for AI’s role in enhancing operational efficiency and educational access. 

Connect with David on LinkedIn: David M. Pearlman