PowerSchool, for a conversation about what happens when a legacy industry meets a new era of platforms, data, and AI-enabled acceleration.

Pietri comes to K–12 not from the classroom, but from decades of leading large-scale SaaS and industrial automation software including an 11+ year run as CEO of Aspen Technology. After Aspen was acquired, he expected to retire, but the pull of purpose—and the opportunity to build brought him back. At PowerSchool, he sees a mission-driven organization with the “right to win,” serving more than 60 million students across 90+ countries, and a massive runway to evolve from good to truly great.

Together, Giery and Pietri explore why education is at an inflection point: districts juggling disconnected tools, rising expectations for interoperability, and growing pressure for real-time insights. Pietri makes the case that AI shouldn’t replace teachers it should reclaim their time by automating paperwork, streamlining workflows, and turning growing volumes of student data into actionable insight. The goal, he argues, is simple: remove the mundane so educators can focus on what matters most to students and outcomes.

The episode also offers a candid look at leadership at scale. Pietri reflects on risk-taking, resilience, and what changes when the “buck stops” with the CEO. Now in his first weeks at PowerSchool, he’s moving fast on operational transformation while intentionally staying in learning mode listening, absorbing, and building conviction in a new industry.

Timestamps

06:10 "AI's Role in Education"

09:24 "AI Advancing Education Effectiveness"

11:04 "Career Inflection Points and Passion"

16:59 "Learning and Growth in Education"

20:27 "AI Solutions for K12 Education"

21:32 "Red Square: A Lifelong Fascination"

Connect with Antonio Pietri

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-pietri

Website: https://www.powerschool.com/