In our ongoing series of interviews with Vygo executives, we had the opportunity to speak with Lyndin Francis, the Regional Sales Director for the APAC region. Lyndin’s journey from Canada to Australia and her experience in both the tech and education sectors provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of EdTech and the role Vygo plays in shaping it.
Q: Can you share a bit about your journey and what led you to your current role at Vygo?
“I moved from Canada to Australia 13 years ago and ended up in regional Queensland, which gave me amazing insights into Aussie culture. I started my career in Mount Isa, working for Mazda Australia,, and transitioned both geographically and career-wise into a technology role in 2018. After a few years, I started to feel a disconnect with the vision and product offering at the company I was working for. I was introduced to Vygo and was immediately aligned with their mission. I joined to lead the partner engagement team in the APAC region. It has been an incredibly fulfilling journey since then.”
Q: What experiences or influences have shaped your career in the tech industry?
“The biggest influence on my career has been building up a large network of passionate individuals, both within Vygo and across the higher education sector. Working with people who genuinely care about the future of education has been transformative. Additionally, working with Vygo from its early startup phase to a scaling business has provided me with invaluable learning opportunities that are rare in larger, more established companies.”
Q: Can you describe your role at Vygo and what a typical day looks like for you?
“As the Head of Partner Engagement for the APAC region, my day involves a lot of emails and online meetings, given that we are a global remote-first business. I communicate with both existing and prospective university partners, helping them assess their student support landscape. My role focuses on understanding their goals for student experience, engagement, and retention, and how Vygo can help address inefficiencies and improve student experience.”
Q: Are there any key projects or initiatives that you are currently working on at Vygo?
“One key initiative is helping new universities adopt our solution to enhance student support operations. This involves preparing for scalability and improving data visibility within student support ecosystems while also meeting government legislation in this space. Another major project is supporting our existing partners in growing their support ecosystems on the platform, integrating more support services, and utilizing new product capabilities. Lastly, a significant highlight is our partnership with Bupa, where we’ve helped them to create a world-first standalone international student app, providing bespoke support services for international students in Australia.”
Q: What are the current trends in the EdTech area that excite you the most?
“A prominent trend is the focus on big data projects within universities. Institutions are not just talking about integrating their core systems but are actively kicking off these projects. This shift is key to unlocking a better student experience and follows a similar trajectory to other high-volume customer organizations. Vygo plays a crucial role in these projects by bringing coordination and visibility to student support services, enabling data-driven outcomes and improved student experiences.”
Q: How do you see the future of EdTech evolving, and what role do you envision Vygo playing in that future?
“I see a future where the focus on data and technology continues to grow, significantly enhancing the student experience. Vygo is positioned to be a leader in this space, providing tools that integrate student support services and improve visibility and coordination. As universities adopt more purpose-built technology, Vygo will be essential in helping institutions manage and optimize their student support ecosystems.”
Q: What advice would you give to students to make the most out of their university experience, and how would Vygo make it easier?
“I would advise students to be relentless in seeking the support they need. Whether it's a peer mentor, advisor, or buddy, ask for help and engage with the available support services in your institution’s network. Vygo enhances accessibility and visibility of these services, making it easier for students to find and utilize the support they need right when they need it.”
Q: If you had a magic wand and could change anything about the university system, what would it be and why?
“Universities are complex institutions, but one area ripe for change is reducing internal bureaucracy and red tape. More holistic cross-functional collaboration between digital teams and student experience leaders would drastically improve the speed and efficiency of implementing transformative student experience initiatives. If I had a magic wand, I would ensure these teams work closely together, with aligned goals and KPIs, to drive innovation and positive change.”
Lyndin Francis’s journey and experiences highlight the importance of passionate individuals and innovative solutions in the EdTech sector. Her insights into current trends and the future direction of EdTech underscore Vygo’s role in enhancing student support and improving educational outcomes. As Vygo continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to transforming the higher education landscape for the better.
Authored by;
Rasal Jayasinghe
Marketing Coordinator, Vygo.