Skip to main content

Lisa Cohen

Overview​

Lisa Cohen appears to be a mentor figure to Gary and has a long-standing relationship with him. She's a legal professional with a thoughtful approach to education and technology. The conversation on May 18, 2025, reveals she's skeptical but open-minded about AI applications in education and has strong opinions about what constitutes successful learning environments. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband Win Thin, and her son Gabe is a junior at Columbia University.

Background & Professional Details​

  • Legal professional, appears to work in a field where AI adoption has been limited
  • Believes in "bespoke cases" that don't currently fit well with AI tools
  • Has connections to another lawyer named Yinka, whom Gary also knows
  • Appears to have significant experience in education conversations
  • Mentioned having paid for private schooling for her children
  • Has planned a dinner with Yinka in June 2025

Professional Focus​

  • Legal work that requires personalized attention rather than AI automation
  • Interest in education systems and their effectiveness
  • Concern for measuring success beyond traditional metrics
  • Focus on happiness and human flourishing as important outcomes
  • Skeptical but pragmatic about technological innovation

Connection to Gary​

  • Mentor-mentee relationship
  • Comfortable challenging Gary's ideas and offering alternative perspectives
  • Provides space for deep conversations about education and professional direction
  • Appears to have known Gary for a significant period
  • Openness to Gary's innovative thinking while maintaining healthy skepticism

Personal Insights​

  • Has a son (Gabe) at Columbia University and a daughter named Anna who teaches special needs students in San Diego
  • Married to Win Thin
  • Values student-to-student learning as much as teacher-to-student instruction
  • Shows interest in Buddhist perspectives on happiness and success
  • Concerned about education that pushes students too hard without joy
  • Believes in the importance of arts education

Potential Collaboration Areas​

  • Educational innovation discussions
  • Perspectives on legal implications of new education models
  • Connections to special education through her daughter Anna
  • Philosophical discussions about purpose in education
  • Experienced perspective on traditional education models

Key Quotes​

"But I mean, I mean, as of yesterday, she's working for Amazon."

"You know, the other thing that I have come to believe is that students excite each other... It's not so much the mentors. It's the students around you."

"And in the Buddhist tradition, it's really happiness that's the sign of success more than financial success or anything else. It's are you happy?"

"There are so many artists in the world who are fantastic artists who are not recognized until 50 years after they pass."

"I'm also a firm believer that there are a lot of smart people who, if they got into the school, would be just fine."

Interactions​

  • 2025-05-18: In-person conversation with Gary, Win, Gabe, and Chloe about AI in education, school models, and measuring educational success.

Next Steps​

  • Follow up on the conversation about Gary's AI-first education model
  • Connect regarding her daughter Anna's work with special needs students
  • Share updates about the development of the Pasadena/Altadena school project
  • Check in about her upcoming dinner with Yinka
  • Continue philosophical discussions about education and human flourishing

Transcripts​

Transcript IDDateSummary

| 2025-05-18-cohen-thin-family-conversation-summary | 2025-05-18 | Conversation with Cohen-Thin Family about AI and Education - May 18, 2025 |