We’re proud to share that Panopto CEO Stephen Laster has been named Best EdTech CEO in EdTech Chronicle’s 2025 Best in Education Awards, a recognition that highlights leaders driving real progress in education technology. 

“I’m honored by this recognition, but it really reflects the work of our team and the trust our customers place in us every day. Institutions push us to solve real problems for teaching and learning, and that’s what drives our work. At Panopto, we focus on building technology that removes friction–so educators and learners can stay focused on what matters most.” – Stephen Laster, CEO at Panopto.

EdTech Chronicle’s Best in Education Awards honor outstanding leaders, companies, and initiatives across the industry each year. The awards recognize the people and teams building products that expand access and improve learning at scale.  For Stephen, this recognition reflects a long-standing focus on building technology that fits how educators and learners already work—integrating into existing workflows, supporting different teaching styles, and improving access without adding complexity.

Leading with a learner-first philosophy

Stephen came to Panopto with decades of experience at the intersection of education and technology, including his time as CIO of Harvard Business School and leadership roles at D2L, McGraw-Hill Education, and Ellucian. What he brought with him wasn’t just a deep understanding of the industry, but a particular point of view about the changes needed in education today.

In a moment when AI and other emerging technologies are generating enormous excitement, and equally enormous uncertainty, Stephen has consistently advocated for a measured, principled approach, emphasizing that technology should reduce friction for educators and learners, expand access, and improve outcomes, while staying firmly in service of human expertise, not replacing it. 

That philosophy has shaped Panopto’s product direction under his leadership. The platform has evolved well beyond  lecture capture into a video knowledge platform that helps institutions capture, preserve, and share expertise at scale. Investments in accessibility, AI-powered search, and content discovery make that knowledge easier to find and use.

“I’m honored by this recognition, but it really reflects the work of our team and the trust our customers place in us every day.”

Stephen Laster, CEO at Panopto

Growing alongside institutions

Today, more than 1,600 institutions worldwide, and 22 of the world’s top 25 universities, trust Panopto to support teaching, learning, and knowledge sharing. The platform reaches more than 13 million learners every month.

That kind of growth doesn’t come by chasing trends. It comes by staying close to what educators and institutions actually need, and building the infrastructure that helps knowledge scale—from one classroom to many, and from one expert to thousands of learners.

A voice for thoughtful innovation

Beyond Panopto, Stephen has become a trusted voice in the broader education technology conversation. Through contributions to outlets like Forbes and Campus Technology, and through conference appearances at EDUCAUSE, he’s consistently brought clarity to complex questions around digital learning, institutional resilience, and the responsible use of AI.

Stephen often emphasizes that faculty and educators, not the technology itself, are the real drivers of impact in the AI era. This perspective continues to resonate with administrators, instructors, and learning professionals navigating how to adopt new technologies while preserving the integrity of the learning experience.

We’re grateful for the recognition from EdTech Chronicle and for the institutions and learners who trust Panopto to support their work every day.

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