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Darin Francis

Managing Partner & CEO Harbinger Lane Consulting

With 20 years of experience at the intersection of higher education and edtech, Darin Francis brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for driving meaningful change in the sector. Having led teams, crafted go-to-market (GTM) strategies, and worked closely with institutions, Darin is uniquely positioned to help edtech companies navigate the complexities of U.S. and Canadian higher education. Darin Francis, based in Detroit, MI, US, is currently a Managing Partner and CEO at Harbinger Lane Consulting.

Counseling Psychology 1990 - 1993
account-executives Account Executives
consultative Consultative Selling
image-1 Strategic Planning
product-manage Product Management
sales-promotion Sales Operations
image-15 Team Leadership

Recent Posts

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Articles Education Technology

Tale of Two Interns: What AI Is Really Doing to Entry-Level Work

Darin Francis - March 30, 2026

The narrative around early-career work has become increasingly pessimistic, with headlines pointing to a shrinking pool of entry-level roles, fewer internship opportunities, and AI accelerating both trends. But beneath that narrative, a different tension is emergingone thats less about the disappearance of opportunity and more about how its being reshaped.

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Articles Education Technology

Building the Next Generation of Educators Through Apprenticeship Pathways and Workforce-Aligned Training

Darin Francis - March 23, 2026

Teacher shortages arent exactly a new headlinebut lately, theyve started to feel a lot more urgent. In some places, schools have gone years without enough fully trained teachers in the classroom, exposing real flaws in how we prepare and retain educators.

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Education & EdTech

The Degree That Pays You Back: How Employer-Sponsored Apprenticeships Are Rewriting Higher Ed

Darin Francis - March 9, 2026

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Education & EdTech

Why Institution-Wide Employer Alignment Will Define the Next Era of Higher Ed

Darin Francis - March 2, 2026

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Education & EdTech

Workforce Alignment, and the New Blueprint for Career-Connected Learning Ecosystems

Darin Francis - February 23, 2026

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