U-M Alumni Spotlight: Ron Stefanski Amplifies Detroit Voices Through DisruptED

For Ron J. Stefanski, the path from Detroit to national influence has always been guided by one belief: talent is everywhere – but opportunity is not.

A first-generation graduate of the University of Michigan, Stefanski has built a career at the intersection of education, workforce innovation and storytelling – working to expand access and elevate voices often left out of traditional systems.

Today, he is the creator and host of DisruptED, a growing Detroit-based podcast and leadership platform recorded out of Newlab at Michigan Central. Through conversations with educators, technologists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders, DisruptED explores how learning and work are evolving in a rapidly changing, AI-driven world.

From Detroit Roots to National Impact
Stefanski’s journey reflects both the challenges and possibilities of growing up in Detroit. As a first-generation college student, his experience at the University of Michigan helped shape his trajectory and deepen his commitment to creating pathways for others.

“Michigan showed me what becomes possible when people are given access, support and belief in their potential,” Stefanski said. “That experience continues to shape the work I do today.”

Throughout his career, Stefanski has led and supported major initiatives across adult education, workforce development and educational technology. He helped build a national partnership with McDonald’s, public libraries and more than 200 organizations - enabling over 20,000 adults to earn their high school diplomas. That work earned recognition from Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative.

He also helped launch Michigan Virtual as its first chief business development officer. What began as an ambitious statewide effort has since grown into one of the nation’s largest virtual high school programs.

DisruptED: Storytelling as Infrastructure
Through DisruptED, Stefanski is building more than a podcast – he’s cultivating a community of more than 26,000 education and workforce leaders focused on the future of learning, work and human potential.

The platform spans podcast episodes, video content and digital engagement, all centered on authentic storytelling. In an era defined by rapid technology shifts, Stefanski’s work emphasizes clarity, connection and trust – amplifying the voices of those actively reshaping systems.

Delivered weekly to an audience of over 100,000 executives, DisruptED continues gaining momentum as a space where insight and action meet.

Why This Work Matters Now

Stefanski’s work comes at a critical moment. Education systems are evolving, industries are being reshaped by AI and emerging technologies, and career pathways are becoming increasingly nonlinear.

Through DisruptED, he highlights the leaders and ideas driving this transformation – individuals on the ground building talent pipelines, rethinking education models and creating more equitable access to opportunity.

His Detroit roots remain central to that vision. By recording from Newlab and engaging voices across sectors, Stefanski is helping position the city as a key player in conversations about the future of work and learning.

“Detroit has always been a city of builders, problem-solvers and reinvention,” Stefanski said. “I wanted DisruptED to create space for honest conversations about where education, technology and workforce development are headed — and who gets included in that future.”

Beyond the Platform
Outside of his work in education and media, Stefanski is also a writer. His forthcoming memoir, Patron Saint of the Old Eastside: A Detroit Love Story, reflects more than two decades of personal storytelling rooted in place, identity and purpose.

A lifelong Michigan fan, Stefanski continues to stay closely connected to the university that helped shape his journey - now contributing to broader conversations that connect Michigan, Detroit and the future of opportunity.

Next, Stefanski is teaming up with the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit on DisruptED: Michigan at the Center, a new podcast exploring the people and ideas shaping the future of education, technology and work. The conversation continues.