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AI Leadership vs. Hype: XPRIZE CEO Anousheh Ansari on Building What Matters

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Planet Classroom and VoiceAmerica Launch AI for a Better World Podcast, Challenging Founders and Investors to Prioritize Global Impact Over Short-Term AI Hype

NEW YORK, June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As artificial intelligence reshapes global markets—from wildfire response to climate innovation—a defining question faces the next generation of entrepreneurs: Will AI be used to chase valuations, or to solve humanity’s most urgent challenges?

The Planet Classroom Network, in partnership with VoiceAmerica, today announces the podcast premiere of “Anousheh Ansari: Building What Matters in the Age of AI.” In this high-stakes dialogue, Planet Classroom Co-Founder and CEO C. M. (Cathy) Rubin sits down with Anousheh Ansari, CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation and the first female private space explorer, to examine what separates responsible AI leadership from hype-driven innovation.

The End Goal Is Impact, Not Just Profit

“AI is just the means to get to that ultimate goal,” Ansari explains. “The end goal is not just profit, it’s impact.”

From AI-powered wildfire detection to $100 million carbon removal breakthroughs, Ansari outlines a blueprint for responsible AI leadership. She emphasizes that technological innovation fails without contextual grounding—testing solutions in real-world environments, from the Amazon rainforest to Sub-Saharan Africa.

What Separates AI Leaders from Hype-Driven Startups?

Rubin presses Ansari on how founders can navigate the pressures of rapid AI acceleration while maintaining ethical clarity.

Key insights include:

The Contextual Gap: AI startups often fail when solutions are built in isolation from real-world conditionsThe Two-Sided Value Model: Successful ventures solve both environmental and economic challenges simultaneouslyThe Legacy Test: Long-term impact—not short-term growth—defines enduring companies

A Defining Test for the AI Economy

“Technology is a tool—but humanity gives it purpose,” says C. M. (Cathy) Rubin.
“For entrepreneurs and policymakers shaping the AI economy, success cannot be measured by speed alone. It must be measured by the legacy of global impact we leave behind.”

Key Questions for the Innovation Community

Is your AI solution designed for a lab—or for the real world?Are you building for a headline—or for a generation?How does your business model balance growth with long-term planetary responsibility?

🎧 Listen Now and Rethink What AI Leadership Means

“Anousheh Ansari: Building What Matters in the Age of AI”
Available June 15, 2026, on VoiceAmerica and the Planet Classroom Network

About Anousheh Ansari

Anousheh Ansari is CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation, engineer, entrepreneur, and spaceflight participant. In 2006, she became the first female private space explorer and the first astronaut of Iranian descent. She co-founded Telecom Technologies, Inc., and Prodea Systems, and leads global competitions addressing climate, energy, and health.

About C. M. (Cathy) Rubin

C. M. (Cathy) Rubin is Co-Founder and CEO of Planet Classroom and a featured writer for Forbes. A multimedia journalist who has authored more than 800 articles on AI and innovation, she consults globally on ethical AI and education transformation.

About Planet Classroom

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SOURCE Planet Classroom Network

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The Discovery Point Difference: Choosing Center-Based VPK vs. Public School Programs

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TAMPA, Fla., June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Parents of preschoolers now have many options in early childhood education. These may include half or full day private programs like church preschool or in childcare centers. When a child turns four, there are additional options including state funded PreK or a Voluntary Preschool Program (VPK) paid for with school vouchers.

State-funded programs are traditionally housed in childcare centers, but there are an increasing number of classrooms being offered at local public schools. How do parents know which option is best for their child?

At Discovery Point, children are not simply preparing for kindergarten; they are building a strong foundation in an environment intentionally designed just for them.

What Is Florida VPK?

Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program provides free educational opportunities for eligible four-year-olds before they enter kindergarten. The goal of VPK is to help children develop the academic, social, emotional, and physical skills needed for future school success. Families can use their Florida VPK voucher at approved childcare centers, private preschools, and certain public-school programs.

As parents compare their options, it’s important to look beyond cost and convenience to evaluate the quality of the learning environment, teacher qualifications, safety procedures, and overall educational experience.

Why Families Choose Discovery Point Centers for VPK

Discovery Point’s Proprietary curriculum and in-center design is created for preschool aged children:

Caring, nurturing teachers specifically trained in Early Childhood Education.A secure campus designed for young children, with controlled access, structured supervision, and safety procedures focused exclusively on the needs of preschoolers.A social-emotional environment where children can learn, grow, and build friendships alongside peers their own age, without exposure to the influences, behaviors, and challenges that naturally come with sharing a campus with children as old as 12 years old.Classrooms filled with developmentally appropriate materials, toys, and learning experiences designed specifically for four- and five-year-olds.Child-sized restrooms, sinks, furniture, and learning environments that promote confidence, independence, and success.Age-appropriate playgrounds designed to meet preschool developmental needs and ASTM safety standards.Regular oversight through inspections by the Florida Department of Children and Families, along with Discovery Point’s own Quality Assurance Team, ensuring high standards for health, safety, and educational excellence.A warm, family-focused environment where children are known, valued, and encouraged to grow socially, emotionally, physically, and academically.Enrichment opportunities and experiences that go beyond what many traditional school settings can offer, helping children develop confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.A proven curriculum that prepares children for kindergarten success through hands-on learning experiences that build early literacy, math, science, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Elementary schools simply aren’t designed for little minds and little bodies.

Research continues to show that high-quality early childhood education can have lasting benefits for academic achievement and social-emotional development. For this reason, Discovery Point encourages families to carefully evaluate all preschool options and visit potential programs before making a decision.

For Florida VPK options with Discovery Point, visit https://www.discoverypoint.com/centers/ to find a location near you and schedule a tour. Discovery Point has been a leader in childcare and early education since 1988. 

Media Contact:
Briyanna Purifoye
bpurifoye@discoverypoint.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-discovery-point-difference-choosing-center-based-vpk-vs-public-school-programs-302800561.html

SOURCE Discovery Point Franchising, Inc

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Whimstay Launches Same-Day Booking, Bringing Hotel-Style Spontaneity to Vacation Rentals

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Travelers can now book select vacation rentals up to four hours before check-in, closing a gap that kept the category out of reach for last-minute bookers

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Whimstay, the vacation rental platform built for last-minute travel, today announced that it now accepts same-day bookings on select properties. For participating homes, travelers can reserve a stay up to four hours before check-in, a capability long associated with hotels but rarely available in vacation rentals.

For years, the vacation rental industry stayed out of reach for same-day bookers. Long lead times, manual host approvals, and the operational complexity of turning over a home on short notice meant travelers who needed a place tonight defaulted to hotels. Whimstay’s same-day booking changes that for participating properties, giving spontaneous travelers, last-minute planners, and anyone whose plans shifted at the eleventh hour access to full homes instead of a single room.

The launch builds on Whimstay’s focus on last-minute inventory and competitive pricing. When a host opts a property into same-day booking, they are often motivated to fill an open calendar, which means travelers find space and value where they previously found neither.

Making four-hour bookings possible meant solving the trust problem that comes with speed. Whimstay built sophisticated fraud prevention into the same-day flow, screening transactions in real time so that faster bookings do not mean riskier ones for hosts or travelers.

“Same-day booking has been the standard in hotels for decades, and there was no good reason vacation rentals couldn’t offer the same thing,” said Ben Jamshahi, CEO at Whimstay. “We built the infrastructure to make it fast, safe, and reliable. Now a traveler can decide at noon and check into a full home by evening.”

Same-day booking is available now on participating Whimstay properties. To find a last-minute stay, visit whimstay.com.

About Whimstay
Whimstay is a vacation rental platform specializing in last-minute bookings and competitive pricing, connecting travelers with available homes when they need them most.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/whimstay-launches-same-day-booking-bringing-hotel-style-spontaneity-to-vacation-rentals-302800563.html

SOURCE Whimstay

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Kelley Drye Relocates San Diego Office to Del Mar

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New Location Supports Client Engagement and the Firm’s Continued Growth in California

SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kelley Drye & Warren LLP has relocated its San Diego office from La Jolla to a new Del Mar location at 12481 High Bluff Drive, reinforcing the firm’s continued investment in California and enhancing its ability to serve clients across the state.

The new 5,000‑square‑foot office is designed as a flexible hub for client engagement and collaboration. It features a state‑of‑the‑art conference center to support client meetings and industry programming, along with shared amenities that encourage informal connection among teams and clients. Centrally located within San Diego’s business and legal community, the Del Mar office provides room for continued growth while strengthening the firm’s local presence.

“California is a critical market for our clients,” said Kelley Drye Managing Partner Dana Rosenfeld. “Our new office allows us to collaborate more closely with clients while supporting the integrated, statewide platform we are building across California.”

The San Diego relocation builds on Kelley Drye’s recent expansion in California, including the opening of its San Francisco office and the addition of privacy partner Kate Black in San Francisco and litigation partner Tom Rybarczyk in Los Angeles. Together, these investments strengthen the firm’s ability to serve clients seamlessly throughout the state.

Lawyers in Kelley Drye’s San Diego office advise clients nationwide on environmental, international trade, and litigation matters. The office is led by partners Rebecca Durrant, Andrew Homer, and Kristine Pirnia, who will continue to build the firm’s presence and deepen client relationships in the region.

“This move gives us a stronger platform for client meetings, industry programs, and engagement with the San Diego business community,” said partner Andrew Homer. “As the firm continues to grow in California, we remain focused on attracting top talent and delivering the high level of service and collaboration our clients expect.”

The San Diego office move follows Kelley Drye’s recent relocations in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and Connecticut. Together, these milestones underscore the firm’s long‑term commitment to its people, clients, and communities, and its focus on providing exceptional legal counsel in fast‑evolving markets.

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is a powerhouse law firm with more than 190 years of practice. With over 300 attorneys and professionals across nine offices, it offers tenacious courtroom advocacy, strategic problem‑solving, and savvy deal‑making across litigation, regulatory, trade, real estate, bankruptcy, and corporate matters. Kelley Drye represents a diverse client base, serving Fortune 500 companies, emerging businesses, and government entities across technology, finance, healthcare, defense, real estate, and manufacturing. Kelley Drye is committed to delivering practical advice, creative solutions, and exceptional value through enduring client relationships. For more information, visit www.kelleydrye.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kelley-drye-relocates-san-diego-office-to-del-mar-302800434.html

SOURCE Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

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