Calm CEO David Ko & Timothy Knowles at Semafor World Economy
From Semafor World Economy Summit 2026 · 2026
Nicholas(Moderator, Semafor)•David Ko(Panelist, Calm)•Timothy Knowles(Panelist, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching)
Executive Summary
Calm has successfully transitioned from a consumer wellness app to a significant mental healthcare player, serving over 5,000 employers and 10 healthcare payers with clinically validated programs.
The current U.S.
education system is failing to engage students, leading to high levels of anxiety and dropout rates, which necessitates a fundamental reform towards more experiential and relationship-based learning.
Technology presents a dual role in youth wellness: while social media can negatively impact mental health, platforms like Calm offer accessible support, and AI is emerging as a primary learning tool.
There is a growing consensus among employers and communities on the need for 'durable skills' (e.g., communication, collaboration), prompting initiatives like the 'human skill genome' to formally define and integrate these skills into education.
10 quotes
Concerns Raised
The 'calcified architecture' of the U.S. education system is failing to engage students, leading to high dropout rates and anxiety.
The negative impact of social media on the mental health of young adults.
A shortage of traditional therapists makes scalable, supplementary solutions a necessity.
Benefit managers and employees are often overwhelmed by the quantity of wellness options, making quality and proven outcomes critical.
Opportunities Identified
Integrating clinically-validated digital mental health tools into corporate and payer systems to improve outcomes and reduce costs.
Reforming education to focus on competency-based, experiential learning to increase student engagement and well-being.
Leveraging AI as a powerful new tool for personalized learning and skills assessment.
Establishing a standardized framework for 'durable skills' to better prepare students for the future workforce.