What is Experiential Learning?

A reflection from a decade of work trying to figure it out!

It’s a special kind of joy to pause, reflect, and capture your life’s work on the page.

That’s exactly what I had the opportunity to do once I got to open up my chapter in the newly released book, Practical Applications of Experiential and Community-Engaged Learning Methods in Business, compiled and edited by Mehtap Aldogan Eklund and Ken Graham, Ph.D. .

As the founder of CapSource, I’ve spent the last ten years immersed in the world of project-based education—designing, testing, and scaling models that connect students with real companies, real challenges, and real outcomes.

Chapter 4: What is Experiential Learning? was a chance to crystallize the lessons and guiding principles that have emerged from that work and serves as both a reflection and a practical blueprintfrom one of the most prolific industry-integrated experiential education outfits in our country, drawing upon a decade of experience structuring thousands of collaborative industry projects with institutions around the world.

The chapter offers a front-row seat to how CapSource was built—not just as a matchmaking platform, but as a learning architecture that brings education and industry into authentic, scalable partnerships.

Core Concepts:

• Experiential Learning as a Mindset: The chapter argues that experiential learning should not be an afterthought or elective—it must be embedded in the core academic experience as a way to truly prepare students for an evolving, ambiguous world of work.
• The Capstone as a Launchpad: While Capstone programs are often seen as the culmination of a student’s academic journey, I frame them instead as a springboard for career exploration and professional network development, especially when designed with intention.
• A Proven Engagement Model: I outlines a step-by-step framework that CapSource uses to guide institutions and employers in building transformational student-industry projects:

Notable Takeaways:

• Scale without Sacrifice: You don’t need massive budgets or multi-semester planning cycles to implement meaningful experiential learning. With thoughtful systems and coaching, any institution can scale its employer engagement strategy while keeping quality high.
• Real Employer Partnerships: Examples include thousands of CapSource projects ranging from Fortune 500 firms to fast-growing startups, demonstrating how access to industry is democratized through the right structure and facilitation.
• Transformational Impact: The chapter closes with a vision for the future—one where every student, regardless of major or background, can engage in hands-on learning that clarifies their career direction and strengthens their professional confidence.

What Makes This Book Worth Your Shelf

While I’m incredibly proud to share my story, the joy of being part of this collection was reading the work of so many others pushing the boundaries of experiential and community-engaged learning.

A few highlights worth your time:

• Chapter 2 explores the power of deep reflection as a core component of experiential pedagogy—something we’re always striving to build into CapSource project milestones.
• Chapter 6 offers a look at cross-cultural, cross-border virtual collaboration and its impact on global fluency.
• Chapters 12–14 present rich case studies on marketing, simulation, and peer-led learning environments that mirror what we see in today’s dynamic workplace.

These educators are all tackling the same essential question: How do we prepare students not just to earn a grade—but to thrive in an evolving, uncertain, AI-enhanced world?

The answer lies in real experiences, human connection, and thoughtful design.

What’s Next!? Let’s Build Together!

If you’re a faculty member, program director, or employer leader working to make education more career-connected, we’d love to collaborate. CapSource exists to make experiential learning easier to design, launch, and scale—whether you’re supporting MBAs, undergraduates, high school students, or apprentices.

We’ve built a platform that simplifies logistics

We offer a library of projects and case studies

We guide you through scoping, facilitation, and reporting

So students don’t just graduate with knowledge—they graduate with proof they can apply it.

Explore the book and download your copy here

Book time with me here if you’re ready to evolve how your institution or company approaches hands-on learning.

Thanks again to the editors for inviting me to contribute—and to the thousands of students, faculty, and employer partners who continue to make this work so energizing and meaningful.

Let’s keep building the future of learning—together.