Coding Conversations with The STEM Educational Institute (SEI)
Hosted by Nikisha Alcindor



The STEM Educational Institute, Inc. (SEI) exists to close opportunity gaps and end generational poverty by bringing STEM education, financial literacy, and mental health resources to underserved youth and the communities that support them.


That mission comes to life on Coding Conversations, a live podcast hosted by SEI President & Founder Nikisha Alcindor. Each episode features candid, real-world conversations with standout leaders, builders, and changemakers—breaking down the ideas, experiences, and lessons that can help young people (and the adults in their corner) thrive.


If you’re looking for inspiring guests, honest dialogue, and practical insight at the intersection of education, opportunity, and impact, hit play and join the conversation.



Season 2: Episode 3 - Pierre Hintze,
Studio Head, Halo Studios



Gaming As A Career Path with Studio Head of Halo Studios, Pierre Hintze.



In this episode, we sit down with Pierre Hintze, Studio Head of Halo Studios, to unpack what stewardship really looks like when your audience is passionate, vocal, and paying attention to every decision. Halo has been around long enough to become more than a game series it is a shared memory for millions of players. That raises a hard question: if you inherit a legendary franchise, what do you owe the past, and what do you owe the next generation?


Season 2: Episode 2 - Lauren C. Anderson



Careers in global security and her secrets to success.



In this episode, we sit down with Lauren C. Anderson, L.H.D.—a trailblazing national and global security expert and former senior FBI executive with nearly 30 years on the front lines of counterterrorism and international threat response. From being among the first women on an FBI SWAT team to becoming the first woman to lead the FBI Legal Attaché office in Paris, Lauren’s career is a masterclass in leadership under pressure. She shares what it takes to navigate high-stakes decision-making, how global risk has evolved, and why building resilient systems—and resilient people—matters more than ever. If you want a conversation that’s bold, timely, and packed with real-world insight—this one’s for you. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode (and share it with someone who loves smart discussions on security, leadership, and impact).





Season 2: Episode 1 - Malik Caldwell



Healing Minds & Futures: Malik Caldwell on Mindfulness, STEM & Community Power.



In this episode, we feature Malik Caldwell from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, whose groundbreaking work blends Tai Chi, martial arts, and mindfulness into healing and therapeutic care for pediatric patients. His story, his impact, and his mission are nothing short of inspiring.

This conversation is about more than healthcare — it’s about resilience, access, innovation, and community empowerment.



Season 1: Episode 1 - Be Dismond Sweet



Mental Health & the Future of Wellness



Be Dismond Sweet is the former Director of Programs and Partnership Engagement for the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. She has a dynamic professional history of hospitality service and event production. She has worked with three U.S. presidents, numerous dignitaries, politicians, athletes and celebrities, gleaning valuable experience in building mutually beneficial solutions, leadership and direction as well as creative thinking. Together, Nikisha and Be discuss mental health stigmas and issues within the Black community and how organizations like SEI and the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation are fighting to do away with them. They also delve into the need for representation within the field of psychology, the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation's Resource Guide for those seeking out Black therapists, and how mental health & wellness affect Black youth in this day and age. Be gives advice on wellness practices that may be helpful during hard times, and a dialogue is opened on what we can do to improve access to mental health care and resources in these communities.



The STEM Educational Institute is a tax-exempt nonprofit, 501(c)(3)

EIN 86-3013331

909 Third Avenue, Suite 364, New York, NY 10150