A Message from Coursera CEO Greg Hart

Hi everyone,

As part of our efforts to keep everyone informed and excited about the combination of Udemy and Coursera, I am happy to share this short video message from Coursera CEO Greg Hart.

Please watch the video here:

https://udemybusiness.wistia.com/medias/kst839gpgc

In this video, hear Greg’s thoughts directly relevant to the instructor community covering:

The broader industry context and why skills development matters more than ever
The role of expert-led instruction across the ecosystem
The importance of creator expertise as a foundation of learner impact
The principles guiding how we’re approaching the process

Greg also reiterates that integration planning is underway, and that both Udemy and Coursera continue to operate as separate companies unless and until the transaction closes.

As always, we’ll continue to communicate as appropriate throughout this process. We appreciate the thoughtful dialogue across the community.

Thank you for everything you do for learners.

— Zane

Below are important statements regarding the transaction and our communications regarding the transaction.

For additional important information about the combination, please read this link: udemy-combines-with-coursera/legends

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Comments

DanMill428

Thanks for sharing this Zane and for making it Greg.
It's certainly an exciting time! I look forward to seeing further updates.

ThomasMitchell

Not in love with the inability to share specifics, but I understand why. I will say that, for some reason, Greg's presentation DOES put me somewhat at ease. I can't put my finger on why, though.

Just gonna sit tight and see what develops.

LawrenceMMiller

It is certainly a positive that Greg is reaching out to us. I also like his emphasis on "practitioner led" learning. For many of us our strength is in our field experience, practicing what we teach rather than degrees or institutions. My bias.

ThomasMitchell

My hope is that our actual work experience plays a role somehow in the new world, because I’m comfortable holding up my experience in my field to just about anyone.

PhilEbiner

agreed that it’s a positive sign to see Greg thinking about us Udemy instructors. Understandable that details can’t be shared yet, but I appreciate the message. Thanks for sharing.

ardit

This message was very much needed. Greg’s video feels honest and reassuring, and it gives real optimism about the future for instructors. Thank you for sharing this with us.

FedeGaray

Now my main concern is what if Greg decides to become an instructor. He is great delivering content! All the video in one take!

Jokes aside, thank you for the effort of producing this message. I am sure it wasn’t easy and it has so much value for us instructor to be addressed by the Coursera leadership.

Excited for the future.

SivakamiS2017

Not many details, but its definitely great to see Greg reach out !

Gustavo

Happy to see this message from Greg. It certainly gives us a bit of peace of mind. Thank you!!

Kiran

VascoPatricio_ExecCoach

Thank you, Zane, for sharing! Greg's message is reassuring, and he's a great speaker.

Looking forward to the merger and curious to how the new entity will look. I'm imagining Udemy and Coursera as two different Le Mans categories within the same team. Different speeds, different tactics, different operating modes, but part of the same whole - and with the same goal: to win!

Boris035

Nice gesture!

BobF

What do we know about the new, combined company? Are they merging as equals or is one absorbing the other? What will the company name be?

Rahul Iyer

Thank you for the message, Greg and to @ZaneVella for sharing! 🙏

Mohamed scientist

Hi Greg,

Thank you for sharing this update and for speaking directly to the instructor community during this important time.

I appreciate the clarity around the broader industry context and the emphasis on skills development, which continues to be the core of what we as instructors strive to deliver to learners worldwide. Your recognition of expert-led instruction and creator expertise as the foundation of learner impact strongly resonates with many of us who are deeply committed to producing high-quality, practical courses.

It’s also reassuring to hear that integration planning is being approached thoughtfully and that both Udemy and Coursera will continue operating independently unless the transaction closes. Transparency like this helps maintain trust and stability across the instructor ecosystem.

As instructors, we care deeply about our learners, our content, and the platforms that enable us to reach millions of people. I’m hopeful that any future developments will continue to support instructor growth, course visibility, fair opportunities, and learner success.

Thank you again for keeping communication open and for valuing the voices of the instructor community. We look forward to continued updates and to contributing positively throughout this process.

Best regards,
Mohamed
Udemy Instructor

MuhammadDuj869

It's great message indeed and need of time but still we need clarity. The small algorithm change can ruin us

Ceci Mansilla

Thanks for sharing, @ZaneVella ! I was very worried about what would happen to us, so this was a much-needed message.

It feels like a confirmation that Coursera is actually interested in what we offer. While the uncertainty remains, this definitely puts my mind at ease—at least for this week, haha!

🙌 Thanks again for the update

KANDE

Thanks for sharing about what's going on, we hope it to being a great initiative for all of us, both instructors and learners

Nick_ExamsDigest

I can’t wait to see what the future holds. This video somehow raises more questions than it answers.

Chris_Haroun

@ZaneVella many thanks for this! I am SO excited about the longer-term implications of this message. I am all in. Thank you!

C_G

They just wont let anyone know anything. But you hear what he says, AI is the thing, two times. So that's all he says. So put yourself into such position, and you might survive.

Mike Pritula

Thanks for sharing — it’s great to hear directly from Greg, and the message is reassuring.

That said, it’s really disappointing that Udemy turned off course ads this year — for many of us, ads were a key driver of visibility and revenue.

I really hope the combined roadmap brings back a transparent, reliable promotion system for instructors.

gregwondra

To me this is standard CEO speak. Heard this 100 times before when watching just about any tech CEO talk.

To REALLY give a strong sign / signal / nod to the importance of the instructor community, putting $$$ where the mouth is is all that REALLY counts. For example, something like:

"We hear your concerns and frustrations, and to show we're serious about considering you all partners, we've decided to actually revert our continual % take initiative and INSTEAD say that for 2026, instructors are back to receiving a 25% cut."

THAT would have restored some faith in me. ACTIONS.

ValentinDespa

@ZaneVella Thank you for organizing this important update.

We understand that the regulatory burden is high and the effort is much appreciated.

Looking forward to more updates to help us plan our future.

LucaMoschini

It was good to see the CEO of Coursera take the time to address Udemy instructors directly. I appreciate the gesture and the acknowledgment of practitioner-led instruction and creator expertise.

At the same time, the message felt fairly general and understandably light on specifics. Given the complexity of the merger and regulatory process, that is to be expected. However, what ultimately matters to instructors are tangible outcomes.

From my perspective, what will build real confidence is not statements, but measurable improvements, such as stronger visibility, sustainable growth, and increased sales. So far, I have not personally seen that trajectory; in fact, performance trends have moved in the opposite direction over the past few years.

I understand that CEOs must prioritize shareholders and long-term strategy. As instructors, we are focused on learner impact, platform stability, and fair economics for the work we produce. I remain cautiously skeptical and will look to results, not statements, to form a long-term view.

I sincerely hope the combined direction ultimately strengthens the instructor ecosystem. Time will tell.

CarlosMartinez

Thanks, Zane, for sharing Greg’s message.
It’s reassuring to hear this perspective and it gives us peace of mind to keep focusing on what matters most — helping our students learn and grow.

peter_dalmaris

Thank you Greg and Zane, much appreciated.

Faisal

Thank you for sharing @ZaneVella

CristianVlad

Good to know. The marketplace may still survive although right now it seems to be going down constantly. Thanks!

MuhammadAsifAzeemi

Thank you for sharing your thoughts

Coach.Hector

Thanks @ZaneVella

Even without going into many details, the message conveys reassurance — and that is appreciated.

gregwondra

Sometimes I feel like the last honest one standing…..saying what most WANT to say (but most won't say out of fear).

GloryT

This is a massive milestone for the online learning industry! It’s incredibly encouraging to see such a strong focus on expert-led instruction and learner impact as these two powerhouses come together.

The transparency regarding the integration process is great for the instructor community. It definitely feels like an all boats rise moment for digital educators.

BryanLamb

This this this 100%