Stanford Pathfinders with Howard Wolf

Investor, founder, entrepreneur, and visionary Alan Chiu, MS '11, demystifies the emerging worlds of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Web3. He discusses his two companies, Boba Network and Enya, and what his more than 20 years of experience building and investing in enterprise start-ups has taught him about the future of the web.

Raven Jiang, '15, MBA '21, explains his full-service finance platform for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) start-ups, Arc. Born during the COVID-19 lockdown, Arc is the brainchild of Jiang and two MBA classmates. Their mission is to make the barrier of startup funding a non-issue for SaaS founders.

Trina Wiggins, MD, '82, discusses her mission to help people take the short, simple steps that can move them toward a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Wiggins is a Renaissance woman of health and wellness. She is a pediatrician, CEO and founder of a fitness and nutrition program for children, author, professional speaker, wellness coach, and a Miss Fitness competitor and winner many times over.

Peter Tseng, '14, discusses Open, the company he co-founded to broaden our understanding and practice of mindfulness. By incorporating, music, movement and community into a space that still feels isolating and opaque to many, Tseng aims to create an accessible future of well-being programs and practices.

Dr. Casey Means, '09, MD '14, discusses her metabolic health company, Levels, and her mission to reverse the epidemic of preventable chronic disease. She explains how tech-enabled tools can empower individuals to create sustainable, smart, and custom lifestyle plans. 

Highly accomplished Renaissance woman Shiza Shahid, '11, discusses co-founding Malala Fund, creating and funding mission-driven start-ups, her childhood in Pakistan, and everything that's led to a life of world-changing work. In addition to being the mind behind enterprises such as NOW Ventures and Our Place, Shahid has appeared on 30 Under 30 lists in both Time and Forbes.

Co-founder and CEO Peter Colis, MBA '16, discusses the purpose of his company, Ethos Life. Believing that applying for life insurance should be a straightforward and accessible process, Colis and his partner have designed a system that allows families to acquire simple, ethical coverage.

Renowned business expert, author, and speaker John Davis, '82, delves into his new book, Radical Business: How to Transform Your Organization in the Age of Global Crisis. Having spent half his professional life in the business world and half in academia, John is uniquely positioned to answer this question: How can businesses worldwide become a consistent force for good?

With cheeky irreverence and “funny-but-in-a-hot-way” commentary, Lianna Holston, '18, and Siena Jeakle, '19, take on the American Film Institute's “100 Greatest American Movies of All Time” in their award-winning podcast, Tossed Popcorn. Lianna and Siena discuss why two people who have neither seen nor enjoyed all that many films are the perfect critics to “get the classics off their pedestal.”  

Tinx, '13, has racked up an astounding 1.5 million followers on TikTok. Her success comes from a unique combination of life hacks, tips, humor and carefully curated product recommendations. Tinx discusses what drives her passion for influencing and how she can continue to help people, one tiktok at a time.

The first true digital natives, Gen Z is poised to enter adulthood and the workforce during a period of time unlike any other. So, what can this highly unique and diverse group teach us about work, communication and life in general? Lawyer, cultural anthropologist and author Roberta Katz, '69, shares her insights and discusses her latest book, Gen Z, Explained: The Art of Living in a Digital Age.

Scott Reiss, '93, MA '94, discusses his new best-selling book, Where They Were Then: Sportscasters. A highly accomplished sports anchor in his own right (not to mention the voice of Stanford Cardinal football and men's basketball), Reiss shares the origin stories of 15 renowned sportscasters as well as commentary on and insight into the profession itself.

​​Dan Grunfeld, '06, MBA '17, shares the awe-inspiring story behind his new book By the Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream. From the unique, beautiful reason behind his decision to attend Stanford to his family's story of survival and hope, Grunfeld's journey is unlike any other.

Pioneering online-news journalist, noted educator and award-winning political reporter Rich Jaroslovsky, '75, discusses where journalism is headed and how digital news is shaping that future. Jaroslovsky explores the issue of trust in regards to this new era of journalism as well as trends and industry growth.

Award-winning, longtime sports writer Ivan Maisel discusses the unfathomable tragedy that led to the writing of his best seller, I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye: A Memoir of Loss, Grief, and Love. This deeply personal work reflects on the suicide of Maisel's son and tells the story of their complicated relationship and the complex journey that led Maisel to see grief as love. 

Popular Stanford computer science professor and alum Mehran Sahami discusses his new book System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot (authored with fellow Stanford professors Rob Reich, MA '98, PhD '98, and Jeremy Weinstein). In an age of technological despondency and hyperfixation on optimization, Sahami presents an outline for a course correction that would allow big tech to support and uplift—not hinder—our democracy and fundamental values.

Chairman and founder of Pixlee, Kyle Wong, explains his passion for helping brands enable user-generated content to tell their stories. A brand's message doesn't have to come directly from the brand and, often, happy customers make the best marketers. Pixlee provides the technology that allows organizations to leverage these customer stories for compelling marketing.

BlackRock Senior Managing Director Rich Kushel discusses what it takes to make environmental sustainability and climate change central to investment strategy. Sustainable investing is a core focus of BlackRock's multibillion-dollar portfolio management and investment solutions.

A 10-year veteran of management consulting, Brooke Weddle of McKinsey & Company discusses how to create a winning post-pandemic business. With collaboration and knowledge sharing, leaders in all industries can help us move from surviving to thriving.

Venture investor, author and beloved Stanford Business School Lecturer Rob Siegel discusses his new book The Brains and Brawn Company: How Leading Organizations Blend the Best of Digital and Physical. In a world full of ho-hum business advice, Rob is leading the way in research and effective management strategy in the tech industry and beyond.

Dr. Goh discusses preparing for public health emergencies and what it takes to care for all aspects of a local community's health and well-being. Ying-Ying Goh, MD, MSHS, '94, MD '02, serves as the director of public health and chief health officer for the Pasadena Public Health Department.

Launched this past September, Teamraderie has taken the workplace by storm—offering research-backed solutions to the ills of the recent workplace shift (e.g., reduced exposure to both new ideas and integrated views). Stanford alum and co-founder Michael McCarroll and Bob Sutton, Stanford management science professor, best-selling author, and advisor to the company, discuss developing trust and innovation through virtual team building.

Peri Z. Hansen discusses how her passion for organizational design and theory led her from a career in law to 20+ years of helping companies thrive through Executive Search (Talent Acquisition) and other strategic consulting services. At global consulting firm Korn Ferry, Peri and her colleagues focus on five core areas to guide a wide range of organizations to success: Organization Strategy; Assessment & Succession; Talent Acquisition; Leadership & Professional Development; and Total Rewards.

Nathan Kondamuri and Sophia Edelstein discuss PAIR Eyewear, the company born their senior year at Stanford that continues to thrive today. Created with the idea that eyewear for kids can be fun and unique to the wearer, PAIR Eyewear makes glasses that are a celebration instead of something to hide.

Summer Moore Batte discusses her research and personal experiences with anxiety—both as someone who has lived with the condition as well as the parent of a child with an anxiety disorder diagnosis. Her new book, Name and Tame Your Anxiety: A Kid’s Book, serves as both a playbook for children as well as a guide for the people who love and care for them. A longtime writer and editor, Summer culled nearly a decade of research into a work that is accessible and hailed by critics for its warmth and clarity.

Nate and Kaley Klemp, both Stanford alums, discuss a path toward greater connection and intimacy in the modern relationship. Best-selling authors and relationship coaches, they created the “80/80” model: a play on the 50/50 “fairness” ratio that plagues many couples. When both people give 80%, balancing career, family and love becomes a more satisfying journey.

Longtime sports executive and former agent Brodie Van Wagenen discusses the intersection of sports and entertainment and how it relates to his role as COO of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports. He explains what it takes to elevate the careers of athletes on a global scale, from conceptualization to endorsement deals.

Astonishingly talented entrepreneur, multi-Emmy-winning journalist and news anchor Carlos Watson discusses his international media and entertainment company, OZY, as well as “meeting the world” every day growing up in Miami. OZY’s mission is to help curious people see and engage with the world more broadly and more boldly. And Watson’s mission for OZY is to “think big, but be humble.”

President and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology Tristan Harris is a tech activist focused on developing a new framework for 21st-century technology. He discusses how we can reimagine a digital infrastructure that focuses on ethics and realigning social media to reverse its negative impacts on humanity.

Film director Jeff Orlowski discusses a possible road map for implementing positive change on and in social media. Describing himself as a technical optimist, film director Jeff Orlowski wants all to scroll less and engage more.

Calley Means, forward-thinking entrepreneur and alum of both Stanford University and Harvard Business School, discusses his journey from traditional post-MBA career to launching Anomalie, a made-to-order bridal brand. He and his wife Leslie were inspired to start the company after her own somewhat frustrating search for a bridal gown. And, in brainstorming business ideas, Calley and Leslie may have just picked up a thing or two from an unlikely influence—comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

Neurodiversity champion, advocate and innovator Ronan McGovern discusses the NDGiFTS movement and the untapped potential of the cognitively diverse in the business world. According to McGovern, all organizations, everywhere, can benefit from the perspectives and unique ways of thinking that come with a neurodiverse-inclusive team.

Entrepreneur and immigration disruptor Xiao Wang discusses how “learning too much” about our immigration system prompted him to found Boundless: a company that empowers families to navigate the system with confidence and without breaking the bank.

Director of the Prevention and Public Health Group at UCSF George Rutherford provides a glimpse into the university’s response to COVID-19. Doctors are studying all aspects of the infectious disease, including how to contain it, the ins and outs of testing, what contact tracing can do, and how to safely reopen schools.

Stockton, California’s first African-American and youngest mayor, Michael Tubbs discusses the entrepreneurial spirit and innovative mindset he brought from Stanford to his career in local government. Through bold policy and roll-up-your-sleeves hard work, Tubbs has been instrumental in moving Stockton from “a place where people look for problems to a place that people look at for solutions.”

“My life story has been about bringing people together,” states Adrian Miller, a man whose passions and accomplishments are hard to quantify—historian, lawyer, American culinary expert, public policy advisor and certified barbecue judge, just to name a few. In this episode, Miller discusses the intersection of faith, food, history, and politics and the path to truly loving one another.

For over 25 years, Dereca Blackmon has taught corporate, educational, and nonprofit communities how to have “uncommon conversations” on issues of race, gender, class and social justice. In this conversation, she explains how to cut through “diversity fatigue” and discusses how uncommon conversations can create change.

Cardiologist Tara Narula, senior medical correspondent for CBS News, discusses the unique challenges of covering the COVID-19 pandemic and how journalists are working together to provide thorough, accurate, and up-to-date information.

Stanford alumnus and associate professor of psychology at Stanford, Greg Walton, discusses the field of social psychology, the mechanics of learning, and how we can still be “together” even when we can’t be.

Kevin Warsh discusses similarities and differences between the current COVID-19-related economic volatility and past economic crises. He offers his perspective on the types of recovery the United States could expect (“W”—not a “U” or a “V”) and why, even in the best of times, there is so much less economic certainty than we believe.

Clinical professor, psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Sallie De Golia discusses common mood disorders and their symptoms. With particular expertise in time-limited dynamic psychotherapy, Dr. De Golia is a specialist in treating mood disorders. This timely conversation includes an exploration of the symptoms of COVID-19-related depression.

Stanford Professor and Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Bonnie Maldonado discusses the critical issues arising during this global pandemic, including preserving the safety of medical workers while identifying and treating the sick.

Nicole Quinn of Lightspeed Venture Partners discusses the growth of women in venture capital, why it’s vital to listen to core customers, and the importance of being open to new ideas. In a career that has taken her from startups to wealth management to branding and beyond, Nicole has seen firsthand how “hard work, determination, and grit set apart the good from the great.”

Prolific writer, accomplished educator, and innovative coach, Matt Abrahams is on a mission to help people shed their fears and shine in the spotlight. He discusses the power (and possibility!) of communicating without freaking out.

Amy Brooks, NBA Chief Innovation Officer and Stanford MBA, talks about the future of the National Basketball Association leagues. With 1.6 billion followers globally, Brooks is responsible for growing all aspects of the NBA. Brooks also holds the highest ranking position of any woman at the organization.

Greg Flynn, founder and CEO of Flynn Restaurant Group and Flynn Properties, discusses how he started with a handful of franchises and went on to transform an entire industry.

Jill Gwaltney, founder of Rauxa, one of the fastest women-owned digital marketing agencies in advertising, explains the philosophy of doing what’s right for the client and not giving up until you have exceeded customer expectations.

Brian Spaly, co-founder of New York-based men’s apparel company Bonobos, discusses how his Stanford MBA led him on a path to disrupt the men’s online fashion industry.

Susan Rice, former UN Ambassador and diplomat, discusses her formative years at Stanford and Oxford, her current views on Washington politics and her new memoir, Tough Love.

Julia Landauer, professional NASCAR driver and advocate for female empowerment in professional motorsports, discusses how she’s building her brand at the intersection of technology, community and racing.

Gale Hurd, the creative writing power behind the blockbuster film series Aliens and the TV hitThe Walking Dead, shares stories about how her career started in Hollywood and offers advice for those seeking careers in writing or producing films.