Born in New Jersey and raised in Mexico and Philadelphia, Ben is a senior at Brown University studying International and Public Affairs and Entrepreneurship. He also serves as a mentor and business advisor to graduate student founders in Harvard Business School's Field X and Field Y courses. Ben has experience building companies, including his own, in industries such as technology, social media, entertainment, and education. He has performed internal risk management consulting for Goldman Sachs in New York City and marketing consulting for Soulsight.

Ben is a passionate musician and has experience as a professional singer. Ben is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s Summer Venture in Management Program, was a Latitude Fellow at D.E. Shaw & Co., an MLT Career Prep Fellow, a 2021 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar, and a Bridging the Gap Power Awardee. He also studied at the University of Edinburgh while pursuing his undergraduate degree. In his free time, Ben enjoys traveling, playing tennis, scuba diving, and cooking.

Andrew Steen is the Founder of Laptis, a tech-enabled platform that streamlines access to effective substance use treatment. Andrew started Laptis as an extension of his deep desire for public service and social impact after he left the military.

Andrew is also a rising fourth-year JD/MBA student at Harvard University and a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he got his B.A. in Mathematics. Prior to Harvard and Laptis, Andrew was an Army Ranger.

Machmud Makhmudov is a JD/MBA candidate at Stanford, Knight-Hennessy Scholar, political organizer, writer, and higher-ed admissions coach. Born in Uzbekistan, he grew up near Atlanta and played baseball at Oberlin College, where he studied Politics and earned both a Truman and Rhodes Scholarship.

After reading for an MPhil in Political Theory at Oxford, Machmud worked in speechwriting and on a number of political campaigns, including the Biden 2020 campaign. He also worked at the White House on the COVID Response Team and has recently spent time in corporate law firms as well. Machmud is a proud immigrant who hopes to continue to pursue public service in a variety of capacities throughout his life.

Hayley Batson (she/her) is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She received a BFA in Theatre, studying at The Atlantic Acting School, Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and Stonestreet Studios as well as minoring in Producing.

Hayley is continually pursuing opportunities in the entertainment industry and loves collaborating with other artists whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes.

You can get in touch with her at hwbatson@gmail.com

Instagram: instagram.com/hayleybatson

Subham grew in a small village called Bidhan Nagar in northeastern India – a region graced by the proximity of four nations: Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and Nepal. This exposure to a myriad of traditions kindled in him an aspiration that transcended the conventional. He received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur – the oldest IIT, inaugurated in 1951 by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s inaugural Prime Minister.

Subham advanced his educational pursuits with a master’s in Operations Research from Columbia University. He started his professional career at McKinsey & Company, specializing in strategic operations, digital transformations, and advanced analytics. He transitioned to join ConnectWise, a Thoma Bravo portfolio company, where he assumed the role of Strategic Initiatives Manager on the Growth Strategy team. In parallel, Subham co-founded Alokya, a venture that marries functional art with social purpose, partnering with rural South Asian artisans to meticulously craft premium products from sustainable materials.

Currently, Subham is pursuing an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania – a strategic step towards realizing his vision as a social entrepreneur and leader. His passion for Alokya is more than a business venture; it's a mission to elevate India’s traditional folk art on a global stage and to weave a fabric of opportunity for millions of underprivileged artisans. His story is one of ambition, bridging worlds, and a relentless pursuit of impact, guided by the rich heritage of his homeland and a visionary outlook for the future.

Meet Parizoda Asatilloyeva, a first-year international student majoring in Political Science at Columbia University.

“Hailing from a small city in Uzbekistan, my transition to the bustling metropolis of New York has been nothing short of transformative. The rich combination of academic and cultural experiences here has broadened my perspectives in ways I never anticipated. At Columbia, I've had the privilege of connecting with individuals from every corner of the globe. This diversity not only heightened my awareness of personal biases but also fueled a newfound appreciation for my own cultural identity, a unique representation on this cosmopolitan campus.

What sets Columbia apart for me is not just its esteemed academic environment but also its unparalleled location. Every glance out of the window reveals towering buildings that seem to house our future selves. This dual essence of education as both an academic and professional journey inspires me daily, creating a unique blend of motivation and opportunity that defines my experience at Columbia University.”

Tune in to listen to Parizoda talk about her unique academic and personal journey exclusively from the dorms of Columbia University!

Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, John chose to open doors in his career rather than follow his family’s path of becoming a medical doctor. After graduating from Collège du Léman, he went on to read Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge.

He began his career in London, UK as a technical business development for a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization in the Pharmaceutical Industry. It was then that his started to recognize his entrepreneurial dreams which led him to transition into investing at a leading Japanese early-stage technology VC fund, The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners.

John is a current 2nd year MBA student at Harvard Business School and an aspiring entrepreneur in the Healthcare and Life Sciences field.

This podcast session explores John's academic and professional journey, life as an MBA student, as well as specific advice on the admissions process towards an MBA program.

“I definitely felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there but I know that a lot of people felt the same way. You just have to trust that people (on the admissions committee) put you there for a reason...”, reflects Madison Halla, while talking about feeling the imposter syndrome.

Madison Halla is a current senior studying musical theatre at NYU Steinhardt, class of 2024. She grew up in northern VA. She is passionate about helping others fill in gaps of knowledge that she once had concerning the process so they can audition with more confidence and certainty.

Tune in to hear her speak in detail about her application process, the pedagogy at Steinhardt and life at NYU as an artist. Towards the end of the episode, she also performs some songs for our audience in her very remarkable voice.

During COVID, she built her social media channels where she has many videos with tips on navigating the musical theatre college audition process. We recommend that you check them out:

YouTube: @MadisonHalla
Instagram: @madison_halla
TikTok: @madison_halla_