Professional Perspectives

Every day, billions of people enter homes, schools, hospitals, and workplaces without thinking about the building codes that keep them safe. In this episode, we welcome John Belcik, Chief Executive Officer of the International Code Council, to discuss leadership, public service, and the global impact of building safety. John shares lessons from his decades of executive leadership, the importance o...

Fintech and blockchain are transforming the way the world thinks about money, investing, and innovation. In this episode, we sit down with Darius Kraucionis, CEO of Fintexus and an experienced fintech and blockchain advisor, to explore the rapidly evolving world of digital finance. Darius shares insights from advising more than 200 fintech and Web3 companies, discussing entrepreneurship, fundraisi...

What does it take to become a published researcher while still in high school? In this episode, we sit down with Ishan Jain, Founder of YRI, Regeneron ISEF Finalist, angel investor, and published researcher, to discuss how students can break into scientific research, publish papers, and compete at the highest levels. Ishan shares his journey from student researcher to entrepreneur, the system behi...

After losing her eye in a life-changing accident, Shelby Perry searched for a community that understood what she was going through. When she couldn't find one, she built it herself. In this episode, Shelby shares the story behind EYEHESIVE, the emotional journey of rebuilding confidence, and how she transformed one of the most difficult moments of her life into a global movement supporting people...

Healthcare is about much more than medicine. Behind every successful practice is strong leadership, strategic planning, and operational excellence. In this episode, we speak with René Hermes, Chief Operating Officer of Hermes Health, about his journey from finance to healthcare leadership. René discusses business strategy, healthcare innovation, patient-centered care, leadership, and how organizat...

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has changed the landscape of high school and college athletics, but many families still don't fully understand the opportunities and risks involved. In this episode, former professional football player, educator, and author Dr. John DeWitt explains what athletes and parents need to know about NIL, recruiting, the transfer portal, eligibility, and long-term decision-...

In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we are joined by Dan DeFrancesco, Deputy Executive Editor and anchor of Business Insider Today, Business Insider’s flagship daily newsletter. Based in New York, Dan has built a career covering financial markets, fintech, and major business stories that shape the global economy. Dan shares what it’s like writing and curating a daily newsletter read by m...

In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Andrew Yu, a sports business professional working as a Sales Development Representative for the Arizona Cardinals. After graduating from UNLV with a degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Andrew turned his passion for sports into a career focused on ticket sales, fan engagement, and business development. Andrew walks us through his...

In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we are joined by Alex Cohen, a play-by-play broadcaster with over 15 years of experience across professional, collegiate, and international sports. Alex is entering his second full season with Marquee Sports Network, the television home of the Chicago Cubs, where he calls select regular season and spring training games and contributes to digital conten...

In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Brady Jones IV, a two-time Emmy Award–winning EVS replay operator, educator, and LSM-VIA ambassador who has spent over a decade working behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports. Based in Atlanta, Brady has worked on major championships across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA Men’s Basketball, and more. Recording during Super Bowl week...

Season 4 of Professional Perspectives opens with a powerful and inspiring conversation featuring Mr. Jonathon Clark, a consultant at Microsoft whose career spans business, finance, healthcare, sports, and public service. His journey is one of adaptability, versatility, and intentional growth, and it set the tone for the entire season. Mr. Clark has held roles across a wide range of industries, inc...

Part 3 of our series with Varun Prashant Gangal is a fast-paced quickfire session covering career advice, research habits, productivity tips, and his personal take on the future of AI

In Part 2 of our conversation with Varun Prashant Gangal, we go deeper into the technical and practical challenges behind modern AI systems. Varun explains how large language models work, the obstacles researchers face when scaling them, and what trends are shaping the next wave of AI development. He shares insights from his experiences across leading AI organizations and gives students a clear se...

In this first part of our conversation with Varun Prashant Gangal, we explore the foundations of his journey into AI and natural language processing. Varun is a researcher with experience at Patronus AI, Amazon AGI, ASAPP, and multiple high-impact NLP projects. He walks us through how he became interested in machine learning, what early experiences shaped his research mindset, and how students can...

In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Siddarth Pai, Software Development Engineer III at Walmart Global Tech, to explore the world of modern software infrastructure and design. Mr. Pai shares how high-impact software is built, what goes into designing scalable and reliable systems, and the skills and mindset engineers need to thrive in the tech industry. We discuss his jou...

Season 3 of Professional Perspectives begins with a thoughtful conversation featuring Mr. Shefqet Avdullau, an angel investor who supports early stage founders across both the United Kingdom and the United States. He shares how he identifies promising startups, what qualities he believes define strong founders, and how students can begin preparing for future roles in entrepreneurship and innovatio...

.

In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Tone Stakes, Head of Basketball Licensing at Panini America, to go behind the scenes of how Panini became basketball’s biggest brand. As high school students passionate about learning from industry leaders, this conversation was both inspiring and eye-opening, and we know it will motivate other students interested in sports, business,...