Discerene Conversations

In this interview, Amir shares his story, from leaving Syria to learning and growing with the team. It’s an awesome and awe-inspiring one.

Thiri was awarded a Discerene Scholarship to complete her Bachelor of Business Administration degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In this interview, Thiri reflects on her incredible growth over the past few years after leaving Myanmar.

In this interview, Gabriela shares that for her, a good life is a life lived without regrets. She’s doing fantastic given how well-examined her young life has been so far!

Adrian has such a subtle, adept, and philosophical mind. In this interview, we get a small glimpse of how he views the world and the experiences that have shaped him.

Sona was awarded a Discerene Scholarship to complete his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance at the Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan. In this interview, we hear a little about his extraordinary story.

In this interview, we get a peek into the distinctive, multi-layered, and many-splendored influences and experiences that make Vedant so uniquely “Vedant”!

In this interview, we learn the formative experiences, life creeds, and goals that brought Abhi from Hyderabad, India to Virginia, Texas and now Stamford, Connecticut as Discerene’s first-ever Chief of Staff.

Naveen Gowda was awarded the first-ever Discerene Scholarship to complete his Bachelor of Technology, Mechanical Engineering degree at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He is now a data scientist at the National Payments Corporation of India. In this interview, we hear about the important influences in Naveen’s life and his goals for the future.

In this interview, we get a window into the source of Joe’s quiet fortitude and inherent optimism.

In this interview, we learn how Geniva used financial adversity as a source of motivation for her professional goals and how mentors can truly make a difference in one’s life.

In this interview, we learn how a life-changing event in her youth and other formative experiences helped shape Karla into the driven, reflective, and deeply empathetic person she is today. Hers is a truly incredible, and ultimately hopeful story.

In this interview, we learn about Mike’s highly evolved and yet still evolving thinking about investing and about his life so far. Mike’s still in the prime of his youth but possesses a wisdom that is far beyond his years!

Przemek has brought tremendous experience and incredible creativity to the Firm’s operations architecture and automation efforts. In this interview, we discuss important formative influences and experiences, what drives him today in various aspects of his life, and his vision and goals for the future. His reflectiveness and keen intellect contribute to a captivating conversation!

Using her programming and problem-solving skills, Elyanah has made and continues to make valuable contributions to the Firm’s operations architecture and automation efforts. In this interview, we discuss, among other things, Elyanah’s discovering her passion for computer science, nurturing her inner artist, and making the decision to pursue graduate studies in Japan.

Jonathan recently launched his own investment firm, Golden Mean Partnership, after more than 14 years at the Firm. In this interview, Jonathan discusses Golden Mean, lessons learned from his time at the Firm, and his mom’s battle with ALS, among many other topics. His thoughtfulness, passion, and equanimity are on full display in the conversation.

Roshan is a key member of our team at Vision India, which provides the Firm with middle- and back-office support. In this interview, Roshan recounts some of the key people, influences, and experiences that have contributed to making him the person he is today.

In this interview, we discuss Brett’s upcoming book, Buffett’s Early Investments . Brett shares why he wrote the book, the work that went into researching and writing it, the lessons he learned from studying the young Buffett, and how writing the book has influenced him as an investor.

In this interview, we discuss Hiroki’s singular journey from Japan to the US, by way of Continental Europe, the UK, and Ghana. Our wide-ranging conversation includes discussing why the real world is more interesting than make-believe ones, why limit cases can illuminate our understanding of more central ones, and what it means to “create a customer”!

Nitish Sachdeva is a key – indeed, the original – member of our team at Vision India. In this interview, we discuss why and how Nitish beat overwhelming odds to get to where he is today, and why and how he continues to break new ground and blaze a trail for others.

In this interview, we walk with Max as he retraces his journey – both personal and professional – of questioning, discovery, and “homecoming.”  We get a glimpse of Max’s old soul and a rare peek into what makes Max “Max”!

Ying Ying Tan is founder of 7angram, which provides the Firm with valued research support. In this interview, we discuss Ying Ying’s “giver” approach to her relationships and how she’s now enjoying scaling the “Second Mountain” in her life quest!

Nayana Roychoudhury is a key member of our team at Vision India, which provides the Firm with middle- and back-office support. In this interview, Nayana shares some of the peaks and valleys in her extraordinary personal journey, including reflective answers for what constitutes a “well lived life”!

In this interview, we travel alongside Alaedine through his intrepid jaunt across three continents over his young career. We observe how particular people and decisions can make such a huge difference, especially at forks-in-the-road moments in one’s life!

In this interview, we learn how Justin’s upbringing, family, sports, professional experiences in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, and entrepreneurial journey over the past decade have helped shape him into the person and professional that he is today. The discussion illustrates how doing hard things and pursuing big, hairy, audacious goals can be deeply rewarding – and fun!

In this interview, we discuss Kyle’s intrepid adventures, from growing up in a leafy Boston suburb to starting out as a young investment banker in NYC, living and working in Europe, and experiencing tech-startup land. The conversation was a rollicking and affecting visit to Kyle’s “island of one”!