Aarav Akella and Praneeth Vemuri
Professional Perspectives
Hosted by high school students Aarav Akella and Praneeth Vemuri, Professional Perspectives is a podcast built on curiosity, connection, and the belief that stories have the power to inspire change. Each episode features a conversation with professionals, innovators, and leaders from diverse industries: from finance, law, and entrepreneurship to sports, entertainment, and technology. What started as a simple idea between two friends, to learn directly from people making an impact, has grown into a platform that bridges the gap between students and the professional world. Through thoughtful ques...
Author
Aarav Akella and Praneeth Vemuri
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Mar 1, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Inside Business Journalism: Dan DeFrancesco on Markets, Media, and Making Sense of Finance - S4 Ep5 #20 22.12.2025 49:28
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...
Breaking Into Sports Sales: Andrew Yu on Business, Motivation, and Growth - S4 Ep4 #19 22.12.2025 46:09
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...
Calling the Game: Alex Cohen on Broadcasting, Storytelling, and the Big Stage - S4 Ep3 #18 22.12.2025 43:02
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...
Behind the Broadcast: Brady Jones IV and the Technology Powering Live Sports S4 Ep2 #17 22.12.2025 38:30
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...
Building a Career Through Adaptability and Purpose. Featuring Jonathon Clark - S4 Ep1 #16 22.12.2025 51:26
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...
Rapid-Fire with Varun Prashant Gangal: AI Careers, Research Advice, and Life Lessons - S3 Ep5 #15 22.11.2025 24:29
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
Breaking Down Big Ideas in AI. Varun Prashant Gangal Explains the Future of LLMs - Season 3 Episode 4 #14 19.11.2025 57:43
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...
Inside AI Research with Varun Prashant Gangal: Foundations, Curiosity, and the Path to Innovation - S3 Ep3 #13 19.11.2025 1:15:51
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...
How High-Impact Software Gets Built. Featuring Siddarth Pai - S3 Ep2 #12 15.11.2025 52:34
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...
How Startups Win: Shefqet Avdullau on Angel Investing - S3 Ep1 #11 12.11.2025 34:03
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...
Season 2 Recap 11.11.2025 2:41
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How Panini Built Basketball’s Biggest Brand with Tone Stakes - S2 Ep5 #10 01.11.2025 1:02:53
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,...
From IIT to Goldman Sachs: Giridhur Sriraman’s Journey in FinTech - S2 Ep4 #9 24.10.2025 40:56
S2 Ep4 - In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Giridhur Sriraman, Vice President of Product at Goldman Sachs, to explore his journey from studying at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to leading innovative financial products at one of the world’s top investment banks. Giridhur shares valuable insights on navigating the intersection of technology and finance, adaptin...
The Art of Marketing with Ari Grief - S2 Ep3 #8 17.10.2025 1:01:59
In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Mr. Ari Grief, Director of Marketing & Advertising for the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, to dive into the world of sports marketing. Mr. Grief shares his journey from getting started in the industry to leading marketing efforts for two of the biggest sports franchises in Detroit. We explore his approach to creating campaign...
Behind the Seats: Sales and Sports with Steve Reed - S2 Ep2 #7 26.09.2025 42:18
S2 Ep2 - In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Steve Reed, Creator of Experiences and top seller for the Minnesota Vikings. A lifelong fan turned professional, Steve has built a career around making every game-day unforgettable, meeting clients at the stadium, ensuring they feel valued, and creating memories that go far beyond the seats. His deep passion for the Vikings fu...
Beyond the Smile: Dr. Chung on Dentistry, Patient Care, and Lifelong Learning - S2 Ep1 #6 13.09.2025 35:24
S2 Ep1 - In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Dr. Chung, a dedicated dentist and passionate advocate for patient-centered care. With a background in biochemistry from UCSD and a D.D.S. from UCSF, Dr. Chung has built a career around making dentistry more comfortable, accessible, and personalized. We talk about his path into dentistry, the importance of continuous learning,...
Season 2: Trailer 02.01.2025 1:07
Season 2 is here, and we’re ready to bring you even more incredible stories and valuable insights! As we continue this journey, we dive deeper into the challenges, successes, and lessons shaping different careers. Whether you’re exploring potential paths, seeking advice, or love hearing about people’s journeys, this season is packed with fresh inspiration and practical takeaways. Join us for anoth...
Season 1: Recap 08.11.2024 2:44
Season 1 was an incredible journey, filled with meaningful conversations and insights from a wide range of professionals. From navigating legal careers to the lessons learned in sports and real estate, we explored what it takes to succeed, grow, and find fulfillment in different paths. In this special episode, we’re reflecting on the highlights of Season 1—what we learned, the advice that stuck wi...
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