High School Pathfinder: For the Future You

Picking a career at 17 doesn't mean you're locked into one path for the rest of your life...it's really just about picking up solid skills and seeing where your curiosity takes you. In this episode of High School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Byron Headrick, the co-founder and CEO of LEAN Frog, who went from working on a farm to engineering Space Shuttle experiments, to transforming...

How do you go from playing Division I college sports to becoming a Vice President on Wall Street? In this episode of High School Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Kaitlyn Shanahan, a Vice President on the Delta One Structured Products Desk at Morgan Stanley and former Hofstra University D1 lacrosse player. After getting the opportunity to shadow Kaitlyn firsthand, Ayana dives in...

What happens when you skip the traditional college route at 18, join the U.S. Navy, and end up working in cyber intelligence before competing on national television? In this episode, I sit down with Umeko Peterson, who is a former U.S. Navy Operational and Cyber Intelligence Analyst and contestant on Million Dollar Secret. Umeko opens up about making a major decision at 18 while her peers headed o...

In this episode of High-School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Dr. Albert Bramante, a veteran entertainment talent agent, entrepreneur, and psychology professor, about navigating a completely unique and non-linear career path. With over two decades of experience securing major roles for actors across TV, film, and Broadway, Dr. Albert blends his insider knowledge of show business with...

Are you terrified of picking a career path just for the money, only to end up stuck in a job that completely drains you? In this episode of High-School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I sit down with Mike Wysocki, who is a speaker, veteran of the tech sales industry, and the award-winning author of Careers By the People. After spending 30 years chasing a paycheck in a role he found "dull and borin...

What are families actually getting wrong about the college admissions process? In this episode of High School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Reena Bhasin, a veteran high school teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience. As both an AP teacher and a parent who has been through the college journey firsthand, Reena shares the honest truth about what it takes to stand out. We dive...

It’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to have everything figured out in high school, but most people don’t. In this episode, I talk to Rohan Bhasin, who was in that exact position not too long ago and is now on the pre-med path after graduating from Cornell. We get into what that journey actually looked like for him...from choosing Biology & Society to getting involved in research and balanci...

Most students think of tech careers as working at big companies, but there’s an entire side of the field focused on solving real-world problems within government systems. In this episode, I talk with Matthew Fein, a data scientist at Booz Allen, to break down what it actually means to work on federal projects. From using AI and data modeling to improve systems for agencies like the Department of V...

Most people think of doctors and nurses when they imagine working in healthcare, but there are many important roles behind the scenes that help the system run. In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Rachael Anzalone, an Insurance Coordinator at Jain Orthodontics, to talk about a career that many students may not even know exists. Rachael explains what he...

When most people hear “data science,” they think of coding and algorithms. But there’s an entire side of this field that connects directly to business strategy and major decisions. In this episode, I sit down with Suchi Shahani, a Data Scientist at Arrow Electronics, to talk about how she uses data in the Aerospace & Defense sector to influence high-stakes contract decisions. She shares what h...

Most of us spend so much time thinking about college and how to get hired, but we rarely hear from the people actually doing the hiring. In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Koletski, a recruiter at McMaster-Carr, and this conversation was packed with honest, practical insight. She breaks down what recruiting really looks like day-to-day, what stands out in candidates, and how to think strategi...

In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Dr. Payal Jain, an orthodontist with over 15 years of experience, to break down what this field is actually like behind the scenes. From choosing a career that involves looking into people’s mouths all day to running her very own practice, Dr. Jain shares the real story of how she found her path. They talk about the...

In this milestone 20th episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana talks with Sirja Joeever, a Harvard freshman studying math and statistics, about navigating high school while exploring diverse passions. From competitive math and orchestra to founding Women on Wall Street, co-founding a nonprofit, tutoring, and becoming a nationally recognized ballet dancer, Sirja shares how she b...

In this episode, Ayana talks with Dr. Sibel Ebru Yalcin, a biochemical physicist at Yale who works on one of the most interesting parts of science, which is building the microscopes and imaging systems that allow researchers to "see the invisible." From Turkey to Los Alamos to Yale, Dr. Yalcin has followed her curiosity across the world, designing tools that help scientists study bacteria, protein...

When most people think about dentists, they picture routine checkups or fixing cavities, but there’s so much more to the profession. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jasmeet Khurana of Hudson Family Dental to talk about what really goes into building a career in dentistry. She shares her journey from studying dentistry in India to completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery at NYU, what a “day in...

What does it really take to turn a startup idea into something big? In this episode, Ayana sits down with Vinny Minhas, a growth and strategy leader who has helped multiple tech startups scale successfully find their edge, scale up, and thrive in competitive markets. They dive into how great companies grow, what true leadership looks like in fast-paced environments, and why confidence and curiosit...

In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana talks with Dr. Maithili Shenoy, a non-invasive cardiologist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From studying medicine in Mumbai to practicing across the U.S., Dr. Shenoy shares her incredible journey through the world of cardiology — and the lessons she’s learned about adaptability, collaboration, and compassion along the way. They...

Most of us have heard of dermatology, but what about dermatopathology? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Gauri Panse, a dermatopathologist and an Associate Professor at Yale, about what it’s really like to study diseases of the skin under a microscope. Dr. Panse shares how she discovered this hidden side of medicine, what it takes to build a career in such a rare specialty, and why finding your nic...

In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, I’m joined by Anuj Shahani, who is a strategist who works behind the scenes with some of the world’s largest financial brands helping them grow, adapt, and lead in a fast-changing world. We dive into what it means to be a “coach” in business, how top performers handle pressure and change, and what it takes to build lasting success rathe...

What happens when you mix math, biology, and a curiosity about why we age? In this episode, I talk with Shagun Gupta, a Data Scientist at Calico Life Sciences, a biotech company studying the biology behind aging and age-related diseases. Shagun shares how she discovered her niche at the crossroads of data and biology, what it’s really like to do a PhD, and why it’s okay if your academic journey do...

Social media isn’t just about trends...it’s about finding your voice. In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Tanya Slehria, better known as @tanya_tastes, a microinfluencer who’s turned her love for food and creativity into something real and inspiring. Tanya shares how she started her page, the challenges of staying consistent, and what it really takes to build...

You probably know American Eagle for their jeans, but have you ever thought about the tech that keeps everything running behind the scenes? In this episode, I talk with Rahul Purwah, a senior software engineer who’s spent the last ten years designing the systems that move every product from warehouse to store. Rahul didn’t plan on becoming a software engineer; in fact, he hated his first major (en...

Imagine bacteria that can literally conduct electricity. Sounds like science fiction, right? At Yale, Dr. Nikhil Malvankar and his team study microbial “nanowires”, which are tiny filaments that let bacteria move electrons like living power lines. Their discoveries could change how we think about clean energy, new materials, and even medicine. In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Futu...

Krish Venkataram has spent over two decades at the frontlines of finance and technology, leading at companies like the New York Stock Exchange, Lehman Brothers, and American Express, as well as fast-growing fintech and AI firms. With experience as President, CFO, COO, and Board Director, he has helped guide organizations through IPOs, acquisitions, and the rise of AI in global markets. In this con...

In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Dr. Eyan Yeung, a Machine Learning Engineer whose career path proves that your first passion doesn’t always define your future. Starting in chemistry, economics, and biochemistry research, Eyan thought she’d spend her life in science. But what excited her most wasn’t the lab work — it was analyzing data and building...