Best Knight Hennessy Scholars Stanford University Podcasts (2025)

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From Nigeria to Hotchkiss & Brown : Elaine Oghoore 38:21

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5M ago38:21

38:21

Elaine Oghoore is a junior at Brown University, where she is pursuing a degree in Business Economics. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, she is passionate about a career in financial services. Before attending Brown, Elaine graduated from The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. In addition to her academic pursuits, she co-founded Sweet Rush Ni…

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Fighter Jets to Stanford & Knight-Hennessy: Jasper Burns 32:24

6M ago32:24

32:24

Jasper Burns is a Stanford Law student and Knight-Hennessy Scholar. He served 8 years in the U.S. Navy, flying EA-18G Growlers, deploying aboard the USS Carl Vinson, and later supporting the intelligence community in D.C. He also served as a White House Social Aide and concluded his Navy career as a Military Fellow at McKinsey & Company. He graduat…

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Unique Stories of Ivy League Students 0:42

7M ago0:42

0:42

Michael Lee, member of the AIGAC & an Ivy League-educated Professional American Filmmaker, helps you weave an authentic story that leaves the admissions committee in awe! The Ivy Dream LLC is the only admissions consultancy that refunds 50% to clients if they don’t get in to one of their preferred schools. In this podcast, we humanize Ivy League st…

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The Ambitious Armenian | Columbia Undergrad & Harvard JD : Danielle Mikaelian 32:47

9M ago32:47

32:47

Danielle Mikaelian is a Columbia University graduate with a BA in English Literature. She occupied positions on over ten Columbia executive boards, being named Columbia's 2021 Student of the Year, a King's Crown Leadership and Excellence Award Recipient for Community Building, a Robert Harron Award recipient, an Alumni Prize Finalist, and a member …

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Breaking Barriers from South Tucson to Oxford & Yale: Bill De La Rosa 55:08

11M ago55:08

55:08

Bill De La Rosa is a JD/PhD candidate at Yale Law School and Oxford University, Hurst Horizon Scholar, writer, and public speaker. Raised in South Tucson, Arizona, he became the primary caregiver for his family following his mother’s removal from the United States during his sophomore year of high school. Bill graduated from Bowdoin College Phi Bet…

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The Master in Music (MM) Student from NYU Steinhardt : Kenzie Elizabeth 32:29

12M ago32:29

32:29

Kenzie Elizabeth is a performing artist who is currently earning her MM in Vocal Performance: Musical Theatre at New York University. In 2018, she attended American Musical and Dramatic Academy (LA & NY campus) for a year before transitioning to Western Oregon University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Acting. Her original music …

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The Milken & Coca Cola Scholar at NYU : Lesley Yupa 26:58

1y ago26:58

26:58

Lesley Yupa is a first-year student at New York University studying psychology and global public health. Passionate about health and education equity, she hopes to pursue a career within the medical field as a physician. Lesley worked in the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she helped verify physicians and practices membership dat…

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Addressing Leadership Challenges: Strategies for Success 31:42

1y ago31:42

31:42

Addressing the complex challenges of leadership. Tina Seelig and John Hennessy delve into the challenges and strategies involved in leadership and leading a multifaceted institution such as Stanford University. From navigating conflicting goals and diverse constituencies to making tough decisions under scrutiny, John shares his insights on the impo…

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Leading with Integrity: The Power of Trust and Ethics in Leadership 21:00

1y ago21:00

21:00

Navigate difficult decisions, maintain trust, and uphold strong core values. Explore the complexities of ethical leadership with Tina Seelig and John Hennessy as they share their experiences and insights. From handling ethical dilemmas to maintaining core values amidst challenges, John highlights the importance of honesty, trust, and organizational…

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Leading with Impact: How Collaboration and Decisiveness Drive Success 24:59

1y ago24:59

24:59

Collaboration and decisiveness shape effective leadership. Tina Seelig and John Hennessy examine the key leadership qualities of collaboration, analysis, and decisiveness. Their conversation highlights how effective leaders unite diverse teams, perform comprehensive analyses to make informed decisions, and take decisive action when the stakes are h…

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The Teenage-Techie from Turkey: Kuzey Kantarcıoğlu 29:33

1y ago29:33

29:33

Kuzey Kantarcıoğlu is a first-year student at Stanford University with an interest in computer science and linguistics. Fascinated by the function of language in both humans and computers, he aspires to advance AI language models. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, he was an international college applicant. Outside of academics, he enjoys learning n…

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Leading with Purpose: Crafting A Vision and Cultivating Courage 24:38

1y ago24:38

24:38

How bold visions can be crafted and executed even in the face of challenges and opposition. Focusing on the powerful interplay between vision and courage in leadership, Tina Seelig and John Hennessy examine how bold visions are crafted, refined through feedback, and brought to life despite significant challenges. Examples like the Stanford Challeng…

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Why Curiosity, Empathy, and Humility Matter in Leadership 19:20

1y ago19:20

19:20

The essential traits of curiosity, empathy, and humility in leadership. Tina Seelig and John Hennessy explore the essential traits of curiosity, empathy, and humility in leadership. Through personal anecdotes and insights, they discuss how these qualities shape effective leaders and foster a culture of openness and understanding. Whether you're lea…

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Lessons in Leadership: Leading with Knight-Hennessy Scholars 29:42

1y ago29:42

29:42

In the premiere episode of "Leading Matters," hosted by Tina Seelig, Executive Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, John Hennessy shares his leadership journey. As a faculty member, entrepreneur, former president of Stanford University, and chairman of Alphabet, Hennessy discusses guiding teams to success and inspiring innovation. The episode expl…

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Introducing: Leading Matters 1:28

1y ago1:28

1:28

Join Tina Seelig, Executive Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) as she interviews KHS Founder and Director John Hennessy on leadership. The topics they discuss are drawn from the Knight-Hennessy Leadership Model, which forms the basis of the KHS leadership development program. In their conversations, John shares about his experiences and wha…

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The Entrepreneur/Musician from Brown: Ben Hokenson 25:13

1y ago25:13

25:13

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,…

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US Army Ranger turned Entrepreneur at Harvard : Andrew Steen 46:25

1y ago46:25

46:25

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 U…

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An Immigrant’s Journey to Rhodes & Knight-Hennessy: Machmud Makhmudov 44:31

1y ago44:31

44:31

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 Ox…

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From Summer Acting-Camps to NYU Tisch : Hayley Batson 43:25

1+ y ago43:25

43:25

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 colla…

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Journey from Kharagpur to Two Ivy League Schools: Subham Kedia 38:07

1+ y ago38:07

38:07

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…

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Overcoming Personal Biases at Columbia : Parizoda Asatilloyeva 22:12

1+ y ago22:12

22:12

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 …

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Global Pathways: Tokyo & Geneva to Cambridge & HBS – John Suzuki 35:02

1+ y ago35:02

35:02

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 …

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NYU, the Mecca for Artists: Madison Halla 47:57

1+ y ago47:57

47:57

“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 Steinha…

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The Accidental New Yorker : Polina Tyurikova 41:15

1+ y ago41:15

41:15

“I remember when I landed I was listening to ‘The Empire State of Mind’, which is the classical New York song and I was in a little bit of shock and I had a little bit of fear and I was so excited, like I had a lot of feelings but I came with an open mind that this could be anything..” reminisces Polina, a New York University undergrad. Polina Tyur…

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The Boy from Aurangabad : Prateek Panghal 53:39

1+ y ago53:39

53:39

Born and raised in Aurangabad, India, a city famed for its Taj Mahal replica and mesmerizing caves, Prateek hails from a family of educators. Although he grew up playing multiple sports, a career in sport didn't materialize, leading him to pursue a bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He began his caree…

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International Diversity at Columbia : Valeriya Zherebtsova 32:57

1+ y ago32:57

32:57

“Anytime I leave the library, in the corridors, in the hallway, I always hear so many languages but I almost never hear English...”, exclaims Valeriya while talking about the support system of international students at Columbia University as they navigate college life together through their shared struggles. In this episode, listen to Valeriya talk…

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From Rosey to Yale : Ali Otuzoglu 14:52

1+ y ago14:52

14:52

“During my time at Rosey, I did student campaigns that advocated for the creation of more resources for the student body like new period-product dispensers and I also helped negotiate with the administration to introduce new forms of sex education on campus..”, recounts Ali, a first year Yale undergrad student about his student advocacy projects th…

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Inside the Harvard Classroom : Arela Solis 59:19

1+ y ago59:19

59:19

“...the reality is that the Harvard classrooms get super emotional. You can’t imagine how many times people cried in the classroom or that I even cried in some of the sessions..” says Arela, a recent graduate of Harvard Business School, in the first episode of Aspire. Tune in to hear Arela talk about her journey in this unfiltered insider account o…

Knight Hennessy Scholars Stanford University Podcasts

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Leading Matters

Knight-Hennessy Scholars, Stanford University

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Aspire with The Ivy Dream

Michael Justin Lee | The Ivy Dream

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From Nigeria to Hotchkiss & Brown : Elaine Oghoore 38:21

1
Fighter Jets to Stanford & Knight-Hennessy: Jasper Burns 32:24

1
Unique Stories of Ivy League Students 0:42

1
The Ambitious Armenian | Columbia Undergrad & Harvard JD : Danielle Mikaelian 32:47

1
Breaking Barriers from South Tucson to Oxford & Yale: Bill De La Rosa 55:08

1
The Master in Music (MM) Student from NYU Steinhardt : Kenzie Elizabeth 32:29

1
The Milken & Coca Cola Scholar at NYU : Lesley Yupa 26:58

1
Addressing Leadership Challenges: Strategies for Success 31:42

1
Leading with Integrity: The Power of Trust and Ethics in Leadership 21:00

1
Leading with Impact: How Collaboration and Decisiveness Drive Success 24:59

1
The Teenage-Techie from Turkey: Kuzey Kantarcıoğlu 29:33

1
Leading with Purpose: Crafting A Vision and Cultivating Courage 24:38

1
Why Curiosity, Empathy, and Humility Matter in Leadership 19:20

1
Lessons in Leadership: Leading with Knight-Hennessy Scholars 29:42

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Introducing: Leading Matters 1:28

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The Entrepreneur/Musician from Brown: Ben Hokenson 25:13

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US Army Ranger turned Entrepreneur at Harvard : Andrew Steen 46:25

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An Immigrant’s Journey to Rhodes & Knight-Hennessy: Machmud Makhmudov 44:31

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From Summer Acting-Camps to NYU Tisch : Hayley Batson 43:25

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Journey from Kharagpur to Two Ivy League Schools: Subham Kedia 38:07

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Overcoming Personal Biases at Columbia : Parizoda Asatilloyeva 22:12

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Global Pathways: Tokyo & Geneva to Cambridge & HBS – John Suzuki 35:02

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NYU, the Mecca for Artists: Madison Halla 47:57

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The Accidental New Yorker : Polina Tyurikova 41:15

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The Boy from Aurangabad : Prateek Panghal 53:39

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International Diversity at Columbia : Valeriya Zherebtsova 32:57

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From Rosey to Yale : Ali Otuzoglu 14:52

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Inside the Harvard Classroom : Arela Solis 59:19