Stanford MSx Insider

Tyler Martin, Martín Coulthurst, and Miki Watanabe (MSx '26) take an honest look at the MSx experience: the moments that made it all worth it, the parts nobody warned them about, and the costs of spending a year at Stanford GSB. From the incredible people and opportunities to possibility paralysis, financial pressure, and being away from the people and life you left behind, they discuss what surprised them, what challenged them, and what they would do differently. No brochure, no sugarcoating. Just three MSx students reflecting on the good, the bad, and the ugly of their year at Stanford.

Clara Leow, Neo Zhang, and Steven Yan (MSx ‘26) discuss what many of us come to Stanford GSB for: entrepreneurship. From finding an opportunity and choosing a cofounder to validating a business and navigating the inevitable uncertainty, they talk about what it really takes to turn an idea into something more real, the Stanford resources that helped along the way, and what the journey taught them about themselves.
Links referenced in the episode:
Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES)
Stanford Venture Studio (SVS)
Entrepreneurship Courses

Natasha Su Sivarajah, Jessica Olsen, Eléonore Windisch, and Alessandro Balzi (MSx '26) sit down to reflect on their different paths to social impact at Stanford GSB. With backgrounds spanning climate capital, community justice, ESG, and responsible AI, they discuss what brought them there, the resources they leveraged, what’s next, and…even what they wrote in their application essays.
Links referenced in the episode:
Center for Social Innovation
Impact Fellowships
Stanford GSB Impact Fund
Stanford HAI Affinity Groups
Stanford Seed

Sahaj Saini, Maite Muniz Telleria, Ignacio El Idd, and Huan Ting Lee (MSx '26) join us to talk about why they came to Stanford, the choices they made, and the unexpected things the MSx gave them. A tech product leader at Snowflake, a startup founder from Mexico, an oil & gas executive from Argentina, and a police director from Singapore — four completely different paths, one shared year at the Stanford MSx program. If you're wondering whether your background is fit for this program, this one's for you.

Béa Asavajaru and Vinicius Quintanilha (MSx '25) join us to kick off Season 3. As the hosts who handed us the mic, they sit down with us to reflect on life after the MSx: the transitions, the takeaways, and what they wish they'd known. Béa is now based in Paris after a 17+ year career in global luxury beauty, and Vini has gone from investment banking to founding Rentax.ai. Two very different paths, one honest conversation. The perfect way to start a new chapter.

Diwas Neupane (MSx ’25), a third-generation family business leader from Kathmandu, Nepal, shares his journey from scaling and taking his family company public to joining Stanford’s one-year MSx program. He reflects on the unique realities of building a career inside a family enterprise, including blurred boundaries between work and home and the emotional highs and lows of shared ownership. Diwas explains how the MSx experience has sharpened his leadership and storytelling skills, strengthened his self-awareness, and created a powerful sense of community for both him and his wife, as they prepare for the next chapter back home.

Felipe Lourenco (MSx ’25), a three-time entrepreneur, discusses his journey from founding startups in Brazil to joining Stanford’s one-year MSX program. He highlights the program’s global network, its tailored leadership and entrepreneurship curriculum, and the uniquely supportive ecosystem in Silicon Valley. Felipe shares lessons learned from successes, failures, and the fast-evolving VC landscape, underscoring the value of resilience, the importance of mentorship, and the transformative impact on both his and his wife’s professional ambitions.

Ann Songphatanayothin (MSx ’25) shares her transition from consulting to entrepreneurship through Stanford’s one-year MSx program. She highlights the cohort’s global diversity, details her early-parenthood care startup, and underscores how resources such as Venture Studio and founder networks helped move her from idea to execution. She also offers practical tactics for balance, prioritizing close friendships and quality time in a two-founder household.

Caleb Huber (MSx '25), a former US Army Special Forces officer and Green Beret, shares his transformative experience at Stanford GSB. Diving deep into his pivot towards defense technology product management, Caleb reveals how the MSx program has equipped him with skills to bridge technology and military strategy. With candid insights on veteran resources, startup courses, and balancing family life with academic pursuits, he offers an inspiring narrative of career reinvention and the unique value of the one-year MSx experience.

Jing Lin (MSx '25) shares her transformative journey from healthcare investor to Stanford GSB student, discussing family support, academic challenges, and her passion for women's health innovation. She explores how the MSx program empowers professionals to take risks, expand their knowledge, and pursue ambitious career goals while integrating personal and professional growth.