High School Pathfinder: For the Future You

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 discuss what it’s really like to be a cardiologist, how teamwork shapes patient care, and why staying curious and open-minded can take you further than any single plan ever could! If you’re interested in healthcare, medicine, or just figuring out how to turn curiosity into a career, this episode is definitely for you!

 

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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 niche can sometimes lead to the most rewarding paths! Whether you’re curious about medicine, research, or simply finding your own niche, this conversation is for you! 

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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 rather than just short-term wins. If you’re curious about tech, startups, leadership-or simply trying to figure out what you want to do- this conversation is for you!!

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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 doesn’t follow a straight line.

If you’ve ever been curious about research, biotech, or how data can unlock secrets of the human body, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

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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 a genuine online presence. Whether you dream of becoming a creator, starting a project, or simply expressing yourself more confidently through social media, this episode is for you!

✨ Check out @tanya_tastes on Instagram, and don’t forget to download, follow, and share this episode with family and friends!

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 (engineering). But one computer science class changed everything. Now he helps build the tech that powers one of the biggest clothing brands in the world!

We talk about how he discovered his passion for coding, what it’s really like to work in retail tech, and why it’s okay not to have everything figured out in high school.

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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 Future You, Ayana talks with Dr. Malvankar about how he found this unique niche in science, what his lab is uncovering right now, and the lessons students can take away about curiosity, persistence, and following your interests!

Whether you’re curious about research, dreaming of a career in science, or just fascinated by discoveries that sound like science fiction, this episode is for you! 

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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 conversation, we break down what AI in finance actually looks like (beyond just apps like ChatGPT), why it matters for the future of money, and what skills high schoolers can start building if they’re curious about this fast-moving space.

✨ Tune in, download, and share this episode with anyone who wants to see how technology and leadership are reshaping the world of finance!!