Sasha Gidwani’s Post

🎓 Last weekend I graduated from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. This past one year has been an incredible journey, filled with inspiration, personal growth and lasting friendships. I have learned so much over the course of the year but the most significant takeaway from my time at Stanford has been to dream BIG! Thank you to the incredible faculty who took the time to teach us, share their successes and failures, and grab coffee and talk about life. To my classmates, your diverse perspectives have made an incredible impact on me and I am so grateful to be a part of your cohort! Can't wait to see how we change the world! #StanfordGSB #GSBgrads #MSx2024

One of the main reasons I came to Stanford University Graduate School of Business was to learn about industries and technologies that I previously didn't have any exposure to. I recently had a chance to learn from OpenAI and Anthropic, two companies that are leading the AI revolution. Here are my main takeaways: 🌎 Both companies are mission-driven organizations. Both OpenAI and Anthropic aim to create safe, beneficial AI that aligns with human values and operates ethically. Their strong sense of culture is tied to their mission and is the main motivation factor that drives their teams. ⏳ The pace of innovation in AI is astonishing, both organizations are partnering with enterprises to co-develop new use cases that are changing every 6 months. While OpenAI and Anthropic understand the technology, their enterprise partners have the data and understand the end customer needs. 👩💻 Current ways that consumers can use ChatGPT and Claude: - Brainstorming and generating creative ideas - Creative writing - Synthesizing information across various sources - Thought partner and getting advice 💡 How to stay up to date on what is happening in the AI space: - Podcasts like Gradient Dissent - Follow Jack Clark's newsletter - Research reports by Anthropic and OpenAI - Reddit/ Twitter AI will become a part of our everyday lives, just as the internet or mobile phones are and it is important to continue to educate ourselves on this new technology as it changes the world.

🎙 Episode 4 and 5 of the MSx Insiders podcast is now out! Jateen Kooverjee and I had the chance to interview a few more of our inspirational classmates. Episode 4 features Parul Gupta a founder, super-mom and sustainability champion! Parul shares her motivations for coming to the MSx program and pivoting into the world of sustainability, something she feels passionately about. Episode 5 features Daulins Emilio, our class president and in-house economics expert. Daulins talks about leaving the world of academia and learning to love the career that you are in. Both Parul and Daulins came to the MSx program after building successful careers and are here to explore what is the next chapter in their careers! Listen now on Spotify! Episode 4: https://lnkd.in/ghf3tj23 Episode 5: https://lnkd.in/gxUfP_vR

Episode 3 of the MSx Insiders Podcast is now out! On this episode, my co-host Jateen Kooverjee and I interview our amazing classmate and friend, Cayla Marvil. Join us to learn how Cayla has applied concepts from classes like Managing Growing Enterprises to her brewery business Lamplighter Brewing Co. and how she balances her personal interests with academic and social demands. Listen now on Spotify! https://lnkd.in/gMzRQsiG

So excited to be working with Jateen Kooverjee on this initiative to get the MSx stories out there! Stay tuned for more episodes!

Thank you Stanford University Graduate School of Business for featuring me as one of the MSx Student Voices.

The last 6 months at Stanford University Graduate School of Business have been nothing short of transformative. I have had the opportunity to take some interesting classes, meet amazing people and explore new industries and careers I never had exposure to. One of my favorite classes was "Riding the next wave of Developing Economies" with Steve Ciesinski and Federico Antoni. Getting to study cases of entrepreneurship in Asia, Africa and LATAM and then meeting those founders and investors was an exciting and eye-opening experience. There are so many unique problems that developing nations face and a multitude of opportunity to solve them. Another class I enjoyed was "Angel and Venture Capital Financing" with Prof Ilya Strebulaev and Brian Jacobs, where we got to learn what it takes to be a venture capitalist and hear from Silicon Valley experts. My team also had the honor of being awarded the “F385 Midas List” based on the investment recommendations that we submitted throughout the course.    Aside from the incredible speakers that come to our classes, I had the chance to hear from global leaders like Neal Mohan, Stanley Tang, Sarah Friar, Aicha Evans and Stuart Weitzman. Getting to hear first-hand how these leaders navigated their careers and achieved their successes was extremely motivating. Perhaps the most important aspect of this program so far has been meeting my wonderful classmates. I never expected to develop true friendships in such a short period of time and I know that this will last a lifetime. It was an honor to serve as part of the MSx Student Association these last two quarters, and I am so looking forward to what 2024 has in store for us. You all inspire me everyday!

After over a decade at Bank of America, I have made the decision to embark on a new chapter in my career and pursue the MSx program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. It has been an incredible journey at Bank of America, where I have had the opportunity to not only work across multiple teams but also across regions. During my time here, I have learned about the value of collaboration, the importance of strategic thinking and the impact of strong leadership. Most importantly, I want to thank my amazing colleagues, mentors and leaders who have helped shape my career journey thus far and provided support and guidance over the years to help me get to where I am today. I am excited about the new opportunities that this next one-year will bring and am looking forward to a year of learning and growth. I am ready to #changelives #changeorganizations and #changetheworld