Imagine A World

In this special episode, Eli Cahan (2019 cohort) and Willie Thompson (2022 cohort) speak with John Hennessy, co-founder and inaugural director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS). John imagines a world where the next generation will provide the leadership that is so desperately needed in all walks of life.

John shares the story behind the founding of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, providing insight into why a commitment to young people lies at the heart of his vision for change. He also discusses the importance of forging and nurturing strong relationships, including the role that Knight-Hennessy scholars play in building the culture of KHS.

Finally, John shares more about his life, recounting how a job as a grocery store bagger led him to meet the love of his life, and recounts a surprising conversation with the Dalai Lama. John also expresses his hopes for the future of Knight-Hennessy Scholars and for higher education as a whole.

Highlights from the episode

(3:56) John’s definition of leadership

(5:40) The inception of Knight-Hennessy Scholars and its aspirations

(8:48) Why young people matter

(10:54) The value of developing and maintaining strong relationships

(18:50) The importance of good leadership in 2026

(21:04) Rapid fire questions: people and adjectives

(23:48) John’s relationship with his wife

(28:32) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars core memories

(31:56) Hopes for the future of Knight-Hennessy Scholars and education at large

In this episode, Sydney Hunt (2023 cohort) and Anson Zhou (2024 cohort) sit down with Tina Seelig, Executive Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars and renowned author, who imagines a world where everyone feels empowered to bring their ideas to life. Tina reflects on her journey from a childhood spent on both coasts of the U.S., to earning a PhD in neuroscience and exploring careers in academia, entrepreneurship, multimedia, and writing. She shares insights from her new book, What I Wish I Knew About Luck, and discusses the difference between luck and fortune, the role of serendipity, and how intentionality and forgiveness open doors to opportunity.

Tina discusses finding balance through career pivots, the importance of reframing problems, and why Denning House is a crucible for luck and learning. She also celebrates becoming a grandmother, reveals her improbable dance marathon achievement, and tells stories about her beloved dog Coco. Sydney and Anson end the interview with a lightning round of questions and reflections on Tina’s impact on Knight-Hennessy Scholars and the scholar community.

Highlights from the episode

(2:54) Becoming a grandmother and the joys of grandparenting

(4:26) Unpacking the difference between luck and fortune

(8:15) The wind metaphor for embracing and navigating opportunities

(16:10) Key moments from Tina’s career journey

(27:17) Connecting the dots: Why trying new things is essential to growth

(33:52) How manifestation practices and writing to your future self can create lucky outcomes

(37:41) The value of “frame-storming” before problem-solving

In this episode, Eli Cahan (2019 cohort) sits down with Ileana Pirozzi (2018 cohort), who imagines a world where the quality of surgery can be democratized everywhere.

Ileana traces her journey from growing up in a family of tobacco farmers in southern Italy to attending a United World College in the Netherlands, and then Brown University in the United States. She reflects on how a tumor diagnosis during her freshman year drew her toward cancer research and, eventually, healthcare more broadly.

Ileana discusses her search for a problem worth dedicating herself to, and the courage it took to commit when the right opportunity appeared, even amid tremendous uncertainty. She speaks about how her time as a Knight-Hennessy scholar taught her patience and the value of sitting with the unknown. That willingness to embrace uncertainty, she shares, gave rise to a desire to connect more deeply with her fellow scholars, which she formalized into what is now a Knight-Hennessy Scholars tradition: Deep Dive.

Highlights from the episode

(2:22) From growing up in Italy to studying in the Netherlands

(6:40) How an early personal challenge shaped her commitment to healthcare democratization

(8:11) How a professor's trust and an unexpected poster led her to Stanford

(12:37) On the quest for a problem worth solving, and the courage to tackle it

(17:20) Grappling with the discomfort of making hard and necessary decisions

(20:07) How Knight-Hennessy Scholars taught her to embrace uncertainty

(22:43) Deep Dive: The tradition she started to help scholars connect with each other

(28:14) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars core memories

In this episode, Max Du (2024 cohort) talks with Sreya Vangara (2023 cohort), a third-year PhD student in mechanical engineering. Sreya shares her journey from empowering young women in STEM in Maryland to providing educational opportunities and sustainable solutions around the globe, including work in Madagascar, the Navajo Nation, and Guyana. As she pivots from high-tech environments, like nuclear fusion, to tackling energy access through innovative battery technologies and AI, Sreya emphasizes her belief in the power of education and collaboration. She imagines a world where cutting-edge technologies are accessible to marginalized communities, allowing them to create solutions that benefit their local contexts.

Highlights from the episode:

(2:38) Early experiences in STEM and advocating for women in tech

(10:45) Global community service work in Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and beyond

(18:32) The intersection of technology and diplomacy in addressing real-world challenges

(25:29) Insights from working on nuclear fusion and learning about the geopolitical impacts on science

(39:09) The role of AI in democratizing access to battery design and renewable energy solutions

(44:33) Sreya's vision for a future where every community can harness the power of technology for sustainable development

(52:41) Sreya expresses her belief in the necessity of lifelong learning, reinforcing her commitment to helping others bridge the gap between knowledge and opportunity.

In this episode, Eli Cahan (2019 cohort) talks with Abuzar Royesh (2018 cohort), who imagines a world where there is no inequality between developing and developed worlds. Abuzar reflects on how his childhood spent between Afghanistan and Pakistan shaped his worldview, and how his time in the United States as an exchange student sharpened his awareness of global inequality. He recounts how he decided to attend college in the United States and focus on policy, a path that led him years later to Stanford, where he earned two master's degrees: one in international policy and one in management science and engineering.

Abuzar also shares the start of his entrepreneurial journey during his time at Stanford, as well as his current work developing fraud detection and anti-money-laundering solutions for banks in Nigeria. Finally, Eli and Abuzar discuss Abuzar's efforts to help evacuate 450 Afghan girls through the 30 Birds Foundation, and the lessons in leadership and courage he learned from that experience.

Highlights from the episode

(2:54) Growing up between Afghanistan and Pakistan

(5:56) Experiencing the United States for the first time as an exchange student

(9:34) Returning to Afghanistan with newly formed perspectives

(13:26) Coming to Stanford as a Knight-Hennessy scholar

(17:57) Lessons from entrepreneurship at Stanford and beyond

(27:26) Helping evacuate 450 young girls from Afghanistan through the 30 Birds Foundation

(33:59) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars core memories

In this episode, Anson Zhou (2024 cohort) interviews Amanda Morrison (2024 cohort), a JD student at Stanford Law School, about the through line connecting her upbringing in Montana, her longtime relationship to dance, her work in documentary filmmaking, and her decision to pursue law. Amanda imagines a world where human connection prevails over loneliness and division. She reflects on how the outdoors and ballet trained her in discipline, endurance, and growth through discomfort, and how those lessons continue to shape the way she moves through new challenges.

Highlights from the episode:

(03:06) Growing up in Helena, Montana and getting into ballet

(08:11) Why she began studying policy

(10:50) Going to China and studying U.S.–China relations

(16:55) Becoming immersed in the world of film and then law

(27:37) Storytelling as a tool in law

(34:55) Pursuing her interests in law school

(52:30) Improbable fact, Denning House snack takes, and advice for future applicants

In this episode, Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) speaks with Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca (’24 cohort) who imagines a world where every child has access to quality education that can get them to a college experience as they wish, where they wish, regardless of where they were born.

Sarahi reflects on her journey from being told she was not meant for college to becoming a Knight-Hennessy scholar. She shares how finding mentors helped her carve out her own path, and how her experiences empowered her to build platforms that support undocumented students in pursuing higher education. Sarahi also speaks about the role of community, faith, and religion in her life. She reflects on the opportunity of the current moment to imagine and build systems that work for everyone. The episode concludes with Sarahi sharing her favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars memories, including an iconic trip to Japan.

Highlights from the episode

(3:00) When her college dreams were shattered

(12:48) Reckoning with an identity crisis

(18:16) Navigating systems that were not built for her

(22:24) The place of faith and religion in her journey

(28:34) How joining Knight-Hennessy Scholars enriched her life

(34:40) Reflecting on the present and looking ahead.

(40:57) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars core memories

In this episode, Ashley Yeh (’24 cohort) and Tanajia Moye-Green (’24 cohort) speak with Tilly Brooks (’24 cohort) about her interdisciplinary work at the intersection of linguistics, law, and justice. Tilly shares her path from studying ancient languages to examining how meaning is constructed in legal texts, why ambiguity and “ordinary meaning” shape legal outcomes, and how linguistic expertise can inform legal reform.

Highlights from the episode:

(03:57) How early exposure to Latin and ancient languages sparked Tilly’s fascination with language and meaning

(25:30) Tilly’s three research areas: language of law, law of language, and linguists as advocates

(35:10) Research on the California Racial Justice Act and identifying racially discriminatory language in courtrooms

(48:19) What it’s like pursuing a joint JD/PhD and navigating interdisciplinary training

(53:14) How Knight-Hennessy Scholars shaped Tilly’s intellectual community and collaborative opportunities

(56:33) Advice for students interested in interdisciplinary paths and building meaningful scholarly impact

In this episode, Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) speaks with Rex Woodbury (’19 cohort) who imagines a world where technology and startups are a force for good.

Rex reflects on his decision to leave the world of investment to attend business school and on how he began sharing his ideas on social media. He discusses how writing on Substack helped him pivot from private equity to venture capital, where he now supports early-stage founders as they develop their ideas. Rex believes technology can have a positive impact on society, and he describes how this work has given him a sense of meaning and purpose. He explains how Knight-Hennessy expanded his understanding of impact, situating impact entrepreneurship within broader structural issues. The episode concludes with Rex sharing his favorite memories from his time at Stanford and offering thoughtful advice to prospective students.

Highlights from the episode

(3:21) Deciding to leave TPG and come back to school

(7:54) A typical day in an investing career

(12:10) Daybreak Ventures and how he got there

(18:30) On sharing his ideas with the world

(27:58) How does social media influencing fit in?

(29:53) Knight-Hennessy Scholars changing his understanding of impact

(35:33) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars memories

(39:45) Advice for prospective applicants

In this episode, Max Du (’24 cohort) speaks with Barkotel Zememu (’24 cohort) who imagines a world where the mysteries of the physical universe are mysteries not just to those who are detectives but also to those who are not. Barkotel, who is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is pursuing a PhD in physics at Stanford. In this episode, Barkotel shares his journey from Addis Ababa to Stanford, discussing his first experience of the world beyond Ethiopia and his adaptation to new cultural contexts. He addresses the importance of cultivating deep and authentic relationships, and how writing became a valuable tool for reconnecting with himself. Barkotel also explores the role of community in life, his reflections on the role of chance in shaping our destinies, and his fascination with dark matter and the curiosity that fuels his physics studies. He concludes by offering insightful advice to prospective students.

Highlights from this episode:

(2:33) Journey from Addis Ababa to Stanford

(3:54) Experiencing the world outside Ethiopia for the first time

(7:49) Noticing and navigating cultural differences

(14:28) Cultivating meaningful and vulnerable relationships

(18:45) Journaling as a way to connect with oneself

(27:28) Going through life in community with others

(29:47) Reflecting on the randomness of life

(33:19) What is dark matter?

(42:05) Bringing unrelenting curiosity to the study of physics

(48:44) Humanizing the scholar experience

(53:30) Advice for prospective applicants