Ready Set Do

In this episode featured not-expert is Beni Wilson. Our discussion today centers around Beni's first visit to India, and we explore his experiences thru the perspective of an American traveling to India for the first time. We start with the similarities between America and India, which might surprise you actually, and then move on to covering the differences, starting with the smaller ones all the way to the largest. Some of the topics we cover, esp around religion can be slightly uncomfortable for certain people, so viewer discretion is advised.Support the Ready Set Do podcast across various social media:campsite.bio/readysetdoTimestamps:00:00:00 Background + Introduction00:03:16 Similarity 1 - Airports00:05:09 similarity 2 - withheld lol00:06:59 similarity 3 - church00:10:39 differences overview00:13:09 languages of india00:15:54 street and home-cooked foods of india00:21:31 people of india are friendlier than americans?00:23:52 shoutout to raghav, girl on a plane and wedding parade00:25:49 being asked for selfies and aggressive sales-y Kolkata people00:29:00 on safety and being alone in a deserted Howrah back alley00:32:19 on touristy sites and tourism experience in Kolkata and Udaipur00:38:19 heidi00:39:26 pollution00:43:17 why is there littering?00:45:34 gratefulness for what america has00:49:10 cheap manual labor & life in general00:51:14 religiosity, spirituality & hinduism aesthetics00:59:03 the ideal trip length to india01:00:51 critical things every american visiting india must know01:05:02 special mention - food

In this episode, featured not-expert is Suchit Sikaria. Suchit is the founder of Crucible Institute, a business school that is seeking to completely revamp higher business education in India - by optimizing for practical skills needed for digital first businesses (which the world (including india of course) is currently seeing a boom of) instead of outdated theory taught by industry professionals and with a fee structure that's super unique.

Support/connect with me: campsite.bio/readysetdo

Timestamps:00:00 Intro + Background

02:06 The State of MBA Education in India

03:31 Identifying Core Issues in MBA Programs

07:53 The Disconnect Between Education and Industry Needs

11:10 Curriculum Relevance and Evolution

13:16 The Role of Faculty in MBA Education

16:12 The Admission Process and Its Implications

20:12 Case-Based Learning Is Broken Too

22:07 Teaching Methodologies and Practical Applications

25:29 Industry Collaboration and Student Outcomes

26:41 The Crucible Model: A New Approach to Education

28:59 What Makes Crucible Different

31:36 Optimizing Curriculum for Digital-First Businesses

33:06 Innovative Course Offerings for Job Readiness

34:50 Course Duration

37:26 Solution to “Who Is Going to Teach?”

40:40 Content Is King—even While Designing a B-School

41:29 Learning Design and Course Structure

43:14 Tuition Fee Depends on Your Salary

49:17 Challenges and Pitfalls of the Fee Model

53:35 Core Values and Brand Purpose

n this episode, featured not-expert is Shifra Isaacs. Shifra is a Developer Relations Advocate at Ascend.io and this is part 2 of my 2-part conversation with her. the topic of this discussion is how professionals in any industry can and should be leveraging LinkedIn to grow their careers and networks, pivot to better toles, and build their personal brands. All my socials: campsite.bio/readysetdoSupport the podcast: campsite.bio/readysetdoTimestamps:00:00 Intro + Background01:47 Why must linkedin suck so much03:30 benefits of posting on linkedin?07:16 How and WHAT to post on linkedin10:19 how to battle the cringe12:59 standing out is actually easy15:03 Leveraging AI on linkedin and elsewhere

in this episode, featured not-expert is Shifra Isaacs. Shifra is a Developer Relations Advocate at Ascend.io and this is part 1 of my 2-part conversation with her. the topic of our discussion is how to switch to a career in tech - esp if you come from a non technical background - like Shifra, who had a background in music before becoming a data scientist and finally pivoting to the DevRel role.All my links: campsite.bio/readysetdoSupport the Ready Set Do podcast: campsite.bio/readysetdo

Timestamps:00:00 Intro + background01:45 Teaching about tech despite not coming "from" tech04:02 From Music to Data: A Career Transition06:41 Do what you like... not what you love08:49 "Finding" data science10:23 Dipping toes into the world of tech13:18 Breaking into Tech: Advice for Career Switchers16:31 Understanding the Field: Skills and Tools19:19 Finding Your Niche: Industry Insights22:32 Current Role: Developer Relations Advocate25:20 Technical Documentation and Community Building26:28 The Role of Mentorship in Learning29:16 Crafting Educational Content

In this episode featured not-expert is Matt Williams.

Matt is the Founder of the Approachable app, which helps people find friends to explore their city or go to events with - in a day and age where adults are lonelier than ever in AmericaPlease support the podcast by subscribing on Spotify/Apple Podcasts/any of your favorite podcast apps

All my links: campsite.bio/readysetdo

Timestamps:00:00 Intro + background02:34  Why did Matt build Approachable05:18  On pivoting away from the original AR platform idea08:24  If decent alternatives exist, should founders not build?11:07  Build process for the app14:09  “Do not hire US Engineers to build your apps”18:10  When do you know app is good enough to ship?19:59  What was the near‑term plan POST launch?22:36  Pitch decks and pitching for investment24:21  Revenue & making $18 K on launch party26:53  Individual people posting events is not the focus anymore29:14  Learnings about human psychology from user behavior data31:07  Security concerns arising from people meeting in‑person33:17  Conducting regular user interviews34:30  Differences in how both sexes behave on the app36:39  Leveraging Apple iOS Store data to drive UI/UX decisions41:27  Finding a unique niche amongst other in‑person social apps44:07  Outro + gratitude ​

Everyone wants to be a Data Scientist, but the real jobs (and the big money) are in Data Engineering.

In this episode, we sit down with Sam LaFell, a Solutions Architect at Snowflake who transitioned from a complete non-tech background (Communications) into one of the most technical roles in the industry.

If you are trying to break into data but are intimidated by coding, or if you are confused about the difference between a Data Analyst, Data Scientist, and Data Engineer, this conversation is your roadmap. Sam breaks down exactly how he taught himself Python and SQL, why you don't need a Computer Science degree to get hired, and the one specific portfolio project that will get you noticed by recruiters.

We also dive deep into the modern data stack: What tools do you actually need to learn in 2025? Is AI going to replace Data Engineers? And what does a "Solutions Architect" actually do all day?

🚀 In this video, we cover:• The "Big 3" Explained: Data Science vs. Analytics vs. Engineering.• Non-Tech to Tech: How to switch careers without a CS Degree.• The "Golden" Project: A step-by-step idea for a portfolio project that gets you hired.• Resume Keywords: The exact tools (Snowflake, SQL, Python) you need to list.• Career Growth: Moving from Engineer to Solutions Architect.• AI & Automation: Why Data Engineering is (mostly) future-proof.

👇 Timestamps:00:00 Background + Introduction01:39 Sam's Hot Take on Data Engineering03:26 The Big 3: Data Science vs. Analytics vs. Engineering06:48 The Lifecycle of Data Pipelines (Explained Simply)08:12 Why pipelines break & why you are needed11:36 Switching to Tech from a Communications Background16:21 Is a Masters in Analytics worth it?17:15 Landing the first Data Engineering Role19:21 Teaching yourself Python from scratch21:13 WHY choose Data Engineering over Data Science?24:26 The exact Tech Stack you need to learn26:03 Example of a GOOD Data Engineering Project28:36 BUILD THIS PROJECT TO GET HIRED33:36 Must-Know Tools for your Resume35:13 What is a Solutions Architect? (Snowflake Role)38:52 Why Storytelling is a technical skill40:31 Will AI replace Data Engineers?43:21 Outro + Gratitude

🔗 Connect with Sam:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlafell/

About the Podcast:We explore the real stories behind high-agency individuals—from self-taught engineers to artists—who are just a few steps ahead in the journey. We don't sell you "lottery ticket" success stories; we show you the practical first steps so you can find your own way forward.

#DataEngineering #DataScience #Snowflake #Python #SQL #CareerSwitch #TechCareers #SelfTaughtDeveloper #SolutionsArchitect #BigData #TechResume #CodingBootcamp

In this episode featured not-expert is Abhay Marda. For over the past five years, Abhay has been working out consistently - at first at home, and then in an actual gym. The question Abhay and myself have tried to answer here today is "Why should someone that has never worked out start working out and how can they do so?"

Beginner-friendly workout plan:

https://splendorous-flan-1dfe7d.netlify.app/

Abhay: https://www.instagram.com/abhaymarda/

All my social links: campsite.bio/readysetdo

Timestamps:00:00 Introduction + Background02:20 Tool- Health SIP Every Month05:20 Why should someone that has never worked out work out09:50 Why movement is important13:20 How Abhay started moving during Covid lockdown16:30 Hidden & underrated effects of working out 20:00 Nutrition34:18 Consistency over intensity38:00 Cardio sucks but so does your heart dying39:20 Abhay roasts Naman's workout plan...Fr tho its good enough to start!53:00 How to not quit & stay consistent58:00 Gratitude + Support me

In this episode featured not-expert is Anugrah Agnihotri. Anugrah is the founder of Dot - which as you'll see, is a very unique take on online journalism. Anugrah quit his job as a consultant at BCG after his MBA to dive into his founder journey full-time.

Timestamps:00:00 Intro + Background01:45 Anugrah's hot take on news media industry 04:12 Introducing DOT: A New Approach to Journalism 09:04 What problem does DOT solve? 11:16 Background story on how Anugrah started and scaled DOT 16:27 A clean and minimalist news website??? SHOCKING 19:48 EVERY detail on the site adds VALUE to Dot's value proposition 23:12 Why not just start a YouTube channel? 27:13 Business model/pricing for DOT 30:02 Feedback Mechanisms in Media 32:35 Democratizing Media and News Councils 34:02 Navigating Truth VS Facts in Journalism 37:38 The Art of Writing Engaging Content 40:51 The Role of AI in Writing 43:40 Marketing Strategies for News Platforms 48:22 Not all experts are created equal 49:50 Future Plans for DOT 54:12 Lessons from Solopreneurship 59:06 Outro + Gratitude

In this episode, featured not-expert is Sara Gomez. Sara is a forensic science graduate from University College London with experience as a Forensic Biology Research Intern at the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

campsite.bio/readysetdoAll my social links!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!campsite.bio/readysetdo

campsite.bio/readysetdo

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro + Background01:57 Covid quarantine made her watch a lot of true crime shows and04:36 Transitioning from Neuroscience to Forensic Science06:46 Choosing the Right Forensic Science Program10:53 Curriculum Insights: Courses and Practical Experiences13:34 The Role of Forensic Scientists in Crime Investigations (Deductions)15:08 Case Studies and Their Impact on Forensic Science18:57 Who does what at a crime scene?21:39 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations in Forensics23:33 Exploring Career Opportunities in Forensic Science25:49 The Reality of Forensic Science Job Market27:26 Debunking Forensic Myths from Pop Culture29:36 The Emotional Toll of Forensic Work32:52 Innovative Technologies in Forensic Science37:58 The Impact of Real-Life Forensics on Personal Perspective40:36 Forensics will reshape your entire world-view42:52 Navigating Challenges as a Non-Native English Speaker44:00 Outro + Gratitude

In this episode, featured not-expert is Bhoomika Jaggi. Bhoomika is a data scientist who pivoted to a career in data science after a masters in economics and econometrics.

Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhoomika-jaggi/

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Timestamps:00:00 Intro + Background01:51 Bhoomika's message to all econ students everywhere 04:02 Economics Is NOT JUST Finance 05:43 How To Begin Learning Economics (Self Learning) 08:03 Bhoomika's background - 3 degrees in economics 11:07 Out of context and suddenly super technical Master's degree 13:47 PhD in Economics: Structure and Challenges 16:35 Development Economics: Understanding Inequality 20:10 The shocking truth about research in PhD econ 21:36 What is a MS in Econometrics all about? 25:43 The Limitations of Economic Models - Game Theory 28:43 Navigating Data and Economics 33:23 Exploring Poverty and Financial Inclusion 40:23 Is socialism or capitalism better according to Economics Theory? 42:04 Bridging the Gap: Academia and Industry 46:01 Challenges with transitioning to data science 48:37 Tips for landing internships! 51:08 Career Opportunities for Economics PhD Students 54:52 Abundant opps for PhD economics in industry!!