Stern Chats

It’s the final episode of the season! Outgoing co-presidents Gauri Misra & Daulat Mahadik pass the torch to incoming president Mridula Rajagopal as the three of them reflect on their journeys with the club so far: what’s worked, what hasn’t, and their hopes and dreams for the future of Stern Chats. Join us in saying farewell to an incredible Season 17, and we’ll see you all in the fall.

In what is probably the biggest recession indicator of 2025, this Stern Chats episode belongs entirely to Stern Follies. Current Follies members Lipika Sadaram and JC Arenas burn Stern Chats resources to sit down with Co-Presidents Claire Hotvedt and Aastha Girotra. Claire and Aastha talk about how they got involved in Follies and the journey to club leadership, the unique challenges of running a small and scrappy club, and tee up the Follies End of Year Show on May 3rd at the NYU Skirball Center. This episode will answer questions you didn't even know you had like how long did Aastha stay at her first job? How many languages can Claire say the word "platypus" in? And what the heck is a "folly"?

Hosts: Lipika Sadaram & JC Arenas

Produced by: Lipika Sadaram & JC Arenas

Edited by: Gauri Misra

Music by: Jesse Han

Join Ishana Nigam and Daulat Mahadik as they chat with fellow Stern MBAs and passionate runners, Maggie Kuenzi and Ricky Faillace. From qualifying for Boston on her first marathon to a 1,000-day running streak, Maggie shares what fuels her drive. Ricky opens up about running across Europe and his casual weekend half-marathons. Together, they reflect on balancing MBA life with marathon training, the mindset overlap between business and endurance, and offer tips for aspiring runners.

Hosts: Ishana Nigam & Daulat Mahadik

Produced by: Ishana Nigam & Daulat Mahadik

Edited by: Daulat Mahadik

Music by: Jesse Han

Just a month before the release of her upcoming book Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career, Professor Suzy Welch returns to Stern Chats to discuss the Becoming You methodology, which she teaches at NYU. Professor Welch talks to hosts (and former Becoming You students) Arthur Paquet and Becky Davino about what motivated her to write her framework into a book, how to reconcile when our deepest values conflict and evolve, and the challenges of widening our aperture when it comes to finding the right role and industry for us.

Hosts: Arthur Paquet & Becky Davino

Produced by: Arthur Paquet & Becky Davino

Edited by: Alexander Cheung

Music by: Jesse Han

Six months to the day after their first Stern Chats appearance, MBA1s Justin Shalap and Arjun Swaminathan return to Stern Chats with hosts Brian Berry and Bhaskar Vadlamudi for a follow-up pulse check. Justin and Arjun reflect on the first year of the MBA program and look ahead to summer internships and becoming MBA2s. Along the way they share how the first year measured up to their expectations, what they hope to accomplish as incoming leaders of two of the largest organizations at Stern, and their favorite MBA1 memory.

Hosts: Brian Berry & Bhaskar Vadlamudi

Produced by: Brian Berry & Bhaskar Vadlamudi

Edited by: Gauri Misra

Music by: Jesse Han

Rita Bachkhanji and Omar Fahmy join host Mridula Rajagopal to discuss Stern’s MENA (Middle East and North Africa) club. Rita, a co-founder, shares what inspired her to establish MENA in 2024 as both a professional and cultural hub for students of MENA backgrounds and an educational space for allies. Omar, the incoming co-president for 2025-26, outlines the club’s future vision, key programs, and ways for members and allies to get involved. They also discuss MENA’s collaboration with other clubs on campus to foster cross-cultural connections, engagement, and education.

Host: Mridula Rajagopal

Produced by: Mridula Rajagopal

Edited by: Gauri Misra

Music by: Jesse Han

Hosts Smriti Ahuja and Gauri Misra welcome back esteemed Associate Professor of Management and Organizations, Michael North, to explore his research on the aging and multigenerational workforce and its impact on the workplace, the current political climate, perceptions of gender norms, and our lives as MBA students and beyond. Professor North also delves into how he has evolved his teaching approach over the years and what drives his passion for education. As Stern MBAs contemplate life after the MBA, this conversation offers crucial insights into what the future holds for us and our co-participants in the workforce.

Hosts: Smriti Ahuja & Gauri Misra

Produced by: Smriti Ahuja

Edited by: Gauri Misra

Music by: Jesse Han

In collaboration with Stern Women in Business and in honor of International Women's Day, Stern Chats sits down with Jennifer Wynn, Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern who teaches courses including Difficult Conversations and Reparative Conversations. In this Women's Day Special, hosts Radhini Sridhara and Nikita Garg chat with Professor Wynn about the women who inspired her, the importance of mentors and sponsors (both female and male), and navigating the challenges and barriers faced by women in the workplace.

Hosts: Radhini Sridhara & Nikita Garg

Produced by: Radhini Sridhara & Nikita Garg

Edited by: Daulat Mahadik

Music by: Jesse Han

As businesses increasingly deal with navigating the gray area between right and wrong, Stern Chats brings you insights from Alison Taylor, Professor of Sustainability for Competitive Advantage and Professional Responsibility at Stern! Professor Taylor joins hosts Nikhita Ramakrishnan and Kovin Sachdev as the trio navigates the winding decision journeys of corporations as they tide the tumultuous ethical waters to reach their "Higher Ground." Their conversation touches upon company ownership, Professor Taylor's new book "Higher Ground," and Zen outside of work. Be sure to catch this gem for some food for thought!

Hosts: Nikhita Ramakrishnan & Kovin Sachdev

Produced by: Nikhita Ramakrishnan & Kovin Sachdev

Edited by: Alex Cheung

Music by: Jesse Han

As MBA application season continues, Stern Chats brings you some insider insights from Stern Admissions! Director of MBA Admissions, Matthew Moll, joins hosts Mridula Rajagopal and Radhini Sridhara to share his tips for Stern MBA applicants and to discuss the wealth of courses and experiential opportunities that future Sternies can look forward to. All the while, Mridula and Radhini share anecdotes from their own admissions experiences before playing a game of Application Dos and Don'ts with Matthew!

Hosts: Mridula Rajagopal & Radhini Sridhara

Produced by: Mridula Rajagopal, Radhini Sridhara, Surya Ravipati

Edited by: Mridula Rajagopal

Music by: Jesse Han