What does AI look like through the eyes of someone who is actually growing up with it?

In this episode, I sit down with Tianyi Chen, a student leader at Cornell who isn’t just using AI — she’s building communities around it.

Tianyi is:

• Founder of the Computational Sustainability Club
• Executive Vice President of the Cornell Data Journal
• Deeply involved in AI, sustainability and leadership on campus

And here’s what impressed me — she doesn’t treat AI as a shortcut.

She treats it as a responsibility.

We spoke about:
• Why students should “solve first, prompt later”
• Why AI can accelerate sustainability instead of destroying it
• Why leadership among smart peers isn’t about IQ — it’s about trust
• Why she chose startup life over research
• And why AI can define a tear… but can’t understand why you cried

This generation isn’t waiting for policies or permission. They are building.

And Tianyi represents that mindset.

✔ AI should assist your thinking — not replace it
✔ Sustainability needs data acceleration, not just ESG buzzwords
✔ Leadership is about facilitation, not intellectual superiority
✔ Community building is invisible work before visible impact
✔ Interdisciplinary skills = future-proof careers
✔ Startup environments build adaptability faster than classrooms

• Best place she thinks clearly? Library stacks — you can hear a pin drop.
• Her AI tool of choice? Notion AI note taker.
• Sleep schedule? 10 PM to 6 AM — non-negotiable.
• Late-night debugging? Absolutely not.
• Sustainability buzzword she’s tired of? ESG.
• Most unexpected fun class? Introduction to Ancient Rome.
• If AI were a classmate? Overachiever.

If you care about:
– Responsible AI
– Sustainability beyond greenwashing
– Leadership in high-performance environments
– How Gen Z is actually thinking

This episode is for you.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tchen06/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachin-menon/
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The conversation with Balazs Sarkany delves into the uncomfortable truth about material sourcing, the challenges of supply chain transparency, and the critical role of material validation. It highlights the impact of rare materials on AI, EVs, and clean energy, emphasizing the need for ethical sourcing and traceability. Additionally, it explores India's potential role in the critical materials ecosystem and provides insights into supply chain myths, AI hype, and regulatory impact.

Takeaways

• Materials Validation
• Supply Chain Transparency

Chapters

• 00:00 The Uncomfortable Truth About Materials
• 07:44 The Importance of Material Validation
• 18:37 Rare Materials and Their Impact
• 35:24 India's Role in Critical Materials Ecosystem
• 41:54 Rapid Fire Round

The conversation delves into the intersection of AI, sales, and leadership, exploring the role of AI in personalized coaching, the importance of empathy in sales, and the impact of AI on leadership development. Ioanna shares insights on the future of work, the use of AI in emerging markets, and the ethical considerations of AI in business.

Takeaways

• AI's role in personalized coaching
• The importance of empathy in sales
• The impact of AI on leadership development
• The future of work and the use of AI in emerging markets
• Ethical considerations of AI in business

Chapters

• 00:00 The Intersection of AI, Sales, and Leadership
• 05:11 Sales: People First, Technology Second
• 19:47 The Role of AI in Sales and Leadership
• 25:07 The Future of Work and AI in Emerging Markets