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

In this episode, Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) speaks with Ayo Dada (’19 cohort) who imagines a world where education is accessible to everyone regardless of any aspect of their identity. Ayo shares his journey from Nigeria to Stanford—an unexpected path set in motion by a single email—and reflects on how discovering Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset shaped his academic trajectory. He discusses his early steps after studying psychology at the University of Lagos, his PhD research on psychologically wise interventions, and his current postdoctoral work focused on expanding opportunities for girls in underserved regions. Ayo also reflects on how the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community broadened his perspective, the skills he gained through the program, and the global experiences that continue to inform his commitment to education as a collaborative, empowering process.

Highlights from this episode:

(2:08) Introduction

(2:48) Recounting the journey from Nigeria to Stanford and how one email changed everything

(4:38) Reflecting on the influence of Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset

(6:22) Exploring his path after studying psychology at the University of Lagos

(7:58) Describing his current postdoctoral work expanding opportunities for girls in underserved regions

(9:05) Discussing his PhD research on psychologically wise interventions

(14:02) Reframing education as a collaborative process

(19:54) How Knight-Hennessy Scholars complemented his experience at Stanford

(25:13) Identifying the main skill he gained from Knight-Hennessy Scholars

(27:15) Takeaways from his Global Travel/Study program trip to Norway

(30:00) Highlights from the Global Leadership Program

(33:10) Remembering favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars traditions

In this episode, Sydney Hunt (’23 cohort) interviews fellow host Anson Zhou (’24 cohort) alongside special guest host Katherine Hu (’22 cohort). Anson imagines a world where all medical discoveries successfully translate into patient care. He discusses how his experiences in research, consulting, and clinical rotations deepened his commitment to addressing the “translation gap” in medicine — ensuring that innovations reach the patients who need them most.

Highlights from this episode:

(06:27) Journey from New York to Suzhou, China to D.C. and eventually California

(11:02) Pursuing biomedical engineering in undergrad

(20:01) Reasoning behind pursuing an MD and MBA dual degree at Stanford

(29:34) Reflecting on the MD experience so far

(34:50) Hopes for his MBA year

(40:38) How he plans to use his MD and MBA in the future

(45:34) Rapid questions, advice to Knight-Hennessy Scholars applicants, and improbable facts

This is the inaugural episode of the Imagine A World podcast, Alumni Edition, where host Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) sits down with alumni to explore their journeys since graduating from Stanford and how they are making an impact in their personal and professional lives. In this episode, Eli speaks with Bingyi Wang (’18 cohort), who imagines a world where technology and science transcend borders to bring benefits to everyday people. Bingyi shares her path from China to New Mexico, where she attended a United World College, and then to Williams College, where she studied physics before later pursuing a PhD in physics at Stanford University. Bingyi discusses her research on curing blindness, her experiences as a Knight-Hennessy scholar, and how being part of the KHS community has shaped her worldview and commitment to global collaboration.

Highlights from the episode

• 2:46 Recounting the journey from China to Stanford
• 4:36 Reflecting on how Immersion Weekend drew her to Stanford
• 6:33 Connection between her work today and her time as a PhD student
• 10:23 Framing how Knight-Hennessy Scholars fit into her experience at Stanford and beyond
• 14:04 Thinking about scientific rigor beyond research in a time of uncertainty
• 16:38 Founding her first company through Knight-Hennessy Scholars
• 18:09 The value of improv and storytelling
• 21:20 Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars memories

In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) speak with Alina Santander Vinokurova ('24 cohort) who imagines a world where the aerospace industry serves both humanity and Earth equally. Alina shares about her journey from growing up in Bolivia to pursuing a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford. She also reflects on how climate crises like the Amazon wildfires shaped her vision for an aerospace industry that not only advances exploration but also protects our planet.

Highlights from the episode:

(3:56) Exciting summer plans

(10:53) Journey from Bolivia to Stanford

(17:32) Navigating the application process for university

(21:05) Becoming interested in engineering, aerospace, and climate tech

(38:06) Being a Knight-Hennessy Scholar

(50:17) Competing in the NASA Rover Challenge and other improbable facts

In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) interviews Willie Thompson ('22 cohort), one of the original creators of Imagine a World, and a person whose presence will be deeply missed within the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community. Throughout the episode, he reflects on what it means to be in community with others and how that has looked for him from where he grew up to his time as a husband and father at Stanford as part of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community.

Don't miss: A surprise visit by another person who played a pivotal role in the creation of the Imagine a World podcast: Taylor Goss ('21 cohort).

Highlights from the episode:

(02:46) Imagine a World/Denning House-style guessing game

(05:54) Surprise visit from Taylor Goss

(07:18) Growing up in the Deep South, going to Morehouse College, spending a year in Taiwan as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, spending a year in Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar, and working at The Bridgespan Group

(11:29) Things Willie liked to do in his communities growing up and the inspiration behind his interest in education

(15:51) Wanting to start a school

(19:49) His experiences in high school leading up to Morehouse and how he was able to form a tight-knit community with his peers at Morehouse

(29:25) Deciding to apply to Fulbright and Schwarzman

(33:55) Elaborating on his Imagine a World statement

(41:48) Being in the Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars community and being in community as a father, husband, and a Knight-Hennessy Scholar

(47:19) Value of mixing fields and programs while at Stanford

(54:44) Improbable facts, five favorite albums of all time, and Willie's walk-on song

In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) interviews Rachel Desch ('23 cohort) who imagines a world where trusted institutions and leaders are able to mitigate violent conflict and inspire innovative policymaking. Rachel is a second-year master’s student in international policy. Before coming to Stanford, she spent nearly a decade working in the federal government. In this episode, Rachel describes how her upbringing on a military base and wide-ranging academic background have fueled her commitment to building trust in government, adopting holistic approaches to conflict resolution, and potentially running for public office. She highlights the “start-up culture” pockets within government where mission-driven work thrives, and shares other personal interests.

Highlights from the episode:

(02:21) Reflecting on spring quarter

(05:54) Growing up in a military community in Fayetteville, North Carolina

(11:38) Going from high school to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to Stanford

(19:59) Working on foreign policy analysis and making the decision to go back to graduate school

(24:45) Reason behind working in the government after graduating from UNC

(29:06) Building people's trust in institutions and leaders, mitigating violent conflict, and inspiring innovative policymaking

(36:44) Reflecting on people's perceptions of government and government work

(41:24) Advice for people interested in applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars

(43:10) Improbable facts