Hayley Batson (she/her) is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She received a BFA in Theatre, studying at The Atlantic Acting School, Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and Stonestreet Studios as well as minoring in Producing.

Hayley is continually pursuing opportunities in the entertainment industry and loves collaborating with other artists whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes.

You can get in touch with her at hwbatson@gmail.com

Instagram: instagram.com/hayleybatson

Subham grew in a small village called Bidhan Nagar in northeastern India – a region graced by the proximity of four nations: Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and Nepal. This exposure to a myriad of traditions kindled in him an aspiration that transcended the conventional. He received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur – the oldest IIT, inaugurated in 1951 by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s inaugural Prime Minister.

Subham advanced his educational pursuits with a master’s in Operations Research from Columbia University. He started his professional career at McKinsey & Company, specializing in strategic operations, digital transformations, and advanced analytics. He transitioned to join ConnectWise, a Thoma Bravo portfolio company, where he assumed the role of Strategic Initiatives Manager on the Growth Strategy team. In parallel, Subham co-founded Alokya, a venture that marries functional art with social purpose, partnering with rural South Asian artisans to meticulously craft premium products from sustainable materials.

Currently, Subham is pursuing an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania – a strategic step towards realizing his vision as a social entrepreneur and leader. His passion for Alokya is more than a business venture; it's a mission to elevate India’s traditional folk art on a global stage and to weave a fabric of opportunity for millions of underprivileged artisans. His story is one of ambition, bridging worlds, and a relentless pursuit of impact, guided by the rich heritage of his homeland and a visionary outlook for the future.

Meet Parizoda Asatilloyeva, a first-year international student majoring in Political Science at Columbia University.

“Hailing from a small city in Uzbekistan, my transition to the bustling metropolis of New York has been nothing short of transformative. The rich combination of academic and cultural experiences here has broadened my perspectives in ways I never anticipated. At Columbia, I've had the privilege of connecting with individuals from every corner of the globe. This diversity not only heightened my awareness of personal biases but also fueled a newfound appreciation for my own cultural identity, a unique representation on this cosmopolitan campus.

What sets Columbia apart for me is not just its esteemed academic environment but also its unparalleled location. Every glance out of the window reveals towering buildings that seem to house our future selves. This dual essence of education as both an academic and professional journey inspires me daily, creating a unique blend of motivation and opportunity that defines my experience at Columbia University.”

Tune in to listen to Parizoda talk about her unique academic and personal journey exclusively from the dorms of Columbia University!

Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, John chose to open doors in his career rather than follow his family’s path of becoming a medical doctor. After graduating from Collège du Léman, he went on to read Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge.

He began his career in London, UK as a technical business development for a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization in the Pharmaceutical Industry. It was then that his started to recognize his entrepreneurial dreams which led him to transition into investing at a leading Japanese early-stage technology VC fund, The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners.

John is a current 2nd year MBA student at Harvard Business School and an aspiring entrepreneur in the Healthcare and Life Sciences field.

This podcast session explores John's academic and professional journey, life as an MBA student, as well as specific advice on the admissions process towards an MBA program.

“I definitely felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there but I know that a lot of people felt the same way. You just have to trust that people (on the admissions committee) put you there for a reason...”, reflects Madison Halla, while talking about feeling the imposter syndrome.

Madison Halla is a current senior studying musical theatre at NYU Steinhardt, class of 2024. She grew up in northern VA. She is passionate about helping others fill in gaps of knowledge that she once had concerning the process so they can audition with more confidence and certainty.

Tune in to hear her speak in detail about her application process, the pedagogy at Steinhardt and life at NYU as an artist. Towards the end of the episode, she also performs some songs for our audience in her very remarkable voice.

During COVID, she built her social media channels where she has many videos with tips on navigating the musical theatre college audition process. We recommend that you check them out:

YouTube: @MadisonHalla
Instagram: @madison_halla
TikTok: @madison_halla_

“I remember when I landed I was listening  to ‘The Empire State of Mind’, which is the classical New York song and I was in a little bit of shock and I had a little bit of fear and I was so excited, like I had a lot of feelings but I came with an open mind that this could be anything..” reminisces Polina, a New York University undergrad.

Polina Tyurikova is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business Studies. She is from Moscow and attended a private boarding school in Switzerland for 4 years. Upon finishing her degree, she aspires to apply her knowledge of psychology to big corporations as an HR or Marketing Research professional.

Born and raised in Aurangabad, India, a city famed for its Taj Mahal replica and mesmerizing caves, Prateek hails from a family of educators. Although he grew up playing multiple sports, a career in sport didn't materialize, leading him to pursue a bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

He began his career at Bain & Company as a management consultant.  After strategizing pro-bono for not-for-profits, he transitioned to The Bridgespan Group to work full time in social impact. Subsequently, he joined the leadership team at Rocket Learning, concentrating on early childhood education in India. 

He went on to purse his MBA at Harvard Business School to blend his experience as an athlete with a passion for business and impact. Now situated in Denver, he holds the role of Chief Business Analyst at West2East, actively pursuing his vision of promoting universal access to sports for children from an early age.

“Anytime I leave the library, in the corridors, in the hallway, I always hear so many languages but I almost never hear English...”, exclaims Valeriya while talking about the support system of international students at Columbia University as they navigate college life together through their shared struggles.

In this episode, listen to Valeriya talk about her college applications, getting into her dream school and the turmoil of moving to a different continent at 18.

Valeriya is a first year student at Columbia University, majoring in Applied Mathematics. She is from Russia and she graduated with honors from a top math-school in Moscow. She enjoys seeing how math can be applied absolutely everywhere!