In Episode 15 we meet Christina Wallace, an MBA Graduate of Harvard Business School (HBS).

Christina is Harvard Business School professor, Tony nominated Broadway Producer, and the Author of the Portfolio Life. Christina shares her journey from entrepreneurship to academia and discusses what it means to build a career and life that goes beyond a traditional, linear path. Her book explores how we can build meaningful lives and careers in an increasingly complex world.

In this episode, Christina talks about:
• Her journey from the arts to business
• Why you don't have to choose just one path
• How to think about building a “portfolio life”
• The importance of experimenting with different careers and interests
• What students should consider when navigating uncertainty after graduation

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondharvard
Join the community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ln2KS4ZtfW6F9Gl2Sxpmn1?mode=gi_t

Connect with Christina:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christinawallace
Christina's Website: https://www.portfoliolife.com/
Purchase the Portfolio Life: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538710471

Credits:
Host: Rashana Weerasinghe
Guest: Christina Wallace
Location: Harvard University

Chapters:
00:00-0:45 Intro
0:45-3:02 Identity as a Multi-Hyphenate
3:02-5:43 Choosing Not to Choose
5:43-7:26 Simple Systems for a Complex Life
7:26-10:38 Human Venn Diagram
10:38-15:43 What Is a Portfolio Life?
15:43-17:31 Turning Your Life Into a Portfolio
17:31-19:22 Designing Portfolio for Each Season of Life
19:22-21:55 Avoiding the Trap of Lifestyle Creep
21:55-24:05 Why Doing One Thing Is the Riskiest Career Move
24:05-25:59 Is Consulting Really “Safe”?
25:59-28:51 Why a High Salary Doesn't Guarantee Security
28:51-30:24 The Entrepreneur & Artist Mindset
30:24-31:24 Diversification as a Way to Future-Proof Your Career
31:24-33:03 Diversifying Your Identity
33:03-35:12 From Mathematics & Theater to Broadway Producing
35:12-37:19 How Christina Became a Broadway Producer
37:19-42:51 Storytelling & Leadership in the Age of AI
42:51-43:26 Becoming a Professor at Harvard Business School
43:26-46:11 Christina’s Experience as an HBS Student
46:11-48:28 Finding the “Weirdos” at Harvard
48:28-50:27 Learning From Failure
50:27-53:46 Practice Failing Small
53:46-55:06 How Failure Led Christina Back to Harvard
55:06-57:02 Importance of Failure
57:02-1:04:35 Rapid Fire with Rashana*

Beyond Harvard is a student-led podcast sharing the stories, experiences, and lessons of students, alumni, faculty, and members of the Harvard community - making pathways to higher education and beyond more accessible to everyone.

Disclaimer: Beyond Harvard is an independent platform. All views are our own.

#harvardbusinessschool #harvard #professor #portfolio #entrepreneurship #business #podcast #careeradvice

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In Episode 14 we meet Ignacio Rodriguez, a Master’s Candidate in Education Policy Analysis at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE).

From a rural town in Colombia, Ignacio shares his journey as a first-generation college student. He began learning English at the age of 16, went on to become a Fulbright Scholar, and most recently delivered the HGSE Student Commencement Speech.

In this conversation, Ignacio reflects on the experiences that shaped his path and the importance of believing in where you can go, even when ones circumstances may suggest otherwise. His message for listeners: “where you are born does not determine how far you will go.”

In this episode, we discuss:
• Growing up in rural Colombia
• Ignacio's journey to Harvard
• Navigating scholarships and financial aid
• Believing, belonging, and becoming

Beyond Harvard is a platform sharing the stories of students at Harvard University - uncovering who they are at Harvard and beyond.

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondharvard
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Join WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ln2KS4ZtfW6F9Gl2Sxpmn1?mode=gi_t

Connect with Ignacio:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignaciorodriguez-artunduaga/?isSelfProfile=false
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ignaciorodriguezart/
Watch Ignacio's HGSE Commencement Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjPKki6Mo-0

Credits:
Host: Rashana Weerasinghe
Guest: Ignacio Rodriguez
Videographer / Editor: Yaoming Duan
Location: Harvard University

Chapters
00:00-3:45 Intro
3:45-8:33 Childhood in Colombia
8:33-14:06 Types of Privilege
14:06-18:30 Decision to Apply to Harvard
18:30-25:00 Journey to Harvard
25:00- 26:44 Fulbright Scholar
26:44-30:50 Scholarship Applications
30:50-33:18 Accepted to Harvard
33:18-48:23 Navigating Financial Aid
48:23-53:30 Challenges at Harvard
53:50-55:44 Overcoming Failure
55:44-1:04:52 Identity Struggles
1:04:52-1:08:32 Rapid Fire with Rashana*

Disclaimer: Beyond Harvard is an independent platform. All views are our own.

#harvard #harvarduniversity #internationalstudents #colombia #internationalstudent #highereducation #mastersdegree #fulbrightscholarship #fulbright

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In Episode 13 we meet Alanis Carmona, a PhD Candidate at Harvard Chan School of Public Health.

Born and raised in Chicago, Alanis developed an early passion for medicine. She attended Bates College, where she majored in biochemistry, minored in Chinese, and completed the pre-med track. After several years conducting biomedical research, she joined Harvard University, where she earned her PhD in Cancer Biology. Alanis reveals how she entered college on the pre-med track, believing she would become a physician, before discovering that research was another powerful way to improve patient outcomes.

We discuss:
• Choosing the right path: graduate school (PhD) or medical school (MD)
• Navigating failure and the realities of scientific research
• Completing a Harvard PhD in just four years

Whether you're considering graduate school, curious about biomedical research, or interested in the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and social impact, this conversation offers an honest look at the many paths a career in science can take.

Beyond Harvard is a platform sharing the stories of students at Harvard University - uncovering who they are at Harvard and beyond.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondharvard

Connect with Alanis:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanis-carmona-phd-838127100/

Credits:
Host: Rashana Weerasinghe
Guest: Alanis Carmona
Location: Harvard University

Chapters
00:00-1:17 Intro
1:17-7:47 Dream of Becoming a Doctor
7:47-8:24 The Research Route
8:24-12:54 A Different Doctor Title
12:54-20:05 My PhD Journey
20:05-24:04 Completing a PhD in 4 years
24:04-30:40 MD vs PhD Programs
30:40-36:52 Harvard Health Lab Accelerator
36:52-43:14 Rapid Fire with Rashana *

Disclaimer: Beyond Harvard is an independent platform. All views are our own.

#Podcast #Harvard #PhD #PublicHealth #CancerResearch #BreastCancerResearch #STEM #BiomedicalResearch #GraduateSchool #Studentlife #Mentorship #Entrepreneurship

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In Episode 12 we meet Joshua Andrews, a first-year student at Harvard College studying Applied Mathematics.

Born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa, Joshua shares what it was like applying to Harvard as an international student and reflects on his first year navigating life, academics, and community in the United States.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Joshua's journey from South Africa to Harvard College
• Why a liberal arts education was the right fit for him
• Applying to Harvard as an international student
• Lessons from his first year at Harvard
• Advice for students hoping to study abroad

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In Episode 11, we meet Madison Marsh: a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Miss America 2024, and a Master of Public Policy candidate at Harvard Kennedy School.

Madison shares her journey from military service to the Miss America stage and reflects on how losing her mother to pancreatic cancer inspired her to found the Whitney Marsh Foundation - an organization dedicated to supporting pancreatic cancer patients and advancing research. Throughout her journey, Madison has broken barriers and redefined what it means to be a woman in STEM, service, and on stage.

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In Episode 10, we meet Alex Dong, an MD/MBA Candidate at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Harvard Business School (HBS). Originally from Canada, Alex attended a high school with few resources to support students applying to universities in the United States. Alex shares his journey from his hometown to Yale College and now Harvard University. He discusses his upbringing, liberal arts education, work in science journalism, and vision for a career that combines healthcare and business. From charting his own course to making the most of opportunities along the way, Alex reflects on the lessons that shaped his path.

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In Episode 9, we meet Chandra Sahu, an MBA Candidate at Harvard Business School (HBS). From growing up in Michigan to launching her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, Chandra shares all that she's learned along the way - opening up about her identity as a queer Black woman navigating corporate America and business school.

Beyond Harvard is a platform sharing the stories of students at Harvard University - uncovering who they are at Harvard and beyond.

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/beyondharvard/

Connect with Chandra:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csahu1/?isSelfProfile=false
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chansahu/

Credits:
Host: Rashana Weerasinghe
Guest: Chandra Sahu
Videographer / Editor: Yaoming Duan
Location: Harvard Spangler Center

00:00-2:00 Intro
2:00-5:16 Growing up in Michigan
5:16-7:35 Journey to College
7:35-8:02 Choice of UMichigan
8:03-11:04 Starting at Goldman Sachs
11:04-14:17 Reflections from Goldman Sachs
14:17-19:37 Leaving Goldman Sachs
19:37-22:14 Joining a Startup
22:14-24:57 Moving into Product Management
24:57-32:18 MBA Journey
32:18-37:35 Experience at Harvard Business School
37:35-40:40 Post-MBA
40:41-45:13 Rapid Fire with Rashana *

Disclaimer: Beyond Harvard is an independent platform. All views are our own.

#podcast #harvard #harvardbusinessschool #mbajourney #mba #queer #blackwoman #goldmansachs #harvard #beyondharvard #students #studentlife #interview #career

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In Episode 8, we meet Abhi Gunasekar, an MS/MBA Candidate at Harvard Business School (HBS) and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). Abhi shares his journey studying computer science at Purdue University, to working as a Software Engineer at Amazon, and now pursuing a dual degree graduate program at Harvard University.

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