Today, I’m joined by Brad Smith from the Stanford MBA Class of 1995 and Yoshimi Muneta from the Class of 2025.
Brad spent over 30 years leading IT and operations for companies like Uline, McMaster-Carr, PayNet, EthnicGrocer.com, CellNet Systems, and Accenture. In early 2025, he transitioned full-time into nonprofit leadership, now serving as Co-Chair of Project Redwood, a GSB-founded initiative fighting global poverty, as well as a board member of THRIVEGulu and advisor to a family-run school in Northern India that educates 1,300 under-resourced students.
Yoshimi is a second-year MBA student at Stanford, passionate about building inclusive cultures, scaling innovation, and making ocean environments more accessible. Born and raised in Mexico with Japanese heritage, she specialized in retail and education consulting at EY-Parthenon before moving to Finland to spearhead Wolt (DoorDash)’s e-grocery expansion. Her launches in Cyprus and Malta became Wolt Market’s two most profitable markets — and now she’s exploring new frontiers at the intersection of education, HR tech, and ocean sustainability.
Together, Brad and Yoshimi reflect on navigating uncertainty, shifting from achievement to meaning, and how leadership, creativity, and human connection shape careers across generations.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:56 Career Paths and Job Search
07:14 Experiences in the Dot Com Boom
09:54 E-Groceries and International Launches
13:16 Navigating the Dot Com Crash
15:52 Entrepreneurial Aspirations and Social Impact
19:04 Shifts in Career Focus and Philanthropy
22:07 Education and Making an Impact
24:50 Generational Perspectives on Purpose
28:03 Life Transitions and Future Plans
32:28 Philanthropy and Giving Back
37:10 Navigating Career Paths and Partnerships
42:05 Ocean Conservation and Entrepreneurship
48:20 The Impact of Technology on Philanthropy
55:07 Advice for the Next Generation
Join the Podcast Series
Stanford MBA: From Baby Boomer to Gen Z | Class of ‘95 Meets Class of ‘25
Each of these episodes will feature a different pair of Stanford MBA people -- one from the class of 1995, and one from the class of 2025.
Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected with future episodes!
📺 Also available on YouTube:
Entire series playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSaVisoF0D_GKxVmHmakNxdpAJCb5_VTP
More info: https://www.katharinemclennan.com/
Contact: kath@katharinemclennan.com
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