Today, I’m joined by Steve Hochman from the Stanford MBA Class of 1995 and Ayesha Karnik from the Class of 2025.
Steve started two companies, selling both. His first was lucy activewear, a predecessor to Lululemon, which was sold to Vanity Fair Corp. He then moved into large company roles, leading new business development for a startup incubator at Intel and later overseeing global supply chain strategy for Nike, culminating as Nike’s Global VP of Retail Supply Chain. Passionate about sustainability, Steve went on to leadership roles at Bolt Threads, creating biodegradable spider silk, and Sseko Designs, a social commerce brand supporting economic independence for young women in Uganda through circular supply chains. Today, he consults to Global 500 clients on supply chain transformation at Nagarro, Inc.
Ayesha Karnik is a second-year MBA student at Stanford. She has worked in strategy consulting at Dalberg Advisors and on growth strategy for Strive Health, a value-based kidney care company. Earlier, she served as a Health Policy Research Intern for the Council of Economic Advisors at the White House. Now, she is taking the leap to launch her own startup focused on developing an innovative blood-based cancer diagnostic test.
Together, Steve and Ayesha explore the evolution of entrepreneurship at Stanford across 30 years, the intersection of business, science, and social impact, and the different ways their generations are shaping industries—from sustainable supply chains to healthcare innovation.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Background
04:03 Reflections on Time and Relationships
06:57 Aisha's Startup Journey
10:02 The Evolution of Startups
13:14 Stanford's Startup Ecosystem
15:55 Learning and Growth at Stanford
18:59 Steve's Career Path and Insights
21:15 From Intel to Entrepreneurship: The Journey Begins
22:43 Navigating Policy and Healthcare: Aisha's Shift
26:00 Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship: Steve's Philosophy
30:12 Risk and Impact: The Balancing Act
32:23 The Intersection of Science and Business
37:26 Supply Chain Challenges in Innovation
43:48 Global Perspectives: Supporting Women in Business
53:16 Supply Chain Uncertainties and Agility
54:45 Manufacturing Challenges in the U.S.
01:01:40 The Role of AI in Business Strategy
01:12:53 Reflections on Learning and Future Aspirations
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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