Today, I’m joined by Bruce McNamer from the Stanford MBA Class of 1995 and Batu Demir from the Class of 2025.
Bruce is a philanthropic leader who has spent his life weaving together business, government, and global development. He’s currently President of the Builders Initiative, part of Lucas Walton’s Builders Vision, where he steers capital and grants toward environmental and social change. Before that, he led TechnoServe, drove strategy at JPMorgan Chase and McKinsey, served as a White House Fellow, and even worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay. Bruce brings a rare mix of heart, systems thinking, and real-world impact to the conversation.
Batu is a second-year MBA student who was born blind and is now charting new territory in both AI and accessibility. Originally from Izmir, Turkey, he’s worked at McKinsey, Google, and startups like WeWALK, while also competing as a professional blind soccer player. At Stanford, he co-founded the school’s Disability Club and has been a vocal advocate for designing tech with inclusion in mind from the start.
Bruce and Batu explore how leadership, opportunity, and systems change intersect across three decades. We talk about building markets for good, AI as a tool for empowerment, and how each generation—Gen X and Gen Z—views risk, meaning, and purpose. It’s a deeply moving and often funny conversation across space, time, and values.
00:00 Introduction to Philanthropy and Accessibility
08:09 Personal Journeys: Overcoming Challenges and Innovating Solutions
13:41 Career Paths: From Consulting to Philanthropy
17:44 Navigating Career Decisions in a Changing Landscape
20:33 The Impact of AI on Accessibility and Education
25:00 AI for Good: Exploring Opportunities and Ethical Considerations
25:50 Creating a Bubble: The GSB Experience
28:32 AI and Accessibility: Designing for All
31:40 The Evolution of Business Models in Tech
33:53 Government and Business: A Complex Relationship
37:53 Economic Challenges: Lessons from Turkey
41:43 Empowering Communities: The Role of Development
44:02 Reflections on Relationships and Learning
48:43 Finding Purpose: 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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