In September 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Milken Institute Asia Summit in Singapore. It was a week filled with thought-provoking discussions, high-impact networking, and a front-row seat to how India and Asia are no longer just emerging markets—they are shaping the future of the global economy.

Venture capital often gets painted with a broad brush—a world driven by profit margins, quick returns, and aggressive growth. But at its core, VC is about something much deeper: it’s about identifying groundbreaking ideas, supporting passionate founders, and investing in solutions that can genuinely change the world.

When I first started my career at an accelerator that later grew into a prominent VC firm, I was struck by how much it felt like building a startup itself. I was learning everything from scratch—organizing demo days, crafting marketing strategies, managing portfolios, and sitting in rooms with industry giants from firms like Blackstone. Each conversation was driven by one question: How do we disrupt industries and create meaningful change through technology?

Ever since my middle school days as an amateur school news anchor, I’ve been fascinated by how news shapes our understanding of the world. A single voice—whether it’s an anchor on TV, a writer on a blog, or an expert on a podcast—can influence the way thousands of people think, act, and feel. And when it comes to financial news, that influence can move markets and shape economies.

Storytelling has always been at the heart of who I am. I’m fascinated by people’s stories—their backgrounds, the moments that shaped them, and the paths they took to success. When I was younger, I thought I’d pursue a career in healthcare. At the time, I believed it was my interest for science driving that choice, but in reality, it was the desire to connect with people, listen to their stories, and understand the lessons they carried with them.

I remember it vividly: sitting in a financial management class during business school, surrounded by classmates as we dove into SPY, QQQ, equity trading, and shorting hedge fund strategies. While the jargon swirled around the room, I felt a mix of excitement and curiosity. I wasn’t just observing the conversation; I had my own trading strategies and stories to share—many of which stemmed from that surreal period during COVID when retail investing became the thing. Like thousands of others, I ventured into the world of equities and options, only to realize something unsettling: the language and culture of finance often felt like an exclusive club.

The economy has seen a seismic shift since 2020. From skyrocketing valuations to unprecedented deal flow, venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) have become more alluring than ever. At the center of this economic transformation are the Magnificent 7 — Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla. These tech titans wield so much financial power that their combined market cap surpasses the GDP of entire nations.