Shaping Future Leaders
The Pinewood Scholars Program in Social Entrepreneurship is a transformative initiative for students, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to tackle pressing global challenges. This program fosters a strong commitment to social innovation, sustainability, and community impact, empowering students to drive meaningful change through entrepreneurial projects and initiatives.
2024-25 Pinewood Scholars
Junior Class: Dhruv Gupta, Avery Hall, Ian Hsiao, Braxton Kimura, Riya Kolappa, Aretha Liu, Kyle Ma, Harper Moss, Alan Skelley, Mailey Wang, Caitlin Yamaguchi, Harry Yang
Senior Class: Lacey Armistead, Jamie Burton, Annabelle Eaton, Zach Galbraith, Katherine Garr, Ruby Hannelly, Alakh Kapadia, Arnav Karandikar, Leo Shang, Michael Shtrom, Christina Tanase, Koh Taradash, Kathleen Xie
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Exploring Innovation: Our Visit to Playground Global
Our students recently had an extraordinary opportunity to visit Playground Global, a cutting-edge venture capital firm that nurtures innovative ideas into world-changing technologies. This visit was made possible by Pinewood parent Jerry Hsiao, a limited partner at Playground Global, who graciously introduced us to the company. During the visit, students learned about the incredible technologies Playground Global is investing in, including advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, space exploration, and more.
This hands-on experience allowed students to see how bold ideas are transformed into tangible solutions that impact industries and everyday lives. From thought-provoking discussions to interactive demonstrations, the visit provided a fascinating look at the future of technology and entrepreneurship.
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Guest Speakers
Doing Well vs. Doing Good
Sudheesh Nair, former CEO of ThoughtSpot
Our PSP students had the unique opportunity to engage with Sudheesh Nair, the former CEO of ThoughtSpot, a global leader in AI-driven analytics. With a wealth of experience in scaling innovative tech companies, Mr. Nair shared his insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and creating impact through technology. Under his guidance, ThoughtSpot revolutionized the way businesses leverage data to make smarter decisions, cementing its place as a transformative force in the industry.
In his discussion, Mr. Nair explored the theme of "Doing Well vs. Doing Good," challenging students to reflect on the balance between financial success and societal impact. Are these goals inherently at odds, or can they coexist within the framework of capitalism? He raised thought-provoking questions about whether to build a business or join one, whether profit should always drive decision-making, and the nuances of founder worship in Silicon Valley. A key highlight of the conversation was the introduction of IKIGAI, a Japanese concept meaning "Reason for Being," which encourages individuals to align their passions, skills, and values in their personal and professional pursuits.
Confidence, Growth, and the Power of Learning
Nishant Doshi, Chief Product and Development Officer at Cyberhaven
Students in our Social Entrepreneurship class had the opportunity to engage with Nishant Doshi, who delivered an insightful talk titled "Journey of an Imposter." In his discussion, Nishant shared his experiences navigating fear and uncertainty while building a career rooted in continuous learning and innovation. He spoke about his entrepreneurial journey, candidly recounting both successes and failures. Nishant emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with mentors, maintaining a growth mindset, and stepping outside your comfort zone—key lessons as our students begin their mission-driven projects.
A special thank-you to Harry Yang, PSP parent, for coordinating this impactful session. Nishant’s journey of embracing confidence, fear, and a willingness to learn was an inspiration to all.
Scaling Impact
Joshua Ault, Professor of Global Business at Thunderbird School of Global Management
Our class had the privilege of hearing from Joshua Ault, Professor of Global Business at Thunderbird School of Global Management (and uncle of Zack Galbraith, one of our classmates!). With his extensive experience in social entrepreneurship, Professor Ault discussed the critical concept of scalability in nonprofit organizations. He shared real-world examples of how nonprofits can grow their impact while maintaining their mission, providing valuable insights for students looking to combine business strategies with social good. His talk resonated with many students who are considering studying business or social entrepreneurship in college, as they gained valuable insights into how they can apply these principles in their future academic and career paths.
From Pinewood to Purpose
Christina Bullock '04, Founder of Joyasol
Pinewood students had the privilege of welcoming Christina Bullock '04, founder of Joyasol, as part of our Ethics and Entrepreneurship unit. Christina shared her journey from Pinewood to founding her sustainable women’s shoe brand, which aims to address the staggering environmental impact of discarded footwear. With degrees in design and art history from UC Davis, a master’s in marketing from Hult International Business School, and a UCLA sustainability certificate, Christina demonstrated how a strong foundation in education and values can lead to impactful entrepreneurship. She emphasized her mission to create stylish, durable shoes while reducing landfill waste, promoting ethical manufacturing, and giving back to communities in need.
Christina's candid discussion about the challenges she faced—juggling roles, navigating supply chains, and balancing family life—provided invaluable lessons for our students. Her advice focused on defining a problem, creating unique solutions, building strong teams, and staying resilient in the face of obstacles. Students were inspired by her passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment to sustainability and ethics. We are grateful for her time and encourage you to explore her work at joyasolshoes.com. Moments like these showcase the power of alumni connections in motivating the next generation of socially responsible innovators.
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Venturing Out
A Magical Adventure: Exploring Sustainability at Sempera Organics
Both PSP classes embarked on an enlightening field trip to Sempera Organics, a trailblazer in sustainable food innovation. Founded by the visionary Nirmal Nair, Sempera Organics creates mushroom-based products that promote human health and environmental well-being. Students toured two fascinating facilities, diving into the science and art of cultivating and developing functional mushroom products. The experience brought to life the intricate processes behind sustainable food solutions and inspired students to think critically about the future of food.
Adding to the excitement, we were joined by Siva Kolappa, a PSP parent and investor in Sempera Organics. Siva shared his insights on evaluating investment opportunities in sustainable businesses, offering students a unique perspective on the entrepreneurial and investment sides of sustainability.
This unforgettable day sparked curiosity, creativity, and deeper thinking about innovation and impact.
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The Final Take: Senior Podcasts
This semester, our senior PSP students concluded their journey of reflection with a powerful podcasting project. Each student created a podcast that delved deeply into their mission-driven projects, exploring their potential biases, how their work fit within larger societal systems, and the tangible impact they made in their communities.
These podcasts are more than just reflections; they are calls to action. By sharing their experiences and insights, our students have crafted narratives that highlight the power of young voices in creating meaningful change. We are thrilled to announce that these podcasts will be submitted to both the NPR and The New York Times podcast contests, where they have the potential to reach and inspire audiences around the world.
Through their words, our students aim to ignite a spark in listeners everywhere to take action, fostering positive change in their own communities. Stay tuned as we celebrate the achievements of these incredible young changemakers and their contributions to a better tomorrow!
Find all PSP podcasts on Apple and Spotify.
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PSP Juniors Gear Up for Parent Pitch Night
Our PSP juniors have finalized their project ideas and are now preparing for the highly anticipated Parent Pitch Night! To hone their presentation skills, they’ve been watching Shark Tank pitches and TED Talks, learning how to effectively present their ideas with confidence and clarity. With practice and dedication, they are ready to impress parents and showcase their mission-driven projects. Stay tuned for an exciting evening of innovation and impact!
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Curriculum Update
PSP 1 — Classroom Moments
Unit 1: Who Are You?
We started the year with a deep dive into self-discovery, reflecting on core values, passions, and aspirations to build a strong foundation for personal growth.
Unit 2: What is Social Entrepreneurship?
In August, we explored innovative strategies used by social entrepreneurs to tackle societal challenges and introduced key concepts for analyzing impactful solutions.
Unit 3: Design Thinking
In September, students learned the five stages of Design Thinking: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—and applied this methodology to develop creative solutions to real-world problems.
Unit 4: Passion Discovery - What Matters to Me?
Through podcasts, documentaries, and interviews, students explored diverse perspectives and began shaping mission-driven projects aligned with their passions.
Unit 5: Execution of Your Project
Currently, students are applying business models and using project management tools like Trello to execute their social impact projects, setting goals, and creating actionable plans.
PSP 2 — Farewell!
Dear PSP 2 Seniors,
It’s incredible to think about the journey we’ve shared since you first interviewed as 10th graders. Back then, you brought curiosity, excitement, and big ideas about how to create change. Today, as seniors, you’ve built on that same curiosity, turning your ideas into action and your passions into meaningful impact.
Over the past few years, we’ve grown together—through challenges, successes, and surprising discoveries. You’ve shown dedication, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to learning more about yourselves and the world around you.
As you prepare for this next chapter, I hope you carry with you the lessons and experiences that have shaped your time in PSP. You’ve already proven that you can make a difference, and I can’t wait to see how you’ll continue to do so in college and beyond.
Bravo on all you’ve achieved. You’ve made me so proud, and I’m excited to cheer you on in whatever comes next.
– Mrs G.
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Want to Know More?
Explore our past newsletters to get a feel for program experiences, speakers, and projects • Follow our latest adventures on Instagram!
Questions about the program? Have a fabulous speaker to recommend, or an impactful organization that our class should visit? Please contact Michelle Gannon at mgannon@pinewood.edu.