Photo Credit: Grace Tomin ‘26.
On Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, Business Leaders at D-E (BLADE) hosted a Career Day Assembly for the Upper School in Schenck Auditorium, where a panel of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds shared their career journeys.
“Hearing about the various paths these accomplished individuals have taken to reach their current positions is important for students who might find themselves on similar paths in the future,” says BLADE club member Isabella Mayer ’26.
“Some panelists stuck to a single path throughout their careers, demonstrating commitment and growth in one field, while others pivoted across industries to follow their interests, or even started their own companies”
The panel consisted of Gautam Kumar, founder of Milu Health; Erica Schroeder, voice actress; Illana Raia, founder of Être; Heather Benveniste, an independent legal consultant; Shweta Parikh, plastic surgeon; and Bari Schorr, VP of business and category development at Orva.
In addition to the panel discussion, BLADE connected students with the business leaders to give them the opportunity to find a mentor in the field of interest they were most drawn to.
According to student feedback, what most resonated with students was the career advice they received. “Their emphasis on the importance of networking and building connections stood out as a key takeaway,” says Isabella.
The variety of stories was also inspiring. “Some panelists stuck to a single path throughout their careers, demonstrating commitment and growth in one field, while others pivoted across industries to follow their interests, or even started their own companies,” says Isabella. “This diversity in experiences gave [us] a broad range of perspectives, showing that success doesn’t follow just one formula.”
