GHP #65 - Millennials Meet Gen Z with Harsehaj Dhami and Samantha Ouyang!

Episode 65 is with Harsehaj Dhami and Samantha Ouyang, two International Baccalaureate high school students based in Toronto.

Harsehaj is an impact driven student working to bridge the healthcare access gap to low income families and those struggling with their mental health. She is currently helping build a health startup based out of San Francisco that has just raised their seed-round. In her personal projects, she’s working on modelling CNN (convolutional neural networks) that uses brain EEG scans to diagnose depression.

Samantha is a goal oriented student, passionate about using STEM, design, engineering and innovation to create lasting change in the world. Having started off in competitive programming at an early age, her experiences led her to founding, Superposition Toronto, a non-profit that helps to bridge the gender gap in STEM.

Samantha and Harsehaj have both crossed paths in The Knowledge Society - where cohorts of students are encouraged to solve the world’s biggest problems using emerging technologies. They have both previously worked together on a project focussed on removing chemical pollutants from drinking water.

We talk to Harsehaj and Samantha about their respective journeys in the tech space, the various differences in education and culture between generations, the influence of asian households, and much more. This was such an insightful conversation that brought to light the various evolutions of education, life, culture, and tech through the years. We hope you enjoy!

Timestamps
 2:45 - Harsehaj Intro & background
 6:45 - Samantha Intro & background
11:25 - Early Lessons from their experiences
18:58 - Cultural Influences of an Asian household
27:14 - How can schools encourage more innovation?
30:30 - Challenges of Women in Tech
37:30 - Social Pressures on Millennials & Gen Z
44:42 - Pros/Cons of Social Media for Gen Z
53:19 - Increasing Cost & Competition in Schooling
1:00:12 - What is the current tech focus for Gen Z?
1:03:39 - Lightning Round