S3 E7 | Forbes 30 Under 30: Building a Media Company at Wharton with Simi Shah (Wharton)
Sat Feb 07 2026
In this episode, we sit down with Simi Shah (WG '25) to hear how she went from private equity to serving as Chief of Staff to former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi before building South Asian Trailblazers, a media company and agency elevating South Asian leaders. Simi opens up about crafting a cohesive application narrative across three very different career chapters, why she believes every experience compounds, and how she launched an agency her first week at Wharton. She also talks about finding her application "theme," navigating Wharton's team-based discussion, managing internship FOMO as a founder, and what it takes to build a company while earning your MBA. Simi is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Harvard undergraduate alum.
This episode is brought to you by Juno, the collective-bargaining platform that helps MBA students secure lower rates on student loans. Learn more at juno.us/m7a
(00:00) M7A Sponsor: Juno
(00:34) Opener
(01:27) Introducing Simi Shah
(02:26) Pre-MBA Background
(03:14) Decision to Pursue an MBA
(06:12) Crafting a Cohesive Narrative for Applications
(08:14) Identifying an Application "Theme"
(11:26) Why MBA?
(14:47) Challenges in the MBA Application Process
(17:28) Working on Indra Nooyi's Memoir
(20:01) B-School Selection
(22:04) Wharton Highlights
(24:20) Strategies for the Team Based Discussion
(27:35) Reflections on the MBA Journey
(32:31) Pursuing Entrepreneurship at Wharton
(35:24) Founder's Mindset
(38:29) Recruiting and Internship FOMO
(41:25) A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur
(44:37) Advice for Future Applicants
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In this episode, we sit down with Simi Shah (WG '25) to hear how she went from private equity to serving as Chief of Staff to former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi before building South Asian Trailblazers, a media company and agency elevating South Asian leaders. Simi opens up about crafting a cohesive application narrative across three very different career chapters, why she believes every experience compounds, and how she launched an agency her first week at Wharton. She also talks about finding her application "theme," navigating Wharton's team-based discussion, managing internship FOMO as a founder, and what it takes to build a company while earning your MBA. Simi is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Harvard undergraduate alum. This episode is brought to you by Juno, the collective-bargaining platform that helps MBA students secure lower rates on student loans. Learn more at juno.us/m7a (00:00) M7A Sponsor: Juno (00:34) Opener (01:27) Introducing Simi Shah (02:26) Pre-MBA Background (03:14) Decision to Pursue an MBA (06:12) Crafting a Cohesive Narrative for Applications (08:14) Identifying an Application "Theme" (11:26) Why MBA? (14:47) Challenges in the MBA Application Process (17:28) Working on Indra Nooyi's Memoir (20:01) B-School Selection (22:04) Wharton Highlights (24:20) Strategies for the Team Based Discussion (27:35) Reflections on the MBA Journey (32:31) Pursuing Entrepreneurship at Wharton (35:24) Founder's Mindset (38:29) Recruiting and Internship FOMO (41:25) A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur (44:37) Advice for Future Applicants