We asked our Scholars which guest lecturer was their favorite at this year’s bootcamp. Here’s who they said:

Shawn Chao, NobleReach Scholar ’25

All of the speakers at NobleReach were impressive in different ways, but if I had to choose one, it would be Sree Ramaswamy. His career journey and thought process resonated deeply with me. Like me, Sree had a career in the private sector, specifically in management consulting, but grew skeptical of the short-term profit-driven incentive structures that sacrificed U.S. resilience, such as in industrial manufacturing. Having seen similar dynamics in Silicon Valley, his reflections felt especially relevant.

Melissa Lopez-Barbosa, NobleReach Scholar ’25

My favorite guest lecturer was Secretary Katie Savage. She provided incredible insights that I frequently referred to throughout the boot camp. She emphasized the importance of asking how something contributes to the goal—there are things you can find exciting to work on, but that may not be aligned with the goal. Understanding this is vital to maximizing impact. 

Keerthy Reddy, NobleReach Scholar ’25

I really enjoyed Gulsanna Mamadiieva’s talk on the rapid and effective public-private partnerships that enabled Ukraine to develop its all-in-one app that makes government services accessible to everyone, even during wartime. I was inspired by how imaginative and innovative the app is, as well as the way it has brought people together during difficult circumstances. Her talk also made me reflect on what it might look like if U.S. government services and resources were also consolidated on a single platform that removed barriers to access. 

Ben Claflin, NobleReach Scholar ’25

My favorite guest lecturer was Kumar Garg. Kumar’s lecture focused on adapting to the public sector and driving impact. While most see government bureaucracy as a hindrance to development, Kumar leveraged internal structures to sell his ideas and add value. His experiences helped shift my perspective on working in the public sector and using my technical background to make a difference.