I got bored with my PhD research on measuring programming skills because some findings were uncomfortable for universities, revealing that students who scored well on exams might not actually understand programming.

I dropped out of my PhD program in machine learning to join a startup, which was a high-risk decision that ultimately paid off.

My undergraduate career was focused on track, but as a graduate student, I was focused on what I wanted to be, and Stanford was the right place at the right time.

Even though I had a traditional career path, my choices have been driven by a desire to solve compelling human problems.

My parents emphasized the importance of education and pushed for my academic advancement, which led me to excel in math and eventually skip grades in school.

When I was a PhD student in the 80s, artificial intelligence was a niche area, and I could work on intellectually interesting topics without much external interest or pressure.

I was very intentional about my choices and believe there are trade-offs in both paths of education and entrepreneurship; both can lead to valuable experiences.

As PhD students near the end of their programs, they often consider whether to pursue a postdoc or explore entrepreneurship opportunities based on their research advancements.

In college, I majored in political science after realizing that medicine might not be the right path for me.