Stanford GSB graduates say the friendships they form and the networks they forge are a highly valued, enduring part of their program experience. Alexandra Charters Zubko, MBA ’05, has experienced these bonds firsthand. Connections and support from other alumni helped her build a successful career in the high-tech industry, including as CEO for two New York City area-based firms. Today, she runs her own consulting business, Alex Talks AI, LLC, advising companies on how to use artificial intelligence to increase productivity.
Looking back at the last two decades, Alex learned a lot about navigating life, business, and career. She enjoyed sharing those experiences with fellow alumna Aisa Aiyer, MBA ’05, another successful high-tech industry executive in New York City. The two friends had a lot to talk about… and they imagined their classmates would as well. To celebrate their MBA class’s 20th reunion in 2025, Alex and Aisa launched a private podcast titled 50 Cups of Coffee, inviting 50 classmates to speak for 30 minutes about their journey since the GSB; pivotal points in their lives and careers, children, and families — whatever they cared to share. “The podcast encourages guests to be honest, vulnerable, and most importantly, authentic,” Alex notes. “We set out to do 10 conversations, and it snowballed into an outpouring of thoughts, ideas, people really seeking connection with each other. The show of love has been astounding.” With 50 interviews completed, the co-hosts now hope to record all 350 classmates’ stories.
“These podcasts have been a wonderful gift to our class that helped us reconnect to the GSB in a way that we would have never thought we could do again — by bringing the GSB experience back into our lives,” says Connie Coulomb, MBA ’05. “Listening to my classmates has inspired me more than anything I have done in several years.” Marshall Norseng, MBA ’05, adds, “Alex and Aisa created an enduring gift of insight, connection, and change with their podcast series. The episodes have reconnected classmates, reminded us of shared experiences, and inspired the class to do more together.”
