Page 24 - DAIS - DAISPORA ISSUE 05

Veera rejects trends like sugary What advice would you give to current students or younger alumni
gummies and melts, instead focusing about the unexpected ways in which school connections might come

on effective dosages, ingredients, and full circle?
deep consumer education. “Sculpt” - a
cutting-edge GLP-1 boosting weight Stay open to the idea that your school connections are not just for now—they’re for
loss supplement, and “Spark” - the first life. You may not be best friends today, but down the road, you might end up
adaptogenic plant protein designed collaborating, hiring each other, or learning from one another. DAIS has a uniquely
specifically for the female body. Each driven and diverse community, and those threads often reconnect in the most
serving delivers 25 grams of clean, unexpected but rewarding ways. Don’t take them for granted.
complete plant protein, thoughtfully
blended with clinically-backed Both of you left jobs at Citi and Goldman Sachs to start something on

ashwagandha, a powerful adaptogen your own. What pushed you’ll to take this decision? Were there any
shown to reduce cortisol and support styles/traits from school that you both seemed to carry forward into
hormonal balance throughout the day. your careers?

Shashwata Narain (Class of 2008): Co-founder and CEO at Veera Health Veera Health empowers women with Both of us reached a point where we wanted to create more impact and shape
something of our own. I think that fire—of not just doing well but doing
(backed by Sequoia Capital, YCombinator & Harvard University). Yale University better tools, better science, and better meaningfully—was literally at DAIS. Whether it was through leadership roles,
Class of 2012, Wharton MBA. Ex-McKinsey, Goldman Sachs care. It challenges outdated norms,
champions education, and promotes student-led initiatives, or even classroom discussions, the school always encouraged
Sayali Rai (Class of 2009): Founder at FinCocktail. NYU Stern School of preventive wellness with compassion independent thinking and bold decision-making. I saw that same spark in Shashwata. Stay open to the idea that your
We both brought that sense of curiosity, confidence, and resilience into our
Business, Babson Graduate School of Business MBA. Ex Investment Banking Analyst and credibility. respective ventures.
at Citi. school connections are not

Did you (Sayali) and Shashwata know each other at school? Have you collaborated with other DAIS students? What worked, and
Yes, we knew of each other. It felt like a full-circle moment, reconnecting through what didn’t? just for now—they’re for life.
something so meaningful.
Veera Health is a new-age women’s wellness brand designing supplements and Yes, I’ve collaborated with a few DAIS alumni over the years—some in content, some
programs uniquely for women’s biology, backed by scientific results and crafted Was there something distinctly ‘school-ish’ about your interaction that in strategy. What works well is the shared standard of excellence and the unspoken
with the same thoughtfulness as a beauty ritual. resurfaced when you spoke to her on the podcast? understanding of how we approach things. That said, sometimes familiarity can blur

Definitely! There’s a certain ease and sense of familiarity that comes the moment lines, so it’s important to set clear expectations when working with friends or peers. Do you feel a sense of shared responsibility when you see peers
It started as a telehealth platform offering integrated care by bringing together you’re around someone from school—it’s hard to explain, but it’s instantly Professionalism and personal rapport need to coexist. from your school creating impact in new domains?
gynaecologists, nutritionists, therapists, and dermatologists. Today, Veera Health comforting. Shared memories, phrases, or even just recalling how things used to be
offers a subscription-based treatment program for PCOS to reverse symptoms at DAIS builds this invisible thread that makes the conversation flow so naturally. I How did your conversation make you reflect on the kind of work alumni Definitely. There’s an excitement because you feel proud to be part of a
naturally. Hormone-safe supplements are designed to address hair fall, skin health think that’s why our episode was so seamless—we slipped into a rhythm like no time from your school are doing today? Do you see a shared ambition? community that’s doing such meaningful work. But there’s also a sense of
and weight gain too. had passed. responsibility—to keep pushing the bar, to stay curious, and to support each
other wherever possible. It’s energizing to know that so many of us are walking
Absolutely. There’s a strong pattern of alumni taking bold leaps—whether it’s different paths but with the same value system at the core.
Shashwata Narain, along with her sister Shobhita (DAIS Class of 2012), critiques What values or habits from your school days still influence how you launching startups, leading social change, or entering unconventional industries. The
the wellness industry’s tendency to “pink-wash” - i.e. rebranding male-formulated work today? shared ambition seems to be this desire to challenge the norm and solve real
supplements in feminine packaging. Hence, the clean, science-based formulations DAIS instilled a strong sense of discipline, curiosity, and the importance of balancing problems. Talking to Shashwata reinforced how deeply rooted that drive is in the

grounded in female physiology. Birth control pills, while helpful in many cases, are academics with creative pursuits. I still carry that structured-yet-flexible mindset DAIS community.
also misunderstood/ misused due to side effects and fear-based narratives, often today—whether it's approaching a client, managing content, or building something Sanjana Shah Narang
prescribed for PCOS/ irregular cycles. from scratch. Also, the emphasis on collaboration and clear communication has Class of 2010
played a big role in how I navigate professional relationships.