About 14Gate Advising

As an applied mathematics student, I fundamentally disagree with German philosopher Immanuel Kant, who said “Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.” In fact, I would argue, “Theory without experience is blind.” I’ll shut up now.

My point is, you really learn best by actually doing things—not just by reading about them. For example, I’ve always been terrified of heights. So, I figured, what better way to conquer that fear than by going skydiving? (Depicted on the left). On 5 hours of sleep, I jumped out of a tiny, cramped plane, thirteen thousand feet up in the air, strapped to some random guy. It was a huge mistake—honestly, I was terrified. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat, because diving in headfirst—whether I fail or succeed—is exactly how I grow.

My approach to learning is hands-on, authentic, and intentional. School was never effortless for me—there was no single moment when everything suddenly made sense. Instead, my growth came from steady effort, patience, and resilience, as I built my knowledge piece by piece through real-world experiences. I've learned by doing: from working as a lifeguard and sandwich maker, to interning as a paralegal, to joining a hydroponics startup, contributing to a renewable energy company, gaining experience at a state-funded life sciences venture capital firm, Baidu, Tesla, and now working at Amazon.

I built this service because I know firsthand how confusing—and honestly, how overwhelming—it can be to figure out what you want to do, how to get real-world experience, or even just how to get your foot in the door. When I was in high school, I would have given anything for access to practical guidance and opportunities that went beyond just “good grades” and generic advice.

I created 14Gate Advising to give genuine, hands-on chances to explore different paths, build skills that actually matter, and work with similarly passionate people who share a common interest or final. I don’t believe in cookie-cutter coaching or one-size-fits-all answers. Anybody can become the best version of themselves simply by having the confidence to walk through the door and try. The 14Gate logo is just an open gate, and to me, it’s a reminder that all you really need is a little confidence to take that first step. But honestly, it’s what happens after you step through that counts—and that’s where I come in. I’m here to make things way less overwhelming, offering the kind of mentorship, industry connections, and real, step-by-step support I wish someone had given me. I want people to find what they’re passionate about and have the opportunities to pursue it no matter where they’re starting from.