It’s not something people talk about often—has reading lost its place in an age where information is distilled into quick sound bites and 280-character tweets? As we chase efficiency, is the act of slowly absorbing a book becoming outdated? I used to wonder about this myself. But as I began building Witwise, helping students and families make one of the most personal and pivotal choices of their lives, I found myself returning to books in search of something I couldn’t find anywhere else: perspective.
Every book I picked up offered a layer of insight that transformed the way I see the world and how I approach our work at Witwise. The Golden Road by William Dalrymple reminded me that India’s heritage isn’t just history; it’s a living, breathing foundation that our students carry with them, even as they reach for global opportunities. This sense of rootedness has become central to how we guide students, helping them find paths that honor both ambition and identity.
Then there’s Political Risk by Condoleezza Rice. She doesn’t sugarcoat the unpredictable—and as an entrepreneur, neither can I. Navigating uncertainties, making calculated decisions, understanding the risks—these are the lessons that now guide me in crafting a platform that’s not just about success, but about creating stability for families making high-stakes choices.
Reading Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven brought a realization: our impact on others often goes unnoticed but can be profound. It’s a reminder that every interaction, every student we counsel, is part of a larger journey shaped by countless influences. This is why we’re committed to seeing students as whole individuals, not just profiles on a page.
Amartya Sen’s The Argumentative Indian was another game-changer, challenging me to see the strength in questioning. In our work, it means encouraging students to ask “why,” to dig deeper and define their path on their own terms—not merely follow what’s expected.
And Range by David Epstein left me with a reassurance that the world needs generalists just as much as specialists. This is the ethos we’re building at Witwise: a space where exploration is valued, where students aren’t confined to one trajectory but empowered to discover a broader version of success.
So, is reading irrelevant? Far from it. In a world fixated on speed, reading has become my quiet revolution—a way to gather depth in a world skimming the surface. It’s not just about building Witwise; it’s about building a mindset, a way of approaching life that embraces curiosity, resilience, and the courage to question.
