Sahil Punamia, founder of the Aspiring Professional
Sahil Punamia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UCLA in 2013. Upon graduating, Sahil received the Chancellor’s Service Award for his contributions to the university by leading a number of student organizations geared towards career and leadership development. Sahil spent several years after college as a management consultant for L.E.K. Consulting (Glassdoor's Top 25 Toughest Companies to Interview With), where he helped C-Suite executives at major film studios, professional sports teams,
and media investors pivot to the digital world of content creation, distribution, and consumption. Sahil left L.E.K. after 3.5 years to join Discovery Communications, where he helped lead digital and content strategy efforts for Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and Science Channel, along with the $15B acquisition of Scripps Network (HGTV / Food Network).
Recently, Sahil joined Netflix as part of the Marketing Strategy team for the U.S. helping lead marketing for Netflix's Original Series, Documentaries, and Stand-Up Comedy Specials. In addition to his fulfilling career in entertainment, Sahil is passionate about helping college students with their careers and leadership development, through his company, The Aspiring Professional. Through one-on-one coaching, immersive keynote workshops, and consulting for universities / career centers, Sahil has helped thousands of college students across the nation become better student leaders and build their careers in corporate America at world-class companies like Amazon, SpaceX, Disney, and more. As a thought-leader in the career development practice area, Sahil serves on professional committees for the Mountain Pacific Association of Colleges and Employers (MPACE) and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Sahil also serves on the board of the UCLA Alumni Association, where he helps lead Diversity and Career Advisory efforts for UCLA's 500,000 alumni.