Ryan Heshmati

MEET Ryan

Ryan Heshmati is a Bay Area native and incoming freshman at Emory University, where he was awarded the Robert W. Woodruff full-ride merit scholarship. Ryan plans to double major in finance and philosophy. He has a deep interest in the exchange of ideas as a catalyst for growth and innovation, demonstrated through his experience co-founding and writing weekly for the Brutus Journal, as well as dedicating three years to NPR station KQED. Ryan also worked as a research assistant at Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab, where he co-authored a research paper on how demographics affect willingness to engage in dialogue, presented at the European Consortium for Political Research.

With his passion for communication and research, Ryan brings a fresh perspective and enthusiasm to the TDK Ventures team this summer.
- Experience in academic research and co-authorship on dialogue and demographics
- Background in journalism and media through Brutus Journal and KQED
- Interest in finance, philosophy, and fostering innovative ideas

When Ryan is not working, he enjoys listening to music (especially Bob Dylan and the Beatles), collecting and using typewriters, and playing golf—a pursuit he finds challenging but approaches with unwavering persistence.