Rishab Malhotra, AIDO
Describe yourself in three words or phrases.
Driven, fun, and grateful.
What do you like most about your job?
I love creating, iterating, and constantly evolving to solve problems. Starting AIDO – like starting any company – is anything but linear, and there’s something incredibly satisfying about reducing friction and making someone’s day a little easier. I especially enjoy learning how AIDO fits into our clients’ real day-to-day work and finding new ways to add meaningful value.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
Right now I’m excited about expanding AIDO into its beta stage with our next round of innovative partners. This phase is all about learning in real time – seeing edge cases we never expected, improving things we thought were already perfect, and letting universities essentially help shape the product. They make us better, and then we get to turn around and make them better. It’s a really energising loop.
What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?
Honestly, I’m proud of so many moments in this AIDO journey… finding early adopters, shaping the product with them, even putting myself out there with funny videos that somehow resonate. Somewhere along the way I decided to treat the whole experience like an experiment I’m allowed to enjoy. That shift has made the work feel meaningful and fun, all while building something meaningful for the sector.
If I had to distil it, I’m most proud of simply ‘doing’. I’ve learned far more by taking steps than by overthinking them. It taught me that if a stage doesn’t exist, build one. You’ll never regret moving forward.
Somewhere along the way I decided to treat the whole experience like an experiment I’m allowed to enjoy
What’s a small daily habit that helps you in your work?
A small habit I’ve been working on is a mindfulness exercise: pausing long enough to celebrate small wins and reminding myself that not everything has to be done today. I pair that with a bit of ‘Floating Rock Theory’, which basically helps me zoom out with the helpful reminder that we’re all just doing our best on a spinning rock. It’s a tiny reset, but it makes the rest of the day a lot calmer and more productive.
What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector over the next few years?
I’d love to see less theory and more applied action. We can pontificate all day (and I’ll gladly join in), but the real impact comes from vendors working together to support institutions, not in isolation.
And on the university side, I’d love to see less red tape and a bit more willingness to experiment. We attract the best and brightest to the US and encourage them to be innovative, resourceful change makers, but are we consistently modelling that ourselves? That’s the shift I hope to see.
What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?
Lately, the idea that’s really stuck with me is the simplicity of ‘stacking days’. Treat each day as its own, do what you can, and then stack the next one on top. It pairs nicely with the mindfulness habit I’m working on – giving thoughtful pauses along the way. It’s a grounding reminder that big things are built one good day at a time.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?
Build relationships with authenticity. Build things for others. Don’t be afraid to break things, fix them, and then break them again. And whatever happens, remember to smile gratefully along the journey.
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