Nepal-US Hackathon 2026 is LIVE!!!!!
The Nepal-US Hackathon 2026 is LIVE!!!!!
You can see the website and apply here: [View Website]
But before I share where things currently stand…I want to quickly rundown what this newsletter will look like every week:
One leadership conversation we hosted,
What’s coming up next this month, and
A behind-the-scenes look at what we’re building and why
40 Years of Brutally Honest Networking Advice in 5 Minutes
Drawing from over 30+ years of leadership across financial services, international development, and diaspora leadership, Suman Raj Timsina explains how intentional relationships quietly shape careers and open doors over time.
You began by asking everyone how comfortable they felt with networking. Why start there?
Because most people struggle with networking emotionally before they struggle with it strategically. Many associate it with awkwardness, pressure, or feeling transactional, which makes them approach conversations with hesitation. By acknowledging this upfront, Suman reframed networking as a human skill rather than a professional tactic. His core message was that networking becomes easier when the goal shifts from impressing people to learning from them. When conversations are driven by curiosity and genuine interest, relationships form naturally and networking stops feeling forced.
How has networking changed for younger professionals today?
In earlier generations, networking happened slowly because access was limited — relationships were built through repeated interaction in schools, workplaces, or communities. Today, access is instant, but depth is harder to build. Because everyone is visible online, credibility now comes from consistency between what you say, what you do, and how you show up publicly. The takeaway for younger professionals is that networking is no longer about meeting more people; it’s about building trust over time. Visibility may open doors, but authenticity and reliability are what keep them open.
What does “networking with purpose” actually mean in practice?
Networking with purpose means being intentional about where you spend your time and energy. Instead of trying to connect with everyone, it involves understanding what you want to learn, where you want to grow, and who aligns with that direction. Suman emphasized that many people burn out because they network without clarity, attending events or reaching out without knowing why. When purpose exists — whether learning, collaboration, or shared goals — networking becomes energizing because each interaction contributes to long-term progress.
Many people worry about sounding transactional or needy. How should they approach networking differently?
The shift is from asking for opportunities to demonstrating value. Rather than leading conversations with requests for jobs or referrals, Suman encouraged people to talk about what they are building, learning, or trying to improve. When people see initiative and effort, opportunities naturally emerge from the conversation. Networking works best when it feels like an exchange of ideas and energy instead of a transaction, because people are more willing to support those who contribute meaningfully to the relationship.
In today’s difficult job market, how should people balance practicality with finding work they enjoy?
Suman acknowledged that many people initially accept roles out of necessity, especially in competitive markets. His advice was to remain flexible — sometimes you find work you love, and sometimes you learn to love the work by growing within it. The key is maintaining momentum rather than frustration. By continuing to develop skills, build relationships, and seek learning opportunities within any role, individuals create future options instead of feeling stuck, allowing passion and practicality to eventually align.
You shared a framework around passion, market needs, and impact. Why is this balance important for long-term careers?
A sustainable career exists where three things overlap: what you enjoy, what the market needs, and where you can create meaningful impact. Focusing only on passion can lead to instability, while focusing only on income can lead to dissatisfaction. Suman’s framework encourages continuous reassessment — aligning personal strengths with evolving opportunities while staying connected to purpose. When these elements come together, work becomes both fulfilling and sustainable, making long-term growth possible without burnout.
Key Takeaways
Networking works best when driven by curiosity and purpose, not pressure or transactions.
Access is easy today; trust and consistency are what create real opportunity.
Lead conversations with what you’re building or learning, not what you want.
Careers evolve; momentum and learning matter more than perfect starting roles.
The strongest careers balance passion, market demand, and meaningful impact.
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Upcoming Events
1. Leadership Speaker Series ft. Ankit Shrestha, CEO, Kith Suppliers Inc.
🗓 Date: Wednesday, February 18
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
📍 Location: Virtual
Ankit takes you behind the scenes of building a multi-million-dollar eCommerce company before turning 30, unpacking the strategies, systems, and decisions that powered its growth.
What participants will learn:
- How to build an e-commerce business from scratch
- How to engineer reliable supply chains and scalable operations
- Scaling profitably across international markets
- What to cut, keep, and double down on if starting today
About Ankit Shrestha
Ankit Shrestha is the Founder & CEO of Kith Suppliers Inc., a full-service Amazon wholesale and consulting firm operating across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Before turning 30, Ankit has built and scaled the company to $15M+ in total revenue, including a $2.5M peak revenue year, by building disciplined systems across sourcing, fulfillment, brand operations, and performance analytics.
2. Leadership Speaker Series ft. Sudeep Regmi, Head of Data Management and Innovation, Takeda
🗓 Date: Wednesday, February 25
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
📍 Location: Virtual
Sudeep will break down “How Careers Actually Grow in Tech & AI.”
What participants will learn:
- What actually separates people who grow fast vs those who stay stuck at mid-level
- The biggest career mistakes engineers and early professionals make in their first 5 years
- How AI is really used inside large companies (beyond the hype)
- When to focus on technical skills vs business impact to accelerate growth
- How leaders think differently as responsibility increases and how to start early
About Sudeep Regmi
Sudeep Regmi brings over 20 years of global leadership experience in AI, data, and enterprise transformation. He currently serves as Head of Enterprise Data Management and Innovation at Takeda, where he leads global Data & AI transformation initiatives across research, commercial, manufacturing, and corporate functions, overseeing enterprise AI platforms, responsible AI frameworks, data governance, and large-scale automation programs that drive measurable business impact worldwide.
Previously, Sudeep held senior leadership roles across medical devices and manufacturing organizations, where he led enterprise data modernization, AI-enabled platforms, cloud transformation, and advanced analytics initiatives spanning finance, supply chain, sales, and operations. Across healthcare and industrial sectors, he has built AI-ready ecosystems, modernized global digital foundations, and developed high-performing international teams.
His expertise spans enterprise AI strategy, generative and agentic AI, automation, data integration, governance, and responsible AI aligned with global regulations. He is known for translating complex technology into clear strategy and real business outcomes.
3. Leadership Speaker Series ft. Dr. Smeeta Shrestha, Research Strategist, Genomics & Human Health
🗓 Date: Wednesday, March 4
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
📍 Location: VirtualDr. Smeeta will break down “How to Get Started in Research as a Student or Early-Career Professional.”
What participants will learn:
- How to take your first steps into research, even without prior experience
- How to find mentors, labs, or projects to get involved in
- What research really looks like beyond classes and textbooks
- How research skills open doors across academia, industry, and policyAbout Smeeta Shrestha
Dr. Smeeta Shrestha is a research strategist with over 20 years of experience in genomics and human health research. She has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including Nature Genetics, Nature Communications, Clinical Epigenetics, and Microbiome, and has contributed to large international research collaborations spanning over five countries.
She currently works as a Research Strategist and was most recently a Senior Research Fellow at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, where her research focused on linking gut health, metabolism, and disease using integrative genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics approaches. She has previously held academic and research positions at institutions including Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR, India). Dr. Shrestha has recently joined Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, as a molecular geneticist, with a vision to establish a medical genetics clinical service alongside teaching and research, contributing to the advancement of genomic medicine capacity in Nepal. She also brings extensive experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students and early-career researchers across academic and translational research settings.
Behind The Scenes
Now let me share a quick update first…
The Leadership Speaker Series happening tonight with Ankit has 63 people joining as I’m writing this. WOW.
Now the BIG update.
The Nepal–US Hackathon 2026 is LIVE.
We launched this morning.
And honestly… it feels a little surreal finally seeing it out there after weeks of planning.
From last week to now, we’ve brought in 8 judges, around 30ish mentors (and still bringing more in over the next few weeks), and confirmed 2 out of our 4 keynotes.
We’re probably about 80% close to building a complete roster of really awesome Nepali tech folks who are all aligned around helping the next generation.
That part has been really cool to watch come together.
Also, this honestly wouldn’t be possible without the team that’s been working behind the scenes every day.
Huge shoutout to Nasana Bajracharya, Dipesh Shrestha, Prapti Shankar, Oshan Maharjan, Shreeyut Karmacharya, Sushant Aryal, Suvasha Shrestha, and Alisha Khatri for pushing things forward.
Here’s our hackathon trailer video, check it out later!
Still a lot to do, but grateful to not be building this alone anymore.
Also… from the last issue, a few people reached out offering help, connections, or just encouragement.
Genuinely thankful to you guys. It helped more than you probably realize.
What’s been kind of wild is… we launched this morning and already have a handful of people apply.
Still early, but exciting to see.
So here’s the small ask this week.
If you think someone could benefit from this — a student, early-career professional, or someone trying to build something — please share this with them.
Here’s the website with all the info + application:
[CLICK HERE TO VIEW WEBSITE]
Anyways, now that you’re officially caught up, you can check out our website to see the full breakdown of what Nepali Leaders Network is, where we’re going, and the long-term vision behind this whole thing.
And if you haven’t already,join our free community — it’s the hub for everything: events, fellowships, networking, and all the opportunities we’re rolling out next.
More soon,
Shreyas K. Shrestha
Founder, Nepali Leaders Network
P.S. If you made it this far, you’re a real one. These newsletters might be my favorite way to stay connected to 1,100+ of you. See you back in a week!
