Stanford MBA: From Baby Boomer to Gen Z | Class of ‘95 Meets Class of ‘25
I’m Katharine Keough McLennan, Stanford MBA Class of 1995 alumna; I am the creator, producer and facilitator for this series in which I have the honour of hosting each episode with a different pair of two Stanford MBA generations—one from my Class of 1995 and the other from the Class of 2025.
Our dialogues explore the profound shifts both of these classes saw in the "Changing of the Eras" :
- The Class of 1995 graduated at the dawn of the internet, heralding the Information Age emerging from the Industrial Age. Some of our classmates are considered global internet pioneers, and the companies they created are well-known worldwide. Our class is now in our 60s.
- The Class of 2025 enters the next era as we witness the rise of artificial intelligence. Information is a commodity and no longer describes an "era." They now grapple with a very different world than we did 30 years ago -- not only in technology but also in politics, economics, social connections, environmental challenges, and legal dynamics. They are in their 30s.
Together, we unpack the possibilities: Will AI spark a new era of human creativity and connection that I call the Inspiration Age? Or will it deepen disconnection, ushering in an Isolation Age?
This podcast is a "wisdom exchange" across generations, blending the hard-won lessons of my peers in their 60s with the bold vision of leaders in their 30s. Through candid, inspiring, and often humorous conversations, we reflect on aspirations, anxieties, and challenges while envisioning a future shaped by collaboration, ingenuity, and integrity—a call to action for a world where technology serves humanity.
For updates and more, visit katharinemclennan.com
Let’s shape the Inspiration Age, together.
Stanford MBA: From Baby Boomer to Gen Z | Class of ‘95 Meets Class of ‘25
Podcast Ep. 24 Stanford MBA ’95 Laura Zung meerts '25 Shelly Ngo
🌟 “In healthcare, technology can optimize systems—but it’s the human connection that truly heals.”
💡 “Leadership in crisis isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about showing up, staying real, and caring for people first.”
🌱 “AI may reshape healthcare’s back office, but compassion will always be at its heart.”
🎙️ Episode 24 is live for the Stanford MBA ’95 meets MBA ’25 podcast, “From Baby Boomer to Gen Z.”
This time, I’m joined by:
✨ Laura Zung (MBA ’94) – CEO of Lancaster Health Group, who led her family’s skilled nursing and Alzheimer’s care facilities through COVID’s darkest days. Laura’s reflections on technology, leadership, and human-centered care are raw and deeply moving.
🚀 Shelly Ngo (MBA ’25) – A second-year MBA student driven to expand healthcare access and affordability. Her journey—from growing up in East LA to shaping Gen AI solutions for hospitals—shows how personal loss can fuel purposeful change.
🎧 Together, we explore what it means to lead in an industry facing both crisis and transformation. From navigating generational divides to bridging the human-technology gap, this conversation is a testament to resilience, compassion, and the power of sharing real stories.
👉 Listen now and join us as we bridge 31 years of healthcare evolution and leadership lessons
00:00 Graduation Reflections and Celebrations
03:37 The Power of Storytelling in Education
05:36 Transitioning to the Professional World
07:33 Generative AI in Healthcare
09:10 The Evolution of Healthcare Technology
11:35 The Future of Healthcare and AI
21:28 The Evolution of Patient Care and AI Integration
25:00 Leadership Challenges During COVID-19
31:04 Personal Journeys in Healthcare
35:58 Skepticism Towards Technology in Healthcare
42:07 Life Lessons and Personal Reflections
47:53 New Chapter
Join the Podcast Series
Stanford MBA: From Baby Boomer to Gen Z | Class of ‘95 Meets Class of ‘25
Each of these episodes will feature a different pair of Stanford MBA people -- one from the class of 1995, and one from the class of 2025.
Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected with future episodes!
📺 Also available on YouTube:
Entire series playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSaVisoF0D_GKxVmHmakNxdpAJCb5_VTP
More info: https://www.katharinemclennan.com/
Contact: kath@katharinemclennan.com
Note: this transcript is generated by AI, so it won’t always be perfect, especially when it comes to:
· Incorrect breaks in a sentence (AI hears the pause and assumes a new sentence)
· Exact word recognition – you may see that there are words that don’t make sense from time to time
Katharine McLennan (01:03)
Today I'm joined by Laura Zung from the Stanford MBA class of 1994 and Shelley Ngo from the class of 2025. Laura is the CEO of Lancaster Health Group of family-owned business that operates skilled nursing and Alzheimer's care facilities in the Chicago area. Over the past 13 years, she has led the company through transitions, expansions, and most notably the pandemic where she worked tirelessly
to protect her staff and residents. Her story is one of resilience, adaptability, and human-centered leadership. Shelley is a second year MBA student at Stanford GSB, driven by a mission to improve healthcare access and affordability.
She has experience in healthcare strategy consulting and has worked at a regional Blue Cross Blue Shield organization where she launched and scaled an insure tech venture. Now she's stepping into a new role as chief of staff at a seed stage startup leveraging generative AI to transform hospital back office operations.
Her journey is fueled by personal experiences and a deep commitment to equity and innovation in healthcare. In this conversation, we bridge the 31 year gap between Laura and Shelley's perspectives, exploring how healthcare has evolved, what leadership looks like in times of crisis and rapid technological change, and what it means to keep the human element at the heart of our work. Together we reflect on the lessons of the past, the promise of the future.
and the enduring power of connection and compassion in the healthcare industry.
Katharine McLennan (02:47)
Okay, we've got Laura and Shelley today so honored Shelley, where do we find you today?
Shelly Ngo (02:54)
I'm dialing in from the Bass Center and the GSB campus. So I'm still in. ⁓ my gosh, it's the new campus. I always forget that things shifted a little bit in the past couple of years, but it's the main library where all the GSB students.
Katharine McLennan (02:58)
We don't even know where that is. Tell us what that is.
Yeah. Yep.
Shelly Ngo (03:11)
half study but also just half mingle around and chat with everybody. So I'm here in Palo Alto the last couple of weeks of school just kind of enjoying the environment, soaking in the energy and making sure we get the most out of our last couple of weeks.
Katharine McLennan (03:25)
for our audience, Shelly's getting ready to graduate. And I'm going to come back on that because it's a really interesting time. ⁓ Laura, where do we find you? Where are you this lovely day?
Shelly Ngo (03:31)
Hell yeah.
Laura Zung (03:37)
It's a beautiful day in Chicago. I am in my office.
and overlooking our backyard because I work for a home.
Katharine McLennan (03:44)
And what are you up to? Are you working?
Yeah, yeah.
Laura Zung (03:48)
Is
It's our first day of summer. It's our first warm day
Katharine McLennan (03:52)
And what's warm?
Laura Zung (03:54)
about 85.
Katharine McLennan (03:55)
E5, okay, yay!
Shelly Ngo (03:56)
We'll try to keep you inside.
We'll make this as enjoyable as you're not missing.
Katharine McLennan (03:59)
Go Chicago! Go Chicago! Shelly,
where did you grow up?
Shelly Ngo (04:04)
I grew up in inner city Los Angeles, so actually East Los Angeles. It's called Highland Park. So I'm a big fan of California and the weather and really happy to be back. I went to school on the East Coast and absolutely right, the weather is such a bummer most of the year. So it's been a good homecoming.
Katharine McLennan (04:07)
Okay.
Yeah.
let's go back to that graduation. So you have been at Stanford Business School for two years. You're getting ready to graduate. Laura, as I mentioned before the podcast, Laura and I lived with five women in Atherton in the same house. And I remember every day of the two weeks leading up to graduation, because it was so precious. You suddenly realized
Shelly Ngo (04:29)
Thank
Katharine McLennan (04:47)
What you were gonna miss and so what are you feeling right now? Shelly?
Shelly Ngo (04:50)
It's been a slow impending feeling a feeling of impending doom just kidding But it's been so it's been hitting me for the past couple two quarters I think just trying to make sure I get the most out of my experience and making sure I
Katharine McLennan (04:56)
Ugh.
Shelly Ngo (05:08)
get to do what I want to do. And most importantly, making sure I get to spend time with the cool people that I have around me before we all just burst into the corners of this country and beyond. But I had a great last couple of weeks. I was able to do a talk. I don't know if that tradition was started yet when you guys were there.
Katharine McLennan (05:25)
tell us about the speaking thing
Shelly Ngo (05:27)
It's very cool. It's a very treasure tradition on the GSB campus and every Wednesday.
We gather into a classroom and two people who are selected via lottery get to present a 25 minute talk about their life and you can do whatever you want with those 25 minutes. It's yours. You know, some people choose to get really vulnerable. Some people get to reveal aspects of themselves that we wouldn't have known about and it's always super special. You get to know your classmates better and in so many different ways or if you attend, we like to attend, you know, we tell everyone to attend all of them.
people you don't know, then it's a special peek into their lives. then at the end of it, like there's an outpouring of love and support and the community is just really special. And so I the chance to do that and it's awesome.
Katharine McLennan (06:14)
Tell us a little bit about that because it's like the grand finale. So what did you present?
Shelly Ngo (06:19)
I presented this Wednesday, and it was really great, because I feel like over the course of past two years, you have met everybody, but over the course of two years, perhaps with most people, you've only had the opportunity to spend one or two hours with them in total, if you count up all the minutes, and that's simply not enough to get to know someone. And so, I felt really good getting to share my story. I have a little bit of a...
Katharine McLennan (06:36)
Yeah.
Shelly Ngo (06:45)
Kind of an alternative path. I grew up in inner city Los Angeles, low income, primary Latino working class community when gang violence was at an all time high back in the past. And it was a tough road to college. And so I've got to share my reflections on what it was like and getting to Harvard and what that experience was like. then my mom also got cancer in the middle of that and passed away. So I took some time off school and that led me to my path.
The healthcare, which I know both of you also have worked in and are still working in, Laura. So it was really special to have that particularly at the end of the year.
Katharine McLennan (07:24)
Does it get recorded?
Shelly Ngo (07:26)
It does I have a I have a little purse I have a video of it for sure
Katharine McLennan (07:30)
I'd love to watch it, Shelley. I'd be honored to
watch it.
Shelly Ngo (07:33)
I also have the chance to do a low keynote. I don't know if that's a thing that you guys have. It's kind of another tradition where they give students, selected students a chance to do a nine minute.
Katharine McLennan (07:36)
No, tell us about that.
Shelly Ngo (07:46)
TED Talk style talk to the community. this is our mini kind of TED Talk series. So I got the chance to do that. I've spoken on a topic on health care as well. So that was really special.
Katharine McLennan (07:57)
audience for that, shall we?
Shelly Ngo (07:59)
It's Stanford Community and Beyond, so it's on the Stanford YouTube page, so anybody in the broader community or world can click in. It's students talking about issues they care about, and a lot of the times it's social issues, it's personal issues, it's just anything they want to educate the world.
Katharine McLennan (08:16)
⁓