24. From Derivatives to Craft Beer: Ruchi Desai on Building a Purpose-Driven Career

From her start as a derivatives trader during the 2008 economic meltdown to becoming a lawyer, and now diving into the world of startups, Ruchi Desai's career is defined by a passion for building things that make a tangible impact. She talks about the importance of maintaining humility, asking questions, and the thrill of exploring complex models and frameworks.

Meet Ruchi:

Ruchi is a proven zero to one founder. She is co-founder of EIGHT Brewing Co., a better-for-you light lager made with 100% organic grains. Ruchi has extensive experience scaling operations and teams at various e-commerce and fintech startups. Most notably, she led the 10x capacity expansion of a growing D2C brand’s primary production factory, building a team of over 300 people, and was VP of Strategy & Senior Counsel at interface rehab, one of the largest private healthcare services providers in California with $100 million in annual revenue. Previously, Ruchi has worked as an attorney, focusing on intellectual property and corporate advisory, as well as a derivatives trader. An avid triathlete, she enjoys swimming in the ocean and riding her bike along the Pacific Coast Highway when not spending time with her husband, Dan, and pup, Rhubarb. Ruchi holds degrees from Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard Law School, and the London School of Economics.