Raj Salhotra is the Co-founder and Executive Director at Momentum Education. After graduating from Rice University, he joined Teach for America and was placed at YES Prep Southwest, where he taught Pre-Calculus and AP Statistics. While at YES Prep, he co-founded One Jump, an educational technology non-profit that connects high school students to enrichment opportunities. After YES Prep, he attended Harvard Law School, where he focused on researching public policy issues and representing tenants being evicted from their homes. During law school, he started Students With Ambition Go (SWAG) To College, a mentorship non-profit that provides underserved high school and college students mentors to help them get to and through college. Raj has recently launched Momentum Education, combining One Jump and SWAG To College to serve under-resourced high school and college students.


This week on Disarming Data, we’re diving into how Momentum Education helps students by offering them the opportunity to effectively prepare for education beyond high school and preparing them for the workforce. Raj gives us a glimpse of his day-to-day life at Momentum Education and shares what the team does in more detail. We also discuss the impact of volunteers on the program and why so many people are so eager to give their time to help students achieve their career aspirations.


“Our mentors themselves are first-generation students, so they totally can relate and resonate with the students" - Raj Salhotra


"We want to connect with 1000 students in Houston." - Raj Salhotra


"Politics isn’t the only way to have a positive impact." - Raj Salhotra


This week on Disarming Data:

• How Momentum Education helps students and where students first get a taste of what the program offers
• Why they decided to use virtual mentoring, and how they ensure that underprivileged students have access to the appropriate technology
• The current educational controversy in Houston
• Why Raj isn’t a fan of the school voucher system
• Why Raj decided to pursue education over a career in law after attending Harvard Law School
• Why Raj’s experience at law school was helpful in setting up his non-profit organization
• Raj shares a day in his life at Momentum Education, including coaching his team, fundraising, and visiting their school partners
• Why Raj decided to run for office and what he learned from the experience
• The vast network of volunteers that support students with their college applications and provide further career guidance
• The three books have been most influential on Raj’s process

Momentum Education:

• Website

Connect with Raj Salhotra:

• Raj Salhotra on LinkedIn
• Raj Salhotra on Twitter
• Raj Salhotra’s Rice University interview
• Raj Salhotra’s YouTube interview

Connect with Disarming Data:

• David Biderman on LinkedIn

Disarming Data Is Co-Produced By The Podcast Haven:

• The Podcast Haven