Message from Our Founder
Hi, I’m Robert Chen. After coaching thousands of executives, professionals, and MBA students, I kept hearing the same thing over and over:
“I wish I had learned these skills earlier in life.”
This resonated deeply with me because many of the habits that have shaped my career and life—like understanding my strengths, learning how to learn, building trusting relationships, taking ownership, and being purposeful—weren’t even on my radar until much later in life. If it weren’t for certain key conversations and book recommendations, I might never have developed these crucial skills.
As a father of two, I founded Vana Lab because I believe that our children’s readiness for life shouldn’t be left to chance. At Vana Lab, we’re dedicated to equipping young people with the essential skills they need to thrive in the real world. That’s why we refer to our students as “Apprentices”—because they’re learning to be masters of their own lives.
What sets Vana Lab apart is our personalized, practical, peer-powered, and perpetual approach. In addition to my extensive experience coaching practical skills, our curriculum is built on proven frameworks for adolescent development. We tailor each child’s experience by tying the skills they learn to achieving their personal goals, making it relevant and impactful. Our small-group cohorts are designed to foster meaningful relationships, with each cohort led by a Guide who models the skills and supports your child every step of the way.
I’m passionate about this work because I’ve seen firsthand how developing these success habits can transform lives. I want every child who comes through Vana Lab to walk away with the confidence to trust themselves, the relationships to support ambitious goals, and the habits that will not only prepare them for the future, but empower them to shape it.
Let’s support our future leaders together!
Robert
About Our Founder
20+ Years of Experience
• Teaching and coaching students, professionals, and executives to be more effective at work and beyond
• Working with Fortune 100 companies, world-class universities, and global non-profits
• Developing skills as an entrepreneur, writer, executive coach, university lecturer, ESL teacher, equities trader, materials science researcher, corporate trainer
Awards and Recognition
• Author of Wall Street Journal Bestseller Selling Your Expertise: The Mindset, Strategies, and Tactics of Successful Rainmakers (Wiley)
• Recipient of the 50 Outstanding Asian-Americans in Business Award
• Featured in Fast Company, Business Insider, Wall Street Journal, Training Magazine
Service in K-12 Space
• Delivers career-readiness and communication skills workshops for high schoolers:
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters NYC
• Virtual Enterprises NYC
• Junior Achievement
• Year Up
• Leads professional development sessions for school principals as part of The Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals
Education and Certs
• MBA from Wharton and BA in Chemistry and Economics from Cornell
Certified in Stakeholder Centered Coaching, Organizational Mindfulness, Youth Mental Health First Aid
Relevant coursework:
• Adolescent Psychology
• Self-Determination Theory
• The Science of Learning: What Every Teacher Should Know
• Leaders of Learning