#296 Gagan Sandhu: Engineer Your Independence

Gagan Sandhu didn’t chase freedom. He calculated it. 

In this first of a two-part series, the Chicago Booth MBA, former tech exec, and founder of fintech startup Zillion shares how he redefined financial independence—moving beyond buzzwords and into practical action. From his immigrant roots to his pivot from mechanical engineering to Silicon Valley, Gagan shows how knowledge—not speed—builds real freedom. 

Whether you’re Gen X or Gen Z, this conversation reframes wealth not as a finish line, but as a tool for designing the life you actually want.

>>From Engineering to Independence

“I didn’t change careers at 22—I did it at 30, with a kid on the way.”

Gagan shares how he shifted from mechanical engineering to tech—slowly, methodically, while balancing parenthood and late-night coding marathons.

>>Knowledge Is Currency

“Every leap I made came from learning, not luck.”

He reflects on why knowledge—not connections, not titles—has been the key success driver in his nonlinear, global career.

>>Financial Independence ≠ Retirement

“I didn’t stop working. I stopped relying on someone else to fund my time.”

Gagan breaks down the real math behind financial independence, and why it’s not about quitting your job—it’s about having options.

>>FIRE Without the Hype

“We turned it into a real-time calculator—so people can stop guessing and start acting.”

Gagan explains how his company Zillion helps users understand their path to independence through clean logic, custom inputs, and grounded assumptions.

>>Money, Math, and Meaning

“Independence isn’t a destination—it’s a design challenge.”

In a thoughtful back-and-forth with Vince, Gagan shares why financial planning must merge psychology, lifestyle design, and human behavior—not just numbers in a spreadsheet.

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Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Gagan Sandhu

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