Shaan founded Know Your Noise (KYN) Consulting - www.knowyournoise.com - a boutique consulting firm that amplifies the voice of the youth generation and creates value throughout the business community. 

1. Where did you grow up?
I’ve grown up in Budapest. I live in Buda, often spend my weekends doing something interesting in Pest, and attend an international school just outside the city.  

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Definitely a large metropolitan city - New York, London, Singapore. The opportunities for young people are endless, and I feel like the energy of a big city suits my ambitions, both socially and career-wise. 

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
Hungary is very special to me. I know nowhere else like it. I would miss everything from my local football pitch to the enriching combination of the strong Hungarian culture and the vibrant international community. 

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? 
I’m really enjoying the Lime scooters -- those bright green and black electric scooters you see everywhere. Whenever friends are in town, I always take them on a “Lime tour” - scootering from Margaret Island to the Parliament to the Fisherman's Bastion, stopping for Langos on the way. 

5. What is your favorite Hungarian food?
Vanilla Kürtöskalács in the winters, definitely.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Mizo chocolate milk cartons - a must. 

7. Outside of studying, what do you do in your free time? 
I spend a lot of time running my consulting firm, KYN Consulting. 

Other than that, I enjoy cricket and golf. There is a huge cricketing community in Hungary, and that's a great way to interact with other internationals. Golf is a relaxing way to spend my time. At school, I also coach debate, run a UN diplomacy club, and play football. 

8. Tell me more about this youth consulting firm? 
I started KYN (Know Your Noise) Consulting around a year ago. I realized that my generation, Generation Z (born post-2000s), has become increasingly important to companies, yet businesses are often at a loss about how to engage young people. My firm bridges that gap: we provide authentic, youth-focused consulting solutions that enable international businesses to better appeal to the consumers of tomorrow.

Running the firm as a teenager has been hard -- people are sometimes rightly skeptical, and Covid-19 has, of course, made life difficult. However, we are managing to find some success, working with over 10 companies locally and internationally. 

We also have a website -- www.knowyournoise.com - if anyone is interested. 

9. Do you consider anywhere else ‘home’? 
Along with Budapest, I consider New Delhi home. Having been born there, I miss the crowds, festivals, food, camaraderie, and all my family there. I try to go back as much as possible, and KYN is currently working on a few projects there as well. 

10. What career do you hope to pursue?
Definitely, given what I’ve been doing now, something to do with entrepreneurship or consulting -- whether taking my youth consulting firm further or otherwise. If not that, I’d love to explore anything to do with youth advocacy and positive social change. 

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
My family and I drove up to Lake Bled recently. While we had to social distance, we did manage to take a relaxing stroll along the lake. 

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
Aspiring to study in the US, it would be great to spend my next holiday there, exploring the country I’ll hopefully call home for the next 4 years. 

13. Apart from temptation, what can't you resist?
A trip to the driving range at the city golf course, no doubt. 

14. What was your favorite band, film, or hobby?
A lot of mainstream pop and rap that many readers of XpatLoop probably won't be familiar with. I also love Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, Red Hot Chilli peppers, among others. 

15. What is your favorite Hungarian word?
Hajrá. I use that word a lot - whether socially or cheering at sports games. I like it because it's so versatile.  

16. Book or movie?
Movies to relax, books to learn and dive into something interesting. I’m also really into podcasts if that counts. 

17. Morning person or night person?
As a high school student, I’m forced to be both. But I do prefer nights. 

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
I’m really passionate about the power of the youth voice. I think young people have a lot to bring to not only society but also the business community. We’re a diverse, energetic generation, and we can help brands prepare for the future. 

19. Buda or Pest side?
Buda is home, but Pest is pretty great, too. There’s a reason they go together. 

20. What would you say is your personal motto? 
Satya Nadella’s (Microsoft CEO) three principles: bring clarity, generate energy, and deliver success. I try to apply that approach to school, my company, and life.