When was Shubham Goel on The Circle? Alum’s journey explored

Shubham Goel first appeared on Netflix's reality show The Circle during its first season, which premiered in January 2020. He returned to the show for its fifth season in 2023. While season seven of The Circle was released on Netflix in September 2024, fans have been curious to know more about the previous contestants of the show.

Shubham Goel is one such contestant who left a lasting impression on fans of the reality show. While he didn't win the grand prize during either of his appearances, he became a beloved contestant due to his strategic planning and the way he played the game. Collider even ranked Shubham the second best contestant on The Circle in a list published in May 2024.

During his first appearance on The Circle season 1, Shubham's primary aim was to conduct a social experiment instead of chasing fame or prize money. He managed to finish as the runner-up during that season. However, in season five, he adopted a catfish identity, and while he did have evolving strategies, he was eliminated early on.

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The Circle participant Shubham Goel returned to the tech industry after his stint on the reality show

Shubham Goel is a product manager known for his distinctive approach towards social media. He contested in the 2018 California gubernatorial race, advocating for a ban on social media for students in K-12 schools.

Shubham Goel studied Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, and began his career in the tech industry soon after graduation. He initially served as a product manager at several companies before starting up the iERP Company, where he managed engineering teams. The reality show contestant also contributed to product development, leading to a 25% increase in customer acquisitions.

After his run on The Circle, Shubham returned to the tech industry, assuming roles at Maven Machines and later at eBay. At Maven Machines, Goel continued his product management duties, contributing to essential development projects. As of May 2023, Goel has been serving as a product manager at Rise8.

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Journey in The Circle

Shubham Goel's journey on The Circle season 1 was memorable due to his unconventional approach to social media. He entered the show as a UCLA graduate who firmly believed that social media was akin to modern-day bubonic plague. Goel called himself the "social Medusa" and wanted to expose the artificiality prevalent in online interactions.

Shubham Goel rejoined the show in season 5 with a catfish identity. He took on the role to leverage his friend Joey Sasso's winning strategies. Sasso was another contestant on the show in one of the previous seasons.

Despite his strategic planning, Goel was eliminated early. However, he gained further insights into the gameplay dynamics and the mentality of catfish contestants. Reflecting on his experience, he expressed a more lenient view towards catfish contestants.

In an interview with Parade in January 2023, he admitted to being excessively harsh on catfish during his first season. He revealed how he had transformed his understanding after playing the role himself. He maintained a critical stance on catfishing in real life, distinguishing between game strategy and genuine interaction.

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One of the show's significant highlights was Goel's enduring friendship with Joey Sasso, a fellow contestant. They shared a genuine bond that extended into real life, and still connect frequently through FaceTime and meet whenever Goel visits Los Angeles.

Shubham now has a substantial following on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where he reflects upon a nuanced understanding of social media's role in modern life.

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Fans can take a look at Shubham's journey on The Circle seasons one and five, as they are available to stream on Netflix. They can stream the latest session of the show on the platform and follow its official page on Instagram to be up-to-date about it.