Overcoming the Odds

Did you know that according to research from Niagara Institute, democratic leadership is the most popular of the six most common leadership styles? More surprisingly, 80.7% worry about whether their employees like them! 

Celebrating International Leadership Week, today’s newsletter will unravel the stories of founders and business pioneers to help you rekindle your leadership spirit and learn from those who championed the power of collaboration for success.

But first, as uplifters of the Asian entrepreneurial and creative community, we care about your opinions and feedback! Let us know which part of our newsletter you prefer the most.

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Last week Asian founders did...

🚀 Mason Wang and Dhruv Pai launched Tilde, developer of moonshot, applied interpretability solutions to make maximally safe and performant AI.
🚀 Kenson Chung launched Origami Agents (YC F24), a developer of AI research agents to help you find leads at the point of maximum buying intent.
🚀 Cindy Vesce launched The Pakij, a custom-curated gift-giving platform to help people convey special sentiments with style and sincerity.
🚀 Lillie Sun and Conner Chyung launched Ditto, a platform facilitating human connection through sharing lists.
🚀 Karn Kaura and Jesse Choe launched playdo.ai, an AI-powered interview prep platform designed to help job applicants excel in technical interviews.

Discover more inspiring founder and innovator stories at awakennewsletter.substack.com

UPLIFTING LEGENDS 📺

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UPLIFTING VOICES 🎧

Justin Cao & Charlie Pham // S3 Ep 211 // Overcoming the Odds

Join us in Season 3, Episode 211 of the Asian Hustle Network Podcast for an eye-opening conversation with Justin Cao and his mentor, Charlie Pham, the powerhouse duo behind Shifu Uni, a mentorship platform that is changing the game for aspiring entrepreneurs.

From humble beginnings as struggling students, Justin and Charlie have transformed their lives, building million-dollar businesses through grit, smart strategies, and genuine mentorship. Tune in to hear how they overcame early challenges, their impact through mentorship, and their mission to help others succeed without falling for false promises. 

The Stars of “Interior Chinatown” Loved Satirizing Hollywood’s Depiction of Asian Americans ✨

“They expect you to know kung fu, they expect you to be a good student, or the model minority tech guy,” Jimmy O. Yang said to NBC News. In “Interior Chinatown,” Jimmy O. Yang plays an invisible Chinatown who is dragged into investigating his brother’s disappearance. 

Yang appreciates how the show uses satire to reveal the lives of sidelined characters and how Chinatown is a metaphor for how certain communities are flattened. Yang states “We’re shown the facades, the Chinese words, the kitschy restaurants, but what you don’t usually see is behind the scenes.” Ronny Chieng, playing a friend of Yang’s character and defender of Chinatown states, “We need to pay attention to who’s in the background, and recognize them as people who have their own stories, their own tragedies, and their own goal.” He believes by satirizing Hollywood’s failures, the series points out the larger problems of our society and highlights the lives of the extras behind the scenes. 

Michelle Yeoh and Charli XCX on the Yearn for Motherhood 💫

There’s nothing that Asian parents love more than having grandchildren to hold in their arms. Hence, the pressure of carrying a baby just lingers. In a recent interview with The Times, Michelle Yeoh, now 62, a “have-it-all” Oscar-winning actress from Malaysia, opened up about her inability to have children, calling it her “biggest sadness.” Married to entrepreneur Dickson Pool in 1988, she stopped her acting career to focus on building a family. However, upon realizing she could not conceive, the couple decided to divorce in 1991.

It has been a more chaotic time for women, yet also a time when women can be more “honest” about their vulnerabilities. Much like Indian British popstar Charli XCX’s Brat Summer—“I think about it all the time,” a track from her latest hit album, BRAT—carries a deep confession of baby fever, clashing with her reckless party-girl persona. She pours her heart out, ambivalently contemplating her life purpose: “Should I stop my birth control? 'Cause my career feels so small in the existential scheme of it all.”

Either way, you just gotta keep bumping forward. Charli may continue being the party animal icon that she is. Michelle, who is now in a happy marriage with Jean Todt and has “six godchildren, many nephews, and nieces,” may be sentimental but has no regrets. These complexities and nuances feel substantial in so many ways. To any woman reading this: whether you want to build a happy family or live a carefree life, know that it never makes you less of a woman.

Experience the Magic of Loy Krathong: Thailand’s Iconic Festival of Lights 🏮

If you ever grew up envisioning a future where you can actualize your vision of the iconic “Tangled” lantern scene, the Loy Krathong Festival is a must on your 2025 vision board. 

Loy Krathong is celebrated widely in Thailand, but Chiang Mai, situated in northern Thailand, is considered the most attractive spot to enjoy this luminous feast of lights. 

The most anticipated part of the festival is the candle-lightening ceremony (Tam Phang Pa Teet Song Fa Haksa Muang), symbolizing the opening of the light of life and gratitude to the Water Goddess Phra Mae Khongkha. This history-long tradition has been one of the cultural highlights of Thailand, connecting the community and boosting tourism. 

Loy Krathong occurs on the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, usually in November. This year, it fell on November 15, marking the celebration with traditional rituals such as floating krathongs (decorated boats) on rivers to honor the Water Goddess.

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Why do we often equate our worth with how much we achieve?

In Toxic Productivity, psychotherapist and author Israa Nasir unpacks the emotional patterns that keep us stuck in the endless cycle of "doing more." This book challenges the myth that productivity equals self-worth, offering actionable tools to overcome perfectionism, burnout, and social comparison. Order now at israanasir.com/toxic-productivity

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📈 Would someone need passion or purpose to become an effective leader? In reality, both. The 5 P’s Framework explains that a good leader is purpose-driven to inspire followers and give them focus, but to maintain this purpose, a leader should also be passionate to encourage people to join their vision. Here’s the guide to aid you in your leadership journey:

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