Asian American Empowerment: Fighting anti-Asian hate, creating representation, and building community with Dave Lu, Taiwanese American Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, and Activist (Ep. 181)

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we chat with the inspiring Dave Lu.  Dave is a Taiwanese American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and activist.  Dave shares his remarkable journey growing up as the child of Taiwanese immigrants to now being the Founder & Managing Partner at Hyphen Capital,  Co-Founder & President of Expo, and Co-Founder, Stand with Asian Americans.  From his experiences as a child of Taiwanese immigrants and a tech industry veteran to his powerful advocacy against anti-Asian hate, Dave's story is one of resilience and empowerment. 

Dave recently produced the Emmy-winning documentary short 38 at the Garden about NBA player Jeremy Lin, which was acquired by HBO.  Dave sits on the advisory board of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Asia Pacific Fund.  Dave received his bachelor degree in finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• How growing up as a Taiwanese American impacts your career and life choices.

• The rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, and the importance of telling our stories (as seen on the Wall Street Journal).

• How the courage to speak up and organize led to the founding of Stand With Asian Americans.

• The power of representation in sports and media, including Jeremy Lin’s story.  

• Challenges and opportunities for Asian American founders in venture capital and technology.

• Strategies for building your own opportunities and taking control of your narrative.

• The power of storytelling in fostering understanding and driving social change.

• The importance of creating inclusive environments and supporting diverse founders, especially women founders.

• Finding purpose and joy in the face of challenges.

Connect with us:

• Connect with Dave Lu on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davelu/ and on substack at https://substack.com/@davelu. 

• Follow Samorn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samornselim/.

• Get a copy of Samorn’s book, “Belonging: Self Love Lessons From A Workaholic Depressed Insomniac Lawyer” at https://tinyurl.com/2dk5hr2f. 

• Get weekly career tips by signing up for our advice column at www.careerunicorns.com. 

• Schedule a free 30-minute build your dream career consult by sending a message at www.careerunicorns.com.