I have a few personal heroes and role models. One of them is Dr Kai-fu Lee.
We actually overlapped briefly at Google. I was a PM in the Seoul office, and Dr. Lee was leading Google’s PM teams across Asia. Although I didn’t get to work with him directly on projects, in the few video calls I was with him, his presence was inspiring.
After a successful career in the US, Dr Lee returned to his roots and launched Sinovation Ventures in China, leveraging the experience and wisdom he gained from his career in the US.
It’s unfortunate the recent geopolitical tensions cast China as the #1 enemy of the US, but it’s easy to overlook how deeply interconnected China and the US already are. I believe Dr Lee’s contribution to China’s startup ecosystem will have ripple effects, benefiting not just China but the US in many direct or indirect ways.
One day I also want to give back to the Korean startup ecosystem and help Korean startups succeed in the US/global market. As a naturalized US citizen with Korean roots, I feel I’m uniquely positioned to do so.
This gives me extra motivation to build successful companies and extend my network here in the US – as I know, having a bigger presence here in the US will (a bit ironically) make myself more effective in helping Korean startups succeed in the US.
Keep up the great work and continue inspiring us, Dr Lee!