Dave Lu’s Post

This is what a changemaker looks like! "Most people are unaware that Asian Americans founded some of the most well-known and successful companies in the world: YouTube, LinkedIn, Zoom, DoorDash, Twitch, and Fitbit, to name a few. Their stories are rarely told, and sometimes it even takes being called out to get coverage. Hyphen aims to make it so that these stories are no longer considered outliers but the norm because we don't need permission to dance." – Dave Lu Dave Lu is one of the few folks I met when we first moved up to NorCal. In addition to his extensive and impressive resume in tech (Yahoo, Apple, eBay, etc.), it is also his passion and work in uplifting our community that has inspired many, including myself. He is currently the Founder/Managing Partner of Hyphen Capital, Co-founder of Stand with Asian Americans along with 朱浩然 Justin Zhu and Wendy Nguyen, a board member for Smithsonian APAC, and the producer of the Emmy-winning "38 at the Garden” about Jeremy Lin. Here's a quick Q&A to get to know him better: Q - What is one thing from your upbringing that has impacted you greatly as the person you are today? A- I vividly remember being at the mall with my family when I was 6 or 7 and waiting in line for a train ride. Someone cut in line ahead of us and my dad was not happy, so he said something and caused a bit of a scene until they decided to leave the line. My mom and I were mortified, but I realized that my dad was doing the right thing by speaking up for not only himself and his family but for others who were waiting in line. Seeing his example of standing up for what is right and using your voice to demand change has always stuck with me. Q - What are the critical elements that have helped your career both as a corporate leader and as an entrepreneur? A - I have always been a firm believer that your network is critical to your success in life. Building relationships of mutual respect and trust can open so many doors to learning and opportunity. I’ve always been proactively helpful to others and that has paid itself back tenfold throughout my career. When you only give when you receive, you miss out on a lot. Think about ways your network can benefit others and people will remember when you’ve supported them without expecting anything in return. Good will goes a long way and it might only take you a few minutes to make that introduction or suggestion. Give 🌹to leaders who are shifting paradigm Part 2 to come.. 📰 UPDATE: California Becomes the First State to Mandate the Collection and Release of Diversity Data From VC FirmsThe Golden State passed new legislation aimed at solving a longstanding issue for diverse founders (article link in comment) #aapi #leadership #startups #vcs