Aconic
The Aconic Podcast features candid conversations with successful Asian and AAPI icons who share their personal journeys of challenges and triumphs. Hosted by Soon Yu.
Episodes
Aconic host Soon Yu sits down with Jane Marie Chen, entrepreneur, bestselling author of Like a Wave We Break, leadership coach, and co-founder of Embrace Innovations. Embrace created a life-saving infant warming blanket that has helped save over one million babies worldwide.
Despite extraordinary success, Jane shares the truth few leaders talk about: even after saving a million babies, she ...
Hear his ...
In her most recent role as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Oscars), Janet Yang helped move AAPI stories from the margins to the mainstream, reshaping how Hollywood sees and celebrates Asian voices.
A quiet insider turned cultural trailblazer, Janet reflects on her journey from being the o...
Just days before announcing his retirement, Jeremy Lin sat down with the Aconic Podcast for his final interview as an active player. In this candid conversation, Jeremy opens up about the decision to step away from basketball, the questions he wrestled with, and what might come next.
He shares raw reflections on purpose, impact, and faith, asking himself, “Am I really living up to who I said I wanted to be?&...
When the Doctor Becomes the Patient: Dr. Bryant Lin’s Journey
In this episode, Soon Yu interviews Dr. Bryant Lin, a primary care physician at Stanford, who shares his compelling journey from doctor to patient. The discussion begins with Dr. Lin's professional background, including his pivotal role in founding the Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE) and his focus on lung cancer in the Asian commun...
One Mother's Sacrifice Inspires Daughter's Mission to Move Families Forward.
In this episode, host Soon Yu interviews Ritu Narayan, the CEO of Zum, a company revolutionizing the school transportation system. Ritu shares her journey from India to becoming a tech leader in Silicon Valley, discusses her family's influence and the challenges she faced while building Zum. The conversation delv...
From Side Hustles to Direct Delivery: Larry Liu’s Journey to Building Weee!
In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu sits down with Larry Liu, the CEO of Weee!, America's largest online Asian supermarket. Larry delves into his immigrant journey, the early challenges in America, and his relentless hustle from reselling backpacks to launching Weee!. They discuss Larry's initial struggles to secure f...
This episode is part of our new series ACONIC Rising, which features younger guests on their journey to becoming Aconic. In this episode, Miss Asia USA Tiffany Chang shares her journey from an introverted knitter to a Stanford student, nonprofit founder, and pageant titleholder defying stereotypes. She opens up about ov...
Geoff Yang, co-founder of Redpoint Ventures : From Building Network Routers to Building a Network of Entrepreneurs, Hip Hop Artists and Olympians
In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, Soon Yu interviews venture capital titan and Redpoint Ventures co-founder Geoff Yang as he shares his extraordinary journey of building influential networks that extend far beyond Silicon Valley. From early bets on game-changing compa...
Lisa Ling, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist: How Family Sacrifice and a Hunger for Truth Shaped One of America’s Most Fearless Reporters
From Cargo Ship Passenger to Secretary of Transportation: The Trailblazing Legacy of Secretary Elaine Chao
In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of The Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu sits down with Secretary Elaine Chao to explore her remarkable journey—from arriving in America as a seasick 8-year-old on a 37-day cargo ship to becoming the first Asian American woman to serve in two U.S. presidential cab...
Balancing Babies, Books, and Boardrooms: The Inspiring Journey of Sheila Lirio Marcelo
In this heartfelt episode of the Aconic Podcast, host Soon interviews Sheila Marcelo, the visionary entrepreneur behind Care.com and Ohai.ai. From navigating an unplanned pregnancy as a 20 year old sophomore in college to founding a company that became a lifeline for millions of families, Sheila’s journey is nothing short ...
Embracing Growth, Grit, and Grace with Guy Kawasaki. In this episode of The Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu sits down with Guy Kawasaki, the renowned evangelist for Apple and Canva, author of 16 books, and the host of the 'Remarkable People' podcast. Guy expounds on his philosophy around the three G's: growth, grit, and grace, and how they've shaped his career and life. He shares personal anecdotes, from his early day...
Intentional Leadership with Mayor Aftab Pureval. In this episode, host Soon Yu interviews Aftab Pureval, the mayor of Cincinnati, who shares his inspiring journey from his immigrant family's experiences to his leadership in public office. Pureval discusses his career trajectory, starting from his early days in student government to his role as clerk of courts, where he tackled system...
In this episode of The Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu speaks with Charles Yu, award-winning novelist and executive producer of Hulu's 'Interior Chinatown'. They dive into Charles' journey from a career in law to becoming a celebrated writer, focusing on his struggles and breakthroughs.
The discussion covers the moment when he almost gave up o...
Yamini Rangan: From Small Town Dreams to Leading HubSpot. In this episode of Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu, along with co-host Tina Shah Paikeday, interviews Yamini Rangan, CEO of HubSpot. The conversation covers Yamini's inspiring journey from a small town in India, to leading a prominent software company. Yamini shares personal anecdotes about ...
Ho Nam: Resilience and Reinvention. In this episode, host Soon Yu interviews Ho Nam, Managing Director of Altos Ventures. The conversation delves into Ho's upbringing in Korea, his family's immigration journey to the U.S., and the socio-economic challenges they faced. Ho shares insights into the founding and evolution of Altos Ventures over three decades, highlighting the shift from a feeder fund model to a value-f...
Manny Maceda: From Exile to Acclaim. In this episode, Soon Yu speaks with Manny Maceda, former CEO/Worldwide Managing Partner of Bain & Company, about his remarkable journey from a privileged childhood in Manila to becoming a global leader in consulting. Manny shares how political turmoil reshaped his family’s life, leading to their exile in the U.S. and inspiring him to pursue higher education and a care...
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