Episode Details

Wen-Szu Lin: Lessons learnt from Franchise Failure to Scaling Uber in Asia - E696

Season 1 Episode 696 Published 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Description

In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au is joined by Wen-Szu Lin who opens up about the brutal reality of entrepreneurship, from securing the master franchise for Auntie Anne's in China just before the 2008 Olympics, to navigating massive business failure, and eventually scaling Uber's Community Operations across Asia.

Wen-Szu shares the untaught lessons that propelled his corporate success after his startup collapsed. Discover the hidden challenges of operating a foreign food brand in Beijing, how strict local regulations stifled growth, and why a "growth mindset" is the ultimate tool for tech leaders and founders. Whether you are building a startup in Southeast Asia, exploring venture capital, or looking to growth hack your career, this candid conversation about bouncing back from a failed venture is essential listening.

Check out Wen-Szu Lin’s books The China Twist and Deliver: The untaught lessons to growth hack your career at www.wenszulin.com

00:00 - Introduction

01:46 - Wen-Szu Lin's Background & Journey to China

04:55 - Securing the Auntie Anne's Master Franchise

07:23 - The Reality of Doing Business in Beijing (2008 Olympics)

11:42 - Why the Pretzels Failed: Malls, Regulations & Foot Traffic

16:19 - Knowing When to Fold & Moving to the Philippines

20:41 - Overcoming the Stigma of Failure: Writing "The China Twist"

24:42 - Scaling Uber's Community Operations in Asia

27:53 - Untaught Lessons: Writing "Deliver"

30:28 - Following Curiosity Over Bravery

31:54 - Three Key Mindsets for Success & Conclusion