In this insightful episode of Founders Across Borders, host Yukta Kandhari sits down with renowned entrepreneur and startup advisor Brian Lee to dive deep into what it really takes to build and grow a successful business in today’s fast-changing world. Brian opens up about his journey transitioning from corporate life to launching multiple startups, sharing the real challenges and rewarding moments that shaped him as a founder.

Together, Yukta and Brian explore some of the most pressing questions for modern entrepreneurs: How do you maintain work-life balance in a world that glorifies hustle culture? How can founders build supportive communities to combat loneliness and burnout? And how is AI transforming industries and creating new opportunities for innovation and growth?

Brian talks candidly about the importance of understanding whether your product is a ‘nice-to-have’ or a true necessity and why failing fast can save you time, money, and energy. He reveals practical strategies for finding product-market fit, building customer loyalty, and turning satisfied customers into your biggest advocates.

The conversation also unpacks why community-led businesses are thriving, how cultural diversity enriches entrepreneurial journeys, and what active leadership really looks like when you’re building across borders. Brian shares relatable stories, powerful sound bites, and actionable advice on setting clear end goals, prioritizing time management, and staying focused by cutting out unnecessary noise.

Whether you are a first-time founder, an experienced entrepreneur, or simply curious about the startup world, this episode will leave you with valuable insights and the inspiration to enjoy the ride because as Brian says, life is short, so don’t wait for an exit to start living fully.

📌 Chapters Include:

• The real startup journey: wins, failures & lessons learned

• Managing work-life balance and avoiding toxic hustle culture

• AI’s role in reshaping business trends today

• Building founder communities that actually help

• The secrets behind customer loyalty and retention

• How to lead a community-led business for sustainable growth

• Navigating cultural diversity in global entrepreneurship

• Time management tips and the value of failing fast

• Practical advice for every aspiring founder