Sathish Bala is the Founder & CEO of desiFEST Music. He’s a serial entrepreneur and marketing maven with over 20+ years in the game and several successful companies under his belt. Graduating with a degree in computer science the late 90’s, at the cusp of the internet as we know it today, Sathish has a refined understanding of how to succeed online (and offline). He’s an investor in early-stage companies and a mentor at Ryerson’s Science Discover Zone. 13 years ago, Sathish wanted to help Canada’s South Asian community to break down stereotypes, cultural bias, and gender inequalities that held back many young people. That inspired him to create desiFEST, a wildly successful cultural celebration. Since its inception, desiFEST has expanded to from Toronto to Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver.

In this episode (co-hosted by our mutual friend Justin Venturo) we talked about growing up Scarborough, culture clash, and facing obstacles head on. We also talked about morning routines, sleep rituals, and hip-hop.