Voxcali

Rahul Purini’s tech background led him to become CEO of Crunchyroll. 

Before stepping in as the President of streaming platform, Crunchyroll, Rahul Purini was building digital systems and engineering solutions. He graduated from Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati, India with a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, giving him a strong foundation for a career in tech.

Purini started creating a name for himself while working at international digital agencies. He was the Vice President of Solution Delivery at Razorfish, where he led operations and saw large growth increases. Purini specialized in developing digital solutions that would skyrocket consumer engagement and overall business performance. Later he became the head of technology and operations for MEplusYOU, an agency based in Dallas.

In 2015 Purini joined Funimation, one of the world’s top anime distributors, marking his first step in the entertainment industry. Here he played a role in the modernization of the brand’s infrastructure, which was crucial during this time as anime was beginning to see a period of massive growth.

Using his engineering background, Purini built systems for Funimation that completely transformed it into a user friendly platform. He managed production, subtitled and dubbed content, and even how the company licensed anime. Purini’s efforts at Funimation didn’t go unnoticed as he rose to CEO, then President and led the company through its integration under Sony Pictures Entertainment, which unified Funimation and Crunchyroll.

Under Rahul Purini, Crunchyroll surpassed 14 million subscribers worldwide, launched anime dubs in five new languages, and incorporated anime-related music into the platform. His vision went beyond streaming and led Crunchyroll to the acquisition of anime retailer Right Stuf in order to expand into eCommerce and actual merchandise.

Today Crunchyroll has reported over 120 million registered users and 15 million monthly paid subscribers, solidifying its place as the world’s top anime destination. With Purini leading the way, this niche streaming platform has now grown into a full ecosystem. Crunchyroll’s subscriber base is only growing and Rahul Purini’s mission to make anime accessible to everyone continues to thrive.

Consumers are moving away from fast fashion and investing in premium denim, forcing brands to elevate quality and craftsmanship.

Cheap jeans are dying out. Consumers are straying away from thin fabrics and poor fitting jeans and the normalization of spending $200 on denim has begun. Premium denim has been seeing a massive surge and fashion brands are trying to figure out how to keep up.

Jeans are no longer something in your wardrobe that you can replace every year. They are now investment pieces. The consumer mindset is shifting away from trend-chasing and moving more towards sustainability and timelessness. This is inspiring people to trade their fast fashion jeans and replace them with higher quality, better constructed pairs that will last for years.

There are multiple brands on the market that are already well known for their premium denim. AG, FRAME, and Paige dominate the category in department stores even with a price tag reading over $200, but now mass-market brands are racing to elevate their denim.

One of the most well known denim names in the world, Levi’s, has kept their customers coming back for years with their classic 501s that retail for $98, but now they are entering the premium space. The Levi’s Blue Tab collection is made from premium Japanese fabric and retails for $268.

It is clear that premium denim isn’t a niche anymore, but a new standard. Consumers are willing to invest in products that make a difference. Premium denim offers quality fabric that will hold its shape, age better when washed, and support your body. Sustainability is another big factor as consumers are buying one-three pairs of jeans that will last them for over five years rather than purchasing a new pair every year.

Denim has become an essential part of an elevated wardrobe and that’s why premium denim is restructuring the entire market. Brands now have to rely on sourcing better materials and improving their fits because shoppers are beginning to choose quality over quantity, so the next time you need to grab a new pair of jeans, remember that premium denim is not a splurge, it’s the foundation of your capsule wardrobe.

The Filipino American is the first person of Asian descent to lead the management consulting firm.

Filipino American Manny Maceda was named chairman of Bain & Company in February 2025 in the management consulting firm’s first leadership change in three decades.  It was a fitting reward for his 36 years of loyal service since joining Bain fresh out of a graduate management program.

Equally important was the leadership Maceda provided as the first Asian to hold the title of Worldwide Managing Partner and CEO in doubling Bain’s revenues from $3 billion in 2018 to $6 billion by 2023.  

The growth was driven by a boom in digital advisory work, strategic transactions, and a push toward more advanced digital and technology capabilities.  This focus has continued in his new post as Chairman.  In May Bain announced a global partnership to combine Bain’s strategic transformation and industry expertise with Palantir’s state-of-the-art AI platforms.

His long years of leadership helped build Bain’s distinctive company culture for which it was named #1 on Glassdoor's list of Best Places to Work four times in the past 10 years, including in 2024 and 2025.

Since joining Bain in 1989 Maceda has provided management consulting to CEOs and organizations in strategy, performance and growth with an emphasis in the technology sector.

In addition to his chairmanship at Bain the 62-year-old serves on the boards of the Stryker Corporation and the Ayala Corporation.  He is a founding partner of The Asian American Foundation.

Maceda is a naturalized US citizen who was born in the Philippines as the eldest son of the late political figure Ernesto Maceda.

He graduated with a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1984 and a master of science in management from MIT in 1989.

Maceda is married to Lyra of the Rufino family which is prominent in business, innovation and philanthropy in the Philippines.

The Japanese American actress stars opposite Daniel Dae Kim in the 2025 Amazon Prime spy thriller Butterfly after years of guest starring roles in Netflix and DC productions.

Actor Reina Hardesty hit a new career high in 2025 with the role of an assassin starring opposite Daniel Dae Kim in the Amazon Prime spy thriller Butterfly.

Her earlier roles were in the 2024 Netflix sci-fi horror film It’s What’s Inside and the indie dramedy The Secret Art of Human Flight.

Her comedic gifts earned her appearances in six episodes of the final season of the critically acclaimed IFC sitcom Brockmire in 2020.

Hardesty became a fan favorite in the DC Arrowverse after guest starring in 3 episodes of The CW’s The Flash in 2018 and in an episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow as the same character in 2020.

She won recurring TV roles beginning in 2017 with 14 episodes of Netflix’s teen drama Greenhouse Academy simultaneously with 15 episodes of Crackle’s crime series StartUp.

The 29-year-old was born in Orange County to a Japanese mother.  She began her professional acting career in 2015.

After two debilitating brain surgeries TOKiMONSTA made a stunning comeback at Coachella and secured a Grammy nomination.

Jennifer Lee, known by the stage name TOKiMONSTA, is an electronic music producer and DJ whose style blends house, hip-hop, and R&B music, often with unique textured sounds and creative sampling. 

She has released 8 extended plays and 7 albums starting with her 2010 debut Midnight Menu.

2014’s Desiderium included “Realla” featuring Anderson .Paak which remains her most streamed song with over 50 million plays.

Lee’s career came to a halt after being diagnosed with Moyamoya, a brain disease, in December 2015.  The following month she lost the ability to speak, understand language, and comprehend music after having two brain surgeries a week apart.  She stated that all music, including songs she knew, lost all melody and sounded like “loud metallic noise.” 

Fortunately, the condition faded after a few weeks.  Just months later she made a triumphant return to the stage at Coachella in 2016.

Lee also began work on her most personal album, Lune Rouge.  Released in 2017 it was Grammy-nominated for “Best Dance/Electronic Album,” making her the first Asian American producer and first female producer to be nominated in the category.  The album included singles “I Wish I Could” and “Don't Call Me” featuring Malaysian singer Yuna.  The latter became her most viewed music video on YouTube.

In 2022 TOKiMONSTA’s “The Flower Blooms” was included in Netflix’s promotional EP for Squid Game.

Her seventh studio album, Eternal Reverie, was released in March 2025 after being postponed to allow her to care for her close friend and tour manager Regina Biondo who experienced an aggressive and ultimately fatal cancer.  The album contained the track, “For You” which Lee has called a “love letter” for her.  Exploring themes of resilience and joy “Corazón / Death By Disco” included a sample that Biondo had brought to Lee’s attention while on tour in Brazil.

Lee is a second-generation Korean American residing in Torrance.  She graduated from UC Irvine in 2010 with a business degree. Her introduction to music came at an early age with classical piano training.  The name TOKiMONSTA derived from the Korean children’s song “Santoki” – mountain rabbit.

Check out this roundup of the most practical and on-trend gifts for any guy in 2025.

With the holidays right around the corner, shopping for men in your life can be overwhelming, so we’ve curated a 2025 gift guide for every type of guy.

A car accessory kit is practical and universally useful. Purchase one that contains a selection of handy car tools and accessories or put together a custom kit personalized with jumper cables, a tire inflator, and cleaning essentials. Anything that can make driving more convenient makes a great gift for anyone who loves keeping their ride in tip top shape.

For a simple, but still enjoyable present, a Robert Barakett T-shirt is an excellent choice. Robert Barakett is known for their premium cotton tees and their elevated menswear. This t-shirt is the perfect wardrobe staple and it comes in a variety of colors so any guy can get a comfortable, put-together look.

The Ray Ban Meta Glasses are one of the most talked about tech gifts of the year. They feature built in cameras, AI assistance, and a sleek, every day design. For anyone in content creation or someone who just loves to keep up with the newest tech, these glasses are a true statement gift.

This next item is something men won’t usually buy for themselves, but will love and use if given one. A bath robe. A plush, high quality bath robe can upgrade anyone’s shower routine or just their time lounging at home on a day off.The top gift on this list is the famous quarter zip sweater that has made its way back into men’s fashion. A quarter zip has always been timeless in a fashion lover’s eyes, but recently quarter zips have been making waves amongst male audiences on social media. It’s an effortless way to dress up or down and will fit right into any guys’ closet.

Jennifer Liao and Caleb Wang ditched the dining room and scaled their Chinese soup dumplings into a $53.5 million national freezer brand.

Jennifer Liao and Caleb Wang are the married co-founders of the frozen dumpling brand MìLà.   The second-generation Chinese Americans are expanding Chinese specialty foods into the American grocery space. 

The couple entered the food business in 2018 by opening the Bellevue, Washington Chinese restaurant Xiao Chi Jie, which remains in operation.  

Neither co-founder had a background in hospitality but both wanted to introduce authentic Chinese street foods not easily found in American restaurants. 

When the pandemic hit many Seattle-area eateries were forced to close.  Liao and Wang pivoted by freezing and delivering their handmade soup dumplings locally.   This experience revealed the lack of quality dumplings in grocery chains.

Deciding to shift their focus to the freezer section, they worked at perfecting their xiao long bao and potsticker recipes.  They also raised $53.5 million in a venture funding round led by Stripes and Imaginary.

To reflect the company’s growth into a national brand, in February 2023 Xiao Chi Jie was rebranded to MìLà, rooted in the Chinese words for “honey” (mì) and “spice” (là). 

The same year they also formed a key strategic partnership with actor Simu Liu who joined the executive team as Chief Content Officer.

MìLà’s products have since expanded from direct-to-consumer sales to a vast distribution network spanning over 5,000 locations, including Costco, Target, and Whole Foods.  This has turned traditional delicacies like xiao long bao into a widely available freezer-aisle staple.

Liao graduated pre-med from the University of Pennsylvania while Wang earned a finance degree from Carnegie Mellon and worked at various VC firms before entering the food business.

Join us as we explore the lives and times of some of history's most prominent women of Asian and Asian American descent.

Yue-Sai Kan has long been known as the "Oprah of China," but to cross-cultural curiosity, she brings warmth and depth and humanitarian empathy that makes her a perfect subject for November's episode of Ladies & Legends.

INTRO:

“I always say that the universe really has a way of repaying those back who use their money for good.” (The China Project, 2021)

This is a quote from glamazon phenom Yue-Sai Kan, a multi-dimensional entrepreneur, TV host, and fashion icon who built her career by combining business acumen with humanitarian empathy. 

She’s known for bridging a gap in understanding between China and the United States with her long running series, “Looking East” which ran for 12-years, and for pivoting. She built an eponymous cosmetics brands in China, selling a majority stake to Coty for around $21.4 million in 1996, which Coty then resold to L’Oreal in 2004 just 8 years later. And while exact figures have not been disclosed, it’s lauded as one of the major early transpacific beauty deals.

She’s been called the “Oprah of China,” and she’s a champion for representation, creating Barbie-doll equivalents, the “Yue-Sai WaWa,” so girls of Chinese descent could see themselves as beautiful and aspirational rather than idolizing blond, blue-eyed counterparts.

HOST:

"Hello welcome to Ladies and Legends, the podcast where we explore the personal journeys of legendary women and business leaders of Asian and Asian American descent. I’m your host Juyun, and today’s story is about the woman known as the Oprah of China, Yue-Sai Kan.

If you were around in the 70’s and 80’s you probably knew about “Looking East,” a program that introduced American audiences to Asian cultures.   During its 12 years on air producer and host Yue-Sai Kan won dozens of awards and accolades.

The New York Times said, “Few people are able to bridge the East and West, but Yue-Sai Kan can, and does it with beauty, intelligence and grace.”

Since then, she’s hosted “One World,” a show focused on bilingual travel programming on China's national television network CCTV, with a weekly viewership of 300 million.  For comparison, at her peak Oprah’s viewership topped out at around 20 million daily or 140 million per week if you count weekends.  Not unlike Oprah, Kan simultaneously built a cosmetics and beauty empire, created a lifestyle and furnishings brand, and even built her own version of Barbie. 

Yue-Sai is a television pioneer, a groundbreaking businesswoman, an author, a philanthropist, and a cultural diplomat. She is a symbol of confidence for millions of Chinese women and a bridge that helped connect two worlds during one of the most rapid social transformations in modern history.

Her story begins, like all great stories, with family, culture, and a young girl growing up between tradition and possibility.

PART 1: Early Life & Identity

At the center of Guilin are two lakes that remain from a medieval period moat, that once surrounded the city. During World War II it became an important military, transport, and cultural center when the population grew from 70,000 people to more than 500,000 by 1944. 

And in this post-war era that Yue-Sai Kan was born into a family where she would be the oldest of 4 daughters, some sources say she was born in 1947 while others say 1949. Either way they agree she was an Autumn baby, born on October 6th. 

And as a young girl, she grew up cultured and surrounded by artistry. 

Her father, Kan Wing-Lin, was a respected painter and calligrapher, and the rhythm of ink across paper was as familiar to her as the sound of her own heartbeat. But because he was deemed an intellectual, and by definition a enemy of the Communist state, they fled to Hong Kong when Yue-Sai was around 4 years old.

Yue-Sai has described the Hong Kong of that time as “primitive,” hardly the scion of finance and commerce it is today. And like the best contemporary Asian American tiger moms and dads, her parents encouraged her to be excellent at whatever she did.

Her dad said, “Be the first person to walk on the moon. No one remembers the second." Years later she would remember this when she met Buzz Aldrin.

So anytime Yue-Sai expressed interest in anything whether that be ballet or piano, her parents were quick to locate the pre-eminent local expert and sign her up for lessons. 

One of her early ambitions was to be a concert pianist and she would practice for up to 8 hours a day. But unlike painting which has what she deems has an element of subjectivity to it, playing piano is not like that. You’re either a master, or you’re not. So after one fateful concert which she actually thought went well, she stayed up until 4am navigating a late-teen identity crisis as she realized she still wasn’t good enough to make it.

So she pivoted to something she considered much more predictable, television.

I should note here, some commonality with all of our heroines. There’s a point in their becoming, like with Vera Wang and ice skating, or Misa Chien and her culinary business, that forces an early reckoning and this crossroads presented by a moment viewed as failure, actually becomes key to building a sustainable life of meaning.

Back to her family, Yue-Sai’s mom was the breadwinner. She owned an investment firm, and Yue-Sai had credited her with much of her own ambition and business acumen. And it was through this, that she was able to afford to send all four daughters to the U.S.

Yue-Sai’s talent as a pianist earned her a place at Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i, where she continued her studies. And this spurred her ability to thrive cross-culturally.  

In 1968, she entered the Narcissus Flower Festival competition, organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Though still quite young, she carried herself with the poise of someone twice her age and she was named second runner-up, and the opportunities that followed expanded her horizons even further. Public appearances, community events, and cultural ambassadorship introduced her to the idea that identity — when expressed with confidence — had power.

These early experiences helped form the core of Yue-Sai’s life philosophy: that heritage is not something to escape or minimize, but something to uplift, refine, and share with the world.

PART 2: NYC and the Broadcast Era

In 1972, Yue-Sai relocated to New York City and initially survived owning an import-export business. The city was dizzying, filled with noise, ambition, and creative energy. She took it all in with the curiosity that would later become her trademark.

Her initial foray into television was serendipitous. She volunteered on a local cable station broadcasting to New York's growing Chinese population. She had found her calling, and shortly after she founded her own production company, Yue-Sai Kan Productions.

She began creating television that introduced Americans to Asian cultures with respect, nuance, and enthusiasm in her program, “Looking East.” It’s worth noting that even though she was born in China, she didn’t really consider herself Chinese because of the negative experiences of her parents, first with the Japanese occupation, and then with Communism, that had forced them to flee in the first place. 

So her ability to tap into neutral, and unbiased curiosity likely allowed her to present China in a more favorable light to American audiences who had up until that point been exposed to Asian culture through a lens of exoticism rather than understanding. 

“Looking East” premiered on U.S. television and quickly developed a loyal audience. It was so popular, it aired for 12 years, the last 2 on the Discovery Channel.

In a dizzying turn of events, in 1984 PBS then handpicked her to host the first live broadcast of a television program from China on the occasion of the 35th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China. The program was a co-production with China's CCTV network. And this opened the door for her to become the host of “One World” on China’s national broadcaster, CCTV. 

This bilingual weekly television series reached hundreds of millions of viewers — at times a third of the entire country. For the first time, Chinese families saw a woman who spoke flawless English and equally fluent Mandarin, who walked easily between cultures, and who embodied a more globalized future. 

She was truly aspirational.

Yue-Sai wasn’t simply a TV host; she was a cultural icon. Her warm interviewing style, worldly elegance, and gift for explaining international customs resonated deeply with China’s audiences, who were hungry for connection with the outside world during a time of unprecedented openness.

In this role, she didn’t just report on globalization — she humanized it.

At the same time she continued with other projects and in 1989 she won an Emmy for her work on the ABC documentary “China Walls and Bridges,” and “Journey Through a Changing China,” which was syndicated nationally and lauded in the U.S. Congressional Record referencing Yue-Sai herself as a “Citizen Ambassador.”

PART 3: Identity-Lead Business Empire

While traveling across China filming her show, she noticed that beauty counters were dominated by Western brands promoting Western features. Chinese women were being told —explicitly — that they should aspire to Eurocentric beauty standards.

Yue-Sai saw an opportunity, but more importantly, she saw a need. In 1992 she founded Yue-Sai Cosmetics, one of the first modern cosmetics brands designed specifically for Chinese women. Everything — from the shades, complementing a golden skin undertone, to the textures to the marketing — was infused with understanding of Chinese skin, climate, and traditions around beauty.

For the first time, Chinese women saw themselves reflected on marketing collateral like posters, packaging, and television ads, not as imitators of Western standards but as embodiments of their own beauty.

The brand exploded in popularity. Within a decade, Yue-Sai Cosmetics was available in hundreds of stores across China, distributed through dozens of regional companies. It became a symbol of a new era — confident, modern, proudly Chinese.

In 1996, just four short years after founding Yue-Sai Cosmetics, Coty the U.S. beauty conglomerate, purchased a controlling stake for around $21 million dollars. And just eight years after that, L’Oreal came calling, ultimately buying the company as part of their Asia growth strategy. P&G was also in contention.

But Yue-Sai wasn’t finished building.

After cosmetics, she expanded into lifestyle with House of Yue-Sai, a collection blending Chinese and Western aesthetics into home décor, jewelry, and tableware. The guiding principle was the same as always: identity elevated through design, modernity enriched by history.

One of her most beloved creations emerged from a deeply personal observation. While visiting toy stores in China, Yue-Sai noticed that most dolls had blonde hair, blue eyes, and Western features — sending Chinese children a subtle but harmful message about which faces mattered.

In response, she developed Yue-Sai WaWa, a line of dolls with naturally Asian features, black hair, Chinese clothing, and educational accessories. For countless children, these dolls became the first toys that reflected their own beauty back to them.

Through every venture, Yue-Sai wasn’t simply building businesses. She was reshaping the cultural landscape, reclaiming narratives, and redefining representation in a country undergoing radical transformation.

PART 4: Up Close and Personal

Despite being a highly public figure, Yue-Sai has been very private about her personal life. 

She did marry a man named James McManus, several years her senior in 1990. It was her first, marriage and his second. 

For the event which took place at the Silver Palace Restaurant in Chinatown New York City, she hired 85 waiters, and rented silver, linen and crystal for 520 guests. They also chartered 100 limos to take people home. (NY Times Archives)

James is the founder and majority owner of Westport, Connecticut-based company, Marketing Corp. of America. Together, they were force behind the launch of Yue-Sai Kan Cosmetics initially investing $4 million. But sadly, they would eventually divorce in 1997. They have no children.

Those who know Yue-Sai describe her as elegant but approachable, disciplined yet compassionate, with a remarkable capacity for focus. She carries the poise of someone raised among artists, and the confidence of someone who had successfully reinvented herself multiple times.

To her friends, she was witty, loyal, and unfailingly curious. And to her audience, she was a woman who made dreams feel attainable.

Beyond her forays into business and entrepreneurship, she has also dedicated herself to philanthropy: building schools, supporting educational programs, funding scholarships, and promoting healthcare initiatives. 

PART 5: Return to Bi-Cultural Roots

After decades between the United States and China, Yue-Sai eventually spent more time working directly on Chinese soil again. She became an unofficial cultural diplomat — someone who understood both worlds deeply enough to translate them to one another.

Her show “One World” which covered 17 countries in 104 episodes, continued to bring global stories into Chinese homes. She has traveled extensively, interviewing leaders, artists, scientists, and everyday citizens around the world, including icons like Mother Teresa, Gore Vidal, Steve Allen and others, she offered her viewers a doorway into new worlds, and in doing so, a universe of possibilities for dreamers and doers. All while allowing them to practice English proficiency as the show was bilingual in English and Mandarin.

Meanwhile, her brands — cosmetics, lifestyle products, dolls, books — helped define what it meant to be modern and Chinese at a moment when China was reinventing itself on the global stage.

The Yue-Sai WaWa, or dolls, are a particularly bold and interesting project. They came about in 2000 after Yue-Sai noticed a lack of available dolls that represented Asian beauty standards as opposed to the Barbie-fied ones of the west which were sold in China, too. So she developed the Yue-Sai WaWa who, sized like Barbie, featured higher cheekbones, wider faces, and otherwise more Asian features. 

In all things she has done, Yue-Sai has served as a bridge between cultures, and between traditions and modernity, while doing it with flair and never-ending capacity for continued curiosity. In 2024 she published her boldly titled memoir, “The Most Famous Woman in China.”

“If I look back at my life, everything has happened to me and it was me who was willing to take the opportunity and run with it,” she told the China Institute of America in a 2019 interview.

So perhaps that’s the takeaway here, have your head up and eyes forward in order to make the most of the opportunities we’re all given throughout our lives. Be brave enough to step up, even when it scares us.

PART 6: Legacy and Closing

Yue-Sai Kan’s influence extends far beyond the television screen or the beauty counter.

Some of her notable philanthropic endeavors include donations to underprivileged, and rural parts of China to help build schools, libraries, and award scholarships. She has also donated ambulances and built small clinics to help serve women. 

She founded the Yue-Sai Kan One World Foundation, as an outgrowth of the Yue-Sai Kan China Beauty Charity Fund which included supporting children with cleft lip and palate correction surgeries. And a common theme has been her consistent and unwavering support of women through scholarships and direct contributions to the United Nations World Conference on Women, and through her work building clinics in China. The sheer scale and ambition behind these projects are in themselves indicative of her ambition to make the world a kinder, more respectful, and understanding place.

OUTRO:

Yue-Sai has said, in an issue of Leaders Magazine:

“When I was young, my mother said, “You are young, and right now it seems things are going your way and you probably feel you are successful, but true success can only be judged by how you live the last 20 years of your life. […] are you healthy, […] are you surrounded by people you love and people who love you?”

Her true legacy lies in the millions of lives she touched.

She was one of the first women to show China what global citizenship looked like — not Westernized, not assimilated, but proudly bicultural and she demonstrated that a woman could be international without abandoning her roots and ambitious without sacrificing elegance.

Her cosmetics brand helped Chinese women see their own skin tones, features, and beauty as worthy of celebration. Her dolls allowed children to see themselves reflected on toy shelves. Her books on etiquette and lifestyle guided an entire generation through China’s rapid transformation into a global society.

And perhaps most importantly, she proved that cultural translation is an art — and that those who practice it with honesty, intelligence, and compassion can change how nations understand one another. 

So what can we take away from Yue-Sai Kan’s journey? Maybe this: sometimes you have to jump before you’re ready, and take action before you want to, and don’t be afraid of learning along the way.

That wraps up today’s episode of Ladies and Legends. Whether you admire her style, bicultural perspective, or ambitions to make the world a better place through education, one thing is clear, Yue-Sai Kan has lived a life that reminds us of the power of self-belief, ambition and bravery.

Thanks for listening. Be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode if you enjoyed it. I’m Juyun, and I’ll catch you next time on “Ladies and Legends."

Tech is making our homes smarter to spruce our daily routines and comfort.

We are now in the era of smarter homes, where even your trash cans can get an upgrade. Let’s take a look at some of this year’s best home tech products.

Starting with the ROOT Undersink Composting System. This sleek device hides underneath your sink and acts as a food waste separator and composter. It was made to replace traditional, noisy garbage disposals, collecting the solids into a sealed, odor-free bin and creating nutrient rich compost for soil. ROOT’s composting system is quiet, low maintenance, and perfect for anyone looking to live a little greener.

Next is Levitask’s Vision Chair, a throne designed to support those who are staring at screens for hours every day. It is a holy grail for anyone who works from home as it can adjust to your spine, assisting with posture, naturally. The Vision Chair has customizable features and targets how your body stands while seated. It is currently available for pre-order and deliveries are anticipated to begin May 2026.

If you love privacy and a good morning routine, SmartWings Smart Blinds will automatically open and close right on schedule or at the sound of your voice. The blackout shades provide UV protection and thermal insulation giving any home a comfortable and energy efficient environment.

What smart home gadget list would be complete without a robot vacuum? This year, the Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum was one of the most affordable and highest rated. It features a vacuum and mop combo and it can empty and refill itself. The Roborock S7 maps your home, avoids obstacles in the way, and removes dried stains 30% more effectively than other robot vacuums.

Finally, your morning routine just got smarter with the GE Smart Coffee Machine. This was made for anyone who wants their coffee hot and ready before their feet touch the floor. The GE Smart Coffee Machine will listen to your customizations and brew your coffee right on schedule so that you will never forget to press “brew” again.

Nvidia’s embrace of vibe coding pumps Cursor into a $30 billion startup with plans to shift to a fully AI-native development platform.

AI enterprise service Cursor AI has skyrocketed its valuation to an astonishing $29.3 billion with this month’s $2.3 billion Series D round led by Thrive Capital and Andressen Horowitz.

Only a year after achieving unicorn status Cursor founders Michael Truell, Aman Sanger, Sualeh Asif and Arvid Lunnemark enjoy a $1.3 billion personal stake.  The quartet launched parent company Anysphere just three years earlier while attending MIT. 

Truell serves as CEO.  Sanger, an Indian American from New York, focuses on solving the engineering bandwidth bottleneck to accelerate AI progress.  Pakistan-native Asif is the CTO credited with designing Cursor’s code editor.  Lunnemark has left the company but maintains his founding stake.

Cursor’s platform enables developers to use natural language prompts a.k.a. “vibe coding” to generate, edit, and debug large chunks of code by harnessing the power of AI large language models. 

Its success in enabling more efficient software development has led to adoption by tech giants.  Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has called Cursor his “favorite enterprise AI service”, noting that all Nvidia engineers are assisted by AI coders.  

Cursor AI is focused on transitioning from an AI-assisted editor to an AI-native development platform, implementation of autonomous multi-agents, and expansion into enterprise solutions, with the aim of taking over low-level coding entirely and greatly boosting developer productivity.