Former CEO, Meridian Partners
David Chen
David Chen spent the first half of his career chasing the version of success his parents had mapped out for him. It wasn't until a chance encounter with a mentor that he realized the long game meant building something he actually cared about. Now, three decades later, he shares what he wishes someone had told him at 18.
Key Takeaways
- Your first career doesn't have to be your last
- Mentorship isn't a luxury—it's a necessity
- The decisions that feel small at 22 compound over decades
- Stop optimizing for prestige and start optimizing for learning
"The biggest risk I ever took was staying in a career I didn't believe in. Leaving was easy by comparison."
Video Coming Soon