The Founder Spirit

Hosted by Jennifer Wu

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Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you! In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story. So tune in & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

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November 29, 2022Episode 256 min

Heather Ibrahim Leathers - How I Built the World's Largest NGO Dedicated to Widows

Even though starting a nonprofit organization is difficult, it forces you to consider your larger life or business goals beyond revenue and profits. It is a tool that enables you to concentrate on the big picture and establish long-term goals and objectives that have the potential to change the lives of hundreds, thousands, or perhaps millions of people. In today’s episode of The Founder Spirit podcast, we are joined by Heather Ibrahim Leathers. She is the Founder and President of the Global Fund for Widows, the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to economically empowering widows in the developing world. With its focus on training and financing widows to build sustainable micro-enterprises, the Global Fund for Widows is the leading authority and voice for over 300 million widows around the world. How did she do it? Is there something you and I could learn from her experience? TUNE IN and be inspired! For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

December 30, 2022Episode 116 min

#01 Trailer: Introduction by Your Host, Jennifer Wu

This podcast is dedicated to sharing the personal stories and experiences of exceptional individuals from all over the world and a variety of backgrounds to provide valuable insights and life lessons through authentic conversations with those who are not afraid to dream big and take a step back to reflect before pushing forward with their mission. It is my greatest hope that it will inspire you to pursue your true passion, live more authentically, and become better versions of yourselves. If you’d like to learn a bit more about who I am and why I am doing this podcast, feel free to listen to the following interview with my friend Ingrid. For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

January 11, 2023Episode 31 hr 4 min

Nathan J. Anderson - Building Successful Startups by Adopting the Player’s Mindset

There are many reasons to start and build a successful startup. But there is one thing you need to do that will set you apart from your competition: adopt the Player’s mindset. Why? Players learn to champion their ideas, push beyond the barrier of comfort and learn from their losses. In this episode of The Founder Spirit podcast, we are joined by Nathan J. Anderson, who is the CEO of Scantrust, an enterprise software scale-up that he founded in early 2014. In his early twenties, the Vermont native joined a Chinese company as the only foreign employee and successfully took it public on the NASDAQ. Not only did he play NCAA basketball all throughout college, he also made a living playing poker for a year after graduating from Middlebury College. What lessons does he have to share on playing team sports, bluffing at the poker table, and running an enterprise software startup? TUNE IN and find out! For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

January 15, 2023Episode 41 hr 3 min

Nicole Schwab: The Sacred Feminine, Gender Equality and Earth-Centered Wisdom from the Heart of Her Labyrinth

What is the sacred feminine? And why is the feminine worth less than the masculine? In this episode, we explored the intersection of gender and environment with Nicole Schwab, founder of EDGE Certified Foundation, a business certification standard for gender equality in the workplace. Nicole also shares with us some earth-centered wisdom from her book “The Heart of the Labyrinth”, as well as her hope and optimism on the restoration generation, as she currently leads 1t.org, a platform for the trillion trees community at the World Economic Forum. So TUNE IN to this fascinating conversation about founder burnout and critical topics in today’s society! For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

February 8, 2023Episode 557 min

Gabi Schenkel: Solo Crossing of the Atlantic, Ultra-Running and the Power of Loneliness

There's a saying, a lot of baby steps, small steps, eventually get you to your destination. In this episode of The Founder Spirit Podcast, we talked to Gabi Schenkel, the “Swiss Ultra Princess”, who did the unimaginable. At the age of 42, she is the first Swiss woman to row solo across the Atlantic, a trip which took her 75 days and over 5,000 kilometers (~3,000 miles), making her the 17th woman in the world to ever finish an ocean crossing alone. She has written a book about her borderline experiences & how she discovered the power of loneliness called “Solo auf See” (or “Solo at Sea” in English). Though Gabi has never rowed until a year before her departure, she is no stranger to extreme sports. She has run over 30 ultra-marathons since the early age of 17. Licensed as an osteopath, she is also a coach and a motivational speaker. Discover Gabi’s genuine motivation in achieving the unimaginable & the power of loneliness! TUNE IIN to this new episode. For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

February 24, 2023Episode 659 min

Max Frieder: Uplifting Communities in Crisis with the Power of Art

Art is creativity, art is expression. How can art heal people and uplift communities in crisis?   In this episode of The Founder Spirit Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Max Frieder, a public artist, a humanitarian, and Co-Founder of Artolution, a global non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen communities experiencing crisis through collaborative art-making. Max shares remarkable stories from his work across traumatized communities experiencing crisis, navigating Artolution in refugee camps, and his challenges with running an organization for artists, by artists. Discover what the arts can do as the closest thing to magic that exists in the world! TUNE IN to this new episode. For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

March 17, 2023Episode 754 min

Mike Ang: Pursuit of Happiness Across His Land of Dreams

We live in a volatile, complex world. It's easy to get stuck in our daily routines, and even easier to never start something or give up when things don’t go as planned. For one man, however, taking the road less traveled has been a journey of self-discovery and limitless creativity. Joining us in this episode is Mike Ang, a serial entrepreneur in the lifestyle and entertainment industry. Trained as a civil engineer, Mike never gave up pursuing his dreams in music, creative writing and entertainment. He is the Founder of Planet X, a successful international multi-media production and product marketing agency based in New York, currently launching an ultra-premium, zero-additive tequila brand, Tierra de Ensueño. As a published author of a children's book, Mike is a first-time screenwriter of a romantic comedy Asian Persuasion, produced and directed by Jhett Tolentino, a Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway producer. Through his various endeavors, Mike is also a tireless advocate of advancing culture and creating greater opportunities for youth, women, and minorities. During his spare time, Mike runs a successful manufacturing facility for rolling paper in the Philippines, still consults professionally as a civil engineer, and is also the producer of a Netflix documentary premiering in April 2023. Is there something else that Mike doesn't do? Where does the innate desire to create something out of nothing come from? TUNE IN now and be inspired! For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

March 31, 2023Episode 853 min

Claudia Romo Edelman: The Modern-Day Mafalda & We Are All Human

We reveal, elevate & celebrate the best of humanity. We Are All Human celebrates our differences, it is because of them, not despite them, that we are strong. Joining us today is Claudia Romo Edelman, a social entrepreneur, an advocate, and a catalyst for social change. She is a global mobilization expert, as well as a leader of inclusion, focused on unifying the U.S. Hispanic community and promoting sustainability and purpose-driven activities. She is the founder of We Are All Human Foundation, a New York-based non-profit dedicated to advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity. Claudia has a track record in launching global movements and creating collective action and is a master of agenda-setting. She has been in the driving seat of some of the most successful global campaigns of the last decade, including the launch of Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations. Claudia is a visiting fellow of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a published author and sits on the board of several not-for-profit organizations. She is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and has been listed as one of "Most Powerful Latinas" for three consecutive years by the Association of Latino Professionals For America, as well as People Magazine's "25 Most Powerful Latinas" in 2020. TUNE IN now and be inspired! For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

April 14, 2023Episode 91 hr 0 min

Amit Munshi: The Secrets of His Success in Biotechnology

Some people say that biotechnology is similar to speculative oil drilling for PhDs. We are joined today by Amit Munshi, a serial entrepreneur and a turnaround expert with over 30 years of remarkable experience in biotech. From founding Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (sold to Allergan for $2.1 billion) to leading a successful turnaround at Arena Pharmaceuticals (sold to Pfizer for $6.7 billion), Amit truly knows what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in this industry. In today's episode, he shares his insights on taking risks, finding the right capital structure for your company, and the ultimate goal of bringing life-saving drugs to market. So, grab your headphones and TUNE IN to Amit's magical journey through life.For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!

April 28, 2023Episode 101 hr 12 min

Masha Gordon: The Explorer's Grand Slam & Conquering Personal Mountains

In today's complex and multi-dimensional world, success can seem elusive and unattainable. However, there are individuals who have managed to achieve remarkable success in multiple domains, defying the odds and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. In this episode of Founder Spirit, we are delighted to bring you the story of one such individual - Masha Gordon., who at the age of 42, became the fastest woman to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam in just 7 months and 19 days, ascending to the highest peak in each continent, as well as skiing the last degree on both the North and South Pole. Not only does she hold two Guinness World Records as the fastest woman to scale the Seven Summits and to complete the Three Poles Challenge, she also had an impressive career on Wall Street and has consistently demonstrated the spirit of determination and resilience in her professional life and mountaineering accomplishments. In this candid conversation, Masha shares her insights on a range of topics, from investing and the importance of mentorship to self-reinvention and navigating turbulent times. So TUNE IN, and get ready to be inspired as we delve into the multi-dimensional world of Masha Gordon!For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com. Also follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founder-spirit-podcastInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefounderspirit_podcastYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpiritPodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit Twitter:  https://twitter.com/founder_spirit This episode is brought to you by NIANCE, Deeper than Beauty. NIANCE is a science-based Swiss luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand focused on activating the body's natural ability to rejuvenate and regenerate for a more vital, useful, and energetic appearance. Powered by groundbreaking furnace biotechnology, its award-winning formulas, with the exclusive Swiss Glacier complex, combine over a hundred powerful natural active ingredients with leading clinical research. As listeners of my podcast, you can benefit from 15% discount by using the promo code “TheFounderSpirit15” on niance.com.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!