In this episode of Hyphen Nation, Dave sits down with Faye Iosotaluno, former CEO of Tinder and one of the very few Asian American women to lead a major global tech company. Born and raised in West Covina, California to Indonesian-born, ethnically Chinese immigrant parents, Faye grew up speaking Mandarin at home, navigating multicultural environments, and learning early what it meant to balance assimilation with pride in her identity.
Faye shares how her curiosity and love of learning shaped a career that has been anything but linear. After studying both finance at Wharton and English literature at Penn—an education she credits for sharpening both her analytical and storytelling abilities—she began her career in media investment banking at Merrill Lynch before moving into corporate strategy roles at Viacom and other major media companies.
Driven by a desire to build digital-first consumer products, Faye made the unconventional jump to SoundCloud, embracing a startup environment where she could learn new industries, work globally, and help shape the future of music streaming. That leap eventually led her to Match Group, where she rose through the ranks and ultimately became CEO of Tinder, helping transform a product used by millions worldwide. As she explains, her leadership was grounded not just in operational expertise but in bringing more women’s voices into product design—because a dating platform can only thrive when it meaningfully serves women.
Faye opens up about navigating male-dominated tech environments, the importance of storytelling as a leadership tool, finding allies in the room, and learning to speak up—even when it’s uncomfortable. She shares how she eventually put her ambitions on the table, telling her manager she wanted to be considered for CEO, a pivotal moment that taught her the power of naming your goals out loud.
As one of the very few Asian American women to ever serve as CEO of a major tech company, Faye also reflects on the responsibility and privilege of being visible representation. After stepping down recently, she discusses the emotional complexity of leaving such a role—and the profound notes she received from people inspired by seeing someone who looked like them leading at the highest levels.
This conversation dives deep into identity, ambition, leadership, risk-taking, and the mindset shifts required to grow into your full potential. Faye’s path is a masterclass in how to build an unconventional career, claim space in the rooms that shape culture, and lead with both substance and humanity.
