In this episode of Hyphen Nation, I sit down with my friend Grant Lee, founder and CEO of Gamma, the AI-powered platform reinventing presentations, documents, and storytelling. Grant shares his journey from growing up in Pleasanton, California, in a family that ran restaurants and worked at the post office, to Stanford, Optimizely, and ultimately founding one of the fastest-growing AI companies in the world.
We talk about:
Growing up as one of the few Asian Americans in his hometown
The sacrifices his immigrant parents made and the entrepreneurial lessons he learned from them
Why he walked away from a traditional engineering career
The power of relationships, mentorship, and playing the long game with your network
How to discover work that genuinely energizes you
Why too many people stay on the “default path” instead of pursuing what they truly want
The early struggles of Gamma and the lessons learned when growth stalled
Building conviction as a founder when everyone doubts your idea
Leadership, storytelling, and what Asian American professionals can learn from leaders like Jensen Huang
Why it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and pursue your life’s work
Grant’s story is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about following someone else’s definition of achievement. It’s about finding the work that gives you energy, having the courage to leave your comfort zone, and taking ownership of your own path.
Whether you’re a founder, creator, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply wondering if there’s more to your career than the path you’re currently on, this conversation will challenge you to think bigger about what’s possible.
