Ep 38: John Kim [Managing Partner, Amasia; Vlogger, Musician & Serial Entrepreneur]

John Yohan Kim serves as Managing Partner at Amasia, a
cross-border venture capital firm that helps technology companies
get global. He is a Kauffman Fellow, a Term Member at the Council
of Foreign Relations, a member of the Young Leader's Circle at
the Milken Institute and serves on various corporate and
non-profit boards including those of Dialpad Communications,
Kairos Society Asean and the Choson Exchange.





But before all that, John began his career as a serial
entrepreneur, founding a music internet and e-consulting business
called The Y Group before joining as a violinist in the Ally,
where he toured around the US and collaborated with top artists
across the US and Korea, most notably receiving a platinum record
for contributing to an album with Grammy Award winner,
Brandy. 





All of that ended when John realised that he was still depressed
despite pursuing his passion in music and during one performance,
he heard God’s voice calling him to come home. Which kickstarted
a journey that took him from the USA to Korea and now,
Singapore. 





Highlights:


3:36: Being a rebel to be accepted by society

6:04: Suffering senioritis & nearly losing his place in
University of Pennsylvania! 

9:04: Hearing God telling him to “Come home”

17:56: Joining the rock band, The Ally, as a performing
musician

19:09: Getting a platinum record for contributing to Grammy
award-winning Brandy’s album

22:25: Crossing paths with John… Legend!

29:35: Pivoting from music to hedge funds

31:56: Corporate culture in Asia versus the West

33:18: Co-founding his own VC firm, Amasia

41:22: God is not a vending machine

43:25: Workplace conflict when work clashes with faith 

54:57: Amasia’s 4Rs of Behaviour Change

58:01: Investing in Dialpad

1:05:00: Hearing God tell him to become a vlogger

1:06:00: Meeting Nuseir Yassin of Nasdaily

1:09:00: What Nas advised John to go from 200 views to 170k
views and now, almost 1 million views!

1:12:23: Involving his family in his vlogs

1:17:14: Thoughts on Clubhouse






Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/38 





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