Welcome to Unfiltered w/ PORCH, where we explore what it means to be an immigrant entrepreneur from the POV of the immigrant.
In this episode, I'm speaking with Katherine Li, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Pulse FX, a startup that helps Canadian businesses make sense of all the chaos that comes with currency exchange rates and international payments.
Before launching PulseFX with her co-founders, Katherine had worked in the finance industry for 10 years. But that didn't stop her from dealing with self-doubt or getting in her own way.
In this conversation, Katherine and I chat about entrepreneurship as a journey of self-discovery, staying curious, the need to find supportive communities as an immigrant entrepreneur, and why being experienced in the problem you are looking to solve doesn't guarantee entrepreneurial success.
Key Takeaways
The bad days are not forever: Don't mistake the moment for who you are. Bad days will pass, and they're not your normal.
Entrepreneurship is a search for yourself: What we build is a vision of how we see the world. The “more” that drives entrepreneurs is really the search for meaning and self-discovery through creating something new.
Name your inner critic to control it: Katherine calls her inner critic “Randall” and actively works to quiet his voice when he keeps on yapping that she can't succeed.
Networking after a certain age can serve a dual purpose: This was surprising but it tracks. Networking events can also be an opportunity to make new friends because we all know how hard it is to make friends as adult immigrants.
Official Links
Connect with Katherine Li on LinkedIn
Book a call to chat exchange rates and international payments
Katherine’s Media Diet
One newsletter you’d never miss: Doesn’t have any that she doesn’t miss.
One immigrant entrepreneur that inspires you: Juan David Gutierrez, Co Founder of Sostanza Global
One podcast you regularly listen to: Hidden Brain
Any books or resources that have significantly shaped your entrepreneurship journey: Think Again by Adam Grant
One Ask
If you got value from this episode, please forward it to one immigrant entrepreneur you know.
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