You Don't Need an MBA — You Need What Your Culture Already Taught You

Culture. Discomfort. Resilience. These are worth more than any degree.

Joe Hyrkin, former CEO of Issuu and Silicon Valley veteran, didn't build his business skills in a boardroom or classroom. They were earned on the streets and trains of China.

In this episode, he shares what nearly a decade in China taught him about negotiation, resilience, and reading any room you walk into.

Topics discussed:

00:00 - Introduction

01:45 - Cross-cultural childhood

03:41 - What led him to China

07:44 - Navigating a new culture

12:09 - Learning how to negotiate

16:33 - “I was not gonna be Chinese”

21:46 - Traveling vs. discovering

26:23 - From Hong Kong to Silicon Valley