On today’s episode, Young Han talks to Shannon about his journey from growing up in humble beginnings to becoming a seasoned operator, investor, and community builder. They dive into how he helped scale companies like Sodexo, Lyft, and Philz Coffee, the lessons he learned along the way, and why adaptability, resilience, and strong relationships are at the core of entrepreneurial success. Young also shares his perspective on mentorship, the importance of mindset, and how founders can stay grounded while navigating the unpredictable challenges of building and scaling businesses.
Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:
1: How to adapt and thrive in fast-changing business environments.
Young shares how his career journey has taken him through diverse industries — from food services at Sodexo, to transportation with Lyft, to coffee culture with Philz Coffee. Each pivot required him to quickly learn, unlearn, and apply new skills. His stories highlight that adaptability isn’t just about survival, but about recognizing opportunities in change and using them to grow both personally and professionally.
2: Why mentorship and community are critical for long-term success.
Throughout the conversation, Young emphasizes the role that mentors and strong communities have played in his life. He explains how finding the right people to learn from — and giving back by mentoring others — creates a cycle of growth. Building authentic relationships, he says, is not only a foundation for career success but also for resilience during challenges.
3: Lessons from scaling startups and applying those insights to new ventures.
From his work helping scale Lyft and Philz Coffee, Young reflects on the patterns, principles, and pitfalls of rapid growth. He breaks down how early-stage chaos can be turned into structured systems, and why founders need to balance vision with execution. These insights are directly transferable to new ventures, helping entrepreneurs anticipate challenges and build scalable, sustainable businesses.