Episode 291: How to Build Founder Confidence When No One Believes in You with Anya Cheng
Too many founders and high-performers hit a wall when confidence doesn’t match ambition. You know your idea has potential, but between rejection, resource scarcity, and self-doubt, it’s hard to believe in yourself long enough to see success.Today’s guest, Anya Cheng, went from leading global teams at Meta, McDonald’s, and eBay to launching her own AI-powered fashion startup, Taelor, from scratch. She faced rejection after rejection, battled imposter syndrome as a female immigrant founder, and still raised millions from early investors behind YouTube, Spotify, and TSMC.In this episode, Anya reveals how to turn mindset into your biggest growth tool, so you can build conviction, attract investors, and grow even when no one’s returning your calls.We’ll unpack how she built belief before validation, how she turned “minority” into “majority,” and how logic, not luck, became her greatest asset in leading through uncertainty. Whether you’re scaling a startup or reinventing your career, this conversation will help you grow ready from the inside out.----------About the Guest: Anya Cheng is the Founder & CEO of Taelor.AI, an AI-driven menswear rental platform helping ambitious men dress for confidence and success without the hassle of shopping or laundry. Before becoming a founder, Anya spent 15 years in leadership roles at Meta (Facebook/Instagram), McDonald’s, eBay, and Target, building global digital products and teams. She’s also a faculty member at Northwestern University and a passionate advocate for women and minority founders in tech.About the Episode: In this episode, host Steve Mellor sits down with Anya Cheng to uncover what it really takes to transition from corporate executive to confident founder.Anya opens up about battling imposter syndrome, learning to operate with limited resources, and how shifting her mindset helped her raise millions in venture funding, despite being told “no” again and again.She shares the behind-the-scenes of building Taelor.AI, lessons from her Big Tech years, and how believing in your own logic can turn rejection into redirection.This one’s for every entrepreneur, leader, and creator trying to grow something great when no one else seems to see the vision yet.Takeaways:Overcoming imposter syndrome as a founderThe mindset shift from “employee” to “entrepreneur”How to grow with limited resources and connectionsTurning rejection into opportunity through generosityThe power of logic in building self-beliefUsing AI to empower human confidence (Taelor.AI’s mission)Networking through “loose ties” for personal growthCircular fashion and sustainability in techLearning to define success on your own termsLinks & Resources Mentioned:Taelor.AI – https://taelor.styleContact Anya:
[email protected] 25% off your first month at Taelor.style - just use promo code Podcast25 when you subscribe!Follow Anya on LinkedIn: https://www.liSend us a textSupport the showThis podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our community Also be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor
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