My First Overnight Success

In the Season 1 Finale of My First Overnight Success, hosts Lillian Victoria Ng, Tony Crisp, and Michael Sawitz look back on the season with one big lesson: no matter how far you go, you never stop being a student. Lillian is a leadership coach with a coach. Tony’s coach has a coach. Michael kept meeting with his mentor long after he was told he didn’t need him anymore. Together they share why the best leaders never stop learning, and what’s happening in the TCVN community right now.🚀 What You’ll Learn:Why every elite performer, and every founder, needs a coachWhy branding ranked #1 and AI ranked #17 on McKinsey’s priority listThe danger of falling in love with your product instead of the problemBuilding a company to run vs. building a company to sellHow to think about pricing, advisors, and the metrics that matterThe defense tech shift creating new opportunities for startups𝗠𝗙𝗢𝗦 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀:𝗟𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗴LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianvictoriaspeaks/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillianvictoriaspeaks/𝗧𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗽:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycrisp/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tonycrisp/𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsawitz/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sawitzmichael/𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 TCVNWebsite: https://www.tcvn.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techcoastventurenetwork/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tcvn/𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀:Sunstone Community Fund: https://sunstonecommunity.org/Reed Smith: https://www.reedsmith.com/CloneMe: https://clone.me/#Myfirstovernightsuccess #founder #entrepreneurship

In this episode of My First Overnight Success, Vak Sambath shares the experiences, failures, and lessons that shaped his journey from a family of Cambodian refugees to becoming a serial entrepreneur, technologist, and investor.Vak opens up about his early career, building technology platforms before the cloud era, the opportunities he walked away from, and the failures that taught him some of his biggest lessons. He also shares why mentorship, relationships, and continuous improvement have become central to how he approaches entrepreneurship today.In this episode, Vak shares:• Why failure can be one of the most valuable teachers• How mentorship and the right network can change your trajectory• Why success is something you define for yourself• The importance of getting 1% better every day• How your past experiences can shape what you build next⏱ Chapters:01:58 Refugee life during the Vietnam War and Khmer Rouge02:25 The importance of authenticity and rawness in startups04:49 The immigrant's mindset and early entrepreneurial ventures10:06 Innovations in internet connectivity and automation in the 2000s10:33 Frameworks for leadership, feeding, and growth29:57 Lessons from successes and failures in tech startups40:06 The importance of mentorship, network, and continuous learning50:00 Reflections on success, failure, and personal growth𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁:Vak SambathLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaksambath/𝗠𝗙𝗢𝗦 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀:𝗟𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗴LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianvictoriaspeaks/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillianvictoriaspeaks/𝗧𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗽:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycrisp/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tonycrisp/𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsawitz/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sawitzmichael/𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 TCVNWebsite: https://www.tcvn.org/Instagram: https://lnkd.in/dw2jm-5jLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tcvn/𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀:Sunstone Community Fund: https://lnkd.in/gUxKzCVVReed Smith: https://www.reedsmith.com/CloneMe: https://clone.me/

In this episode, Michael Bonfils, Founder & Global Managing Director of Digital International Group, is a global digital marketing leader with nearly 30 years of experience across 50+ markets, working with major brands worldwide, shares his incredible journey through entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from failures, and insights into building successful tech businesses. His story highlights the importance of integrity, mentorship, and resilience in the face of adversity.🚀 What You’ll Learn:• Michael’s childhood and early entrepreneurial spirit• The influence of his father’s transportation business• The rise of internet startups in the 90s• How Google and search engines changed the game• Lessons learned from business failures and legal battles⏱ Chapters:01:50 Early entrepreneurial mindset and family background03:46 The influence of his father’s business and mentality09:55 Michael’s journey into internet and tech startups20:08 The rise of search engines and Google’s emergence34:59 Working with Sky Dayton and early internet investments01:00:12 Reflections on success, failure, and resilience01:05:02 Advice for first-time founders and the importance of mentorship𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Michael BonfilsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbonfils/Email: [email protected]𝗠𝗙𝗢𝗦 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀:𝗟𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗴LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianvictoriaspeaks/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillianvictoriaspeaks/𝗧𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗽:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycrisp/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tonycrisp/𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsawitz/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sawitzmichael/𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 TCVNWebsite: https://www.tcvn.org/Instagram: https://lnkd.in/dw2jm-5jLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tcvn/𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀:Sunstone Community Fund: https://lnkd.in/gUxKzCVVReed Smith: https://www.reedsmith.com/CloneMe: https://clone.me/

In this episode, high school entrepreneurs, Katelyn Suen, Maxwell Huang, and Jacob Lee, discuss their innovative NFC business card called HeloTap, the impact of AI on education, and the importance of soft skills and risk-taking for future success.🚀 What You’ll Learn:• Creation of HeloTap NFC business card• Impact of AI on education and jobs• Importance of soft skills and networking• Changing educational paradigms in the digital age⏱ Chapters:00:00 Introduction of young entrepreneurs and their NFC business card02:01 The role of AI in education and future careers04:27 Skills learned from FBLA and soft skills importance10:16 Encouragement for young entrepreneurs to take risks12:22 Advice for peers and the importance of gratitude𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝟭𝟯:𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗮: https://www.instagram.com/its.shoda?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝟯𝟯𝘄𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄: https://www.instagram.com/fr33wrld.show?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: https://www.instagram.com/helotap_/https://helotap.com/𝗠𝗙𝗢𝗦 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀:𝗟𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗴LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianvictoriaspeaks/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillianvictoriaspeaks/𝗧𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗽:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycrisp/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tonycrisp/𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsawitz/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sawitzmichael/𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 TCVNLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tcvn/𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀:https://lnkd.in/gUxKzCVVhttps://www.reedsmith.com/https://clone.me/

Joshua Lee, Founder of Ardius (acquired by Gusto), shares his journey from corporate finance to building and exiting startups—and what most founders get wrong about venture capital.In this episode, we break down the real mechanics behind startup success, from understanding how venture funds actually work to knowing when (and how) to pursue an exit. Joshua also dives into the importance of founder psychology, purpose, and long-term thinking in building something meaningful—not just profitable.If you're a founder, investor, or thinking about entering the startup world, this conversation gives you a clear, honest look at what it actually takes to win.🚀 What You’ll Learn:How startup exits really work (and when they make sense)The fundamentals of venture capital and fund structureWhy most founders misunderstand success metricsHow to balance risk and opportunity in building startupsWhat investors actually look for in foundersThe role of passion, purpose, and internal drive⏱ Chapters:00:00 Understanding Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship03:13 The Reality of Startup Success06:02 The Importance of Ecosystem and Support18:09 Balancing Risk and Opportunity in Investments21:02 Maximizing Outcomes in Startups24:54 Defining Success Metrics for Entrepreneurs30:28 The Driving Force Behind Entrepreneurship49:03 What Investors Look For in Founders52:25 Closing Thoughts and Community Blessings𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Joshua Y. LeeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaylee1/𝗠𝗙𝗢𝗦 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀:𝗟𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗴LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianvictoriaspeaks/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillianvictoriaspeaks/𝗧𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗽:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycrisp/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tonycrisp/𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsawitz/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sawitzmichael/𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 TCVNWebsite: https://www.tcvn.org/Instagram: https://lnkd.in/dw2jm-5jLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tcvn/𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀:Sunstone Community Fund: https://lnkd.in/gUxKzCVVReed Smith: https://www.reedsmith.com/CloneMe: https://clone.me/