How Do You Climb the Corporate Ladder & Become Financially Free by 40? Dave Liu Shares!

Dave Liu is a 30-year veteran of Wall Street and Silicon Valley and a dabbler in Hollywood.  Cutting to the chase: We talk about his rise in Wall Street, exiting in his 40's, "owning" being an Asian American in corporate America, developing thick skin early due to being born with a cleft lip palate, continuing as a VC in Silicon Valley, and his soon-to-be released book, "The Way of the Wall Street Warrior: Conquer the Corporate Game Using Tips, Tricks, and Smartcuts."  

Bio:

Dave Liu started his career as a Wall Street banker at Jefferies where he rose from the entry level of Analyst to the executive ranks of Managing Director and Co-Head of the Digital Media and Internet investment banking group. He broke through the Bamboo Ceiling as one of the only senior executives of color in an industry dominated by white men. He worked on over $15 billion of transactions for hundreds of companies including Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and Yelp. 

He retired from Wall Street in his early 40's and became a serial entrepreneur, starting 4 companies in technology, asset management, merchant banking and media. He has been an active investor and CEO Advisor to multiple companies including 4 that have reached “unicorn” status with valuations exceeding billions of dollars. 

Dave is also a perspiring artist and writer who loves to draw and write funny. He has multiple certifications in creative and satirical writing as well as screenwriting. He publishes a career advice column called “Breaking Bamboo,” and a cartoon series called “The ABC Life.” He has also written a humorous career book called “The Way of the Wall Street Warrior” which will be published by Wiley in November 2021.

He supports philanthropic causes for disadvantaged groups and serves as board member or advisor at the University of Pennsylvania, Tau Beta Pi, and Smile Train. Net proceeds from his books will go towards charities helping children born with clefts, Asian Americans, and other disadvantaged groups.

He has an MBA from Harvard and dual degrees from The Wharton School and School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania.