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 se Send us a text Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay connected and keep growing with Steve: LinkedIn Instagram Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts Connect with GrowthReady Join the community and keep your growth journey going: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Official Website ---- This 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