Honoring Lost Loved Ones on the Path to Success with Keo Sar

Speak In Flow

This episode of the Speak In Flow podcast dives deep into entrepreneurial thinking, exploring how it can enhance your leadership vision and foster creative leadership. Host Melinda is joined by Keo Sar, Chief Operating Officer of Matter Product Studio and angel investor, as they discuss his personal and professional journey. From surviving as a refugee to building and scaling startups, Keo’s story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership. Listeners will gain valuable insights on integrating personal growth into their leadership strategies and embracing creativity to overcome challenges in both business and life.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Vision Beyond Goals

Keo distinguishes between goals and vision. While goals are concrete, vision is broader and filled with possibility. Leaders must dream beyond specific objectives, inspiring teams with a bigger picture for the future.

Embracing Adversity

Keo’s personal story of being born in a refugee camp, and his family’s journey out of Cambodia, offers powerful lessons about resilience and overcoming adversity. He talks about how this background fuels his passion for helping founders in emerging markets, reminding us that while talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not.

The Power of Curiosity and Learning

One of Keo’s superpowers is his ability to learn and reinvent himself. He explains how his father’s belief in continuous learning—beyond formal education—allowed him to thrive in the tech world and beyond. This mindset, along with Keo’s innate curiosity, enables him to navigate uncertainty and build innovative solutions for his clients and startups.

The Journey to Fulfillment

Keo reflects on the achievements he’s reached in his career, from executive roles at startups to angel investing. Despite these external successes, he discusses the internal realization that fulfillment doesn’t come solely from accomplishments—it requires deeper alignment with one's purpose.

Coping with Loss and Finding Purpose

Keo opens up about the tragic loss of his cousin, who took his own life. This event deeply affected Keo, prompting him to reassess his priorities and dedicate himself to making an impact in the world. His vulnerability and reflections on grief remind us of the importance of emotional connections and self-care on the path to success.

Memorable Quotes:

“Talent is equally distributed, but opportunities and access aren't.”

“I've always been so focused on achieving my goals that I don't know if I've actually really taken the time to just enjoy it.”

“I always bet on myself to figure it out along the way, because the reality is, I don't know everything.”

“It took me six months to make peace with the loss of my cousin. I had to take a step back and reassess what was truly valuable in life.”

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Keo Sar:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAGCGxIB3yUedIePf9sqng_evMIMMgtFcB0

X - @keo_sar

About the Guest:

Keo is the COO & Partner at Matter Product Studio. Matter Product Studio is a boutique technology consulting firm focused on AI-powered digital transformation, implementing real-world AI solutions for mid-market and enterprise clients to materially improve efficiency and output. He is also an angel investor and helps develop emerging innovation ecosystems in the Western Balkans, MENA, and SEA regions, respectively, by supporting founders through workshops, mentorship, and advisory. He also graduated as one of the top fellows from an Investor Accelerator program run by Dream VC.

Fun-facts:

• Keo was born in a refugee camp in a jungle in Thailand
• He wrote a book in 2nd grade and had it illustrated by a classmate
• He’s run at least 500 miles a year since 2019

About Melinda:

Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.

She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.

Website: https://speakinflow.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow

Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall

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