Entrepreneurs, Tech & Sales: Own Your Voice on LinkedIn | Social Selling and Personal Branding —> Increase Pipeline & Brand Awareness | LEGO Flower Power 🌻

I'm on LinkedIn to get OFF LinkedIn.

I know, crazy for someone who teaches LinkedIn.

But getting off LinkedIn and building real relationships? That's what fills my cup and my pipeline (and bank account).

I teach you the same.

Your expertise deserves to be known.🙌

You're a business owner, tech leader, or executive who's built something incredible. 
You solve real problems. You get results. Your clients love working with you.

But your ideal clients are scrolling right past you on LinkedIn.

Here's what I see every day:
— Brilliant professionals who are invisible online while their competitors get all the attention. 
— Leaders who've built amazing businesses but can't translate that success into LinkedIn visibility. 
— Executives who know they should be networking but feel awkward and inauthentic trying to "work" the platform.

You're probably struggling with:
— Your network could be an asset, but right now it's untapped potential
— You're tired of relying on cold outreach, referrals, or waiting for leads to find you
— You know LinkedIn has potential, but you don't have a system to use it effectively
— You want to build genuine relationships, not just chase vanity metrics
— You feel overwhelmed by the platform and don't know where to start

The frustrating part? You're amazing at what you do, but that expertise isn't translating into the visibility and opportunities you deserve.

There are two approaches to LinkedIn:
1. Random posting and cold outreach that leads nowhere
2. Strategic visibility + intentional relationship-building

I help leaders like you transform from invisible to influential through my REALationship Growth Method.

Real results from real clients:
Scott: Closed a $400k deal from LinkedIn relationships
Michelle: Landed 2x $30k speaking engagements in 3 months
Dr. Ashley: 2 speaking gigs in 2 weeks, 5-figure client in 4 weeks

This isn't generic social media coaching. I built my own multi-six figure business using these exact strategies while being an introvert who hates traditional networking (and definitely hates cold outreach). 

Ready to be known for what you do?

DM me "LFG" and let's chat! 💜

Natasha Walstra

My first time on stage!

200 women at the Women Breaking the Mold Forum - an event for women making real impact in manufacturing.

The speakers on Day 1 were incredible, and I still can't believe I was included with them. 

Aoife Beirne , CEO of Mergon Group , shared her RISE framework for building confidence and started us off with breathing exercises I desperately needed. 

Genevieve Caplette , Director of Transformation at Michelin, talked about what REAL leadership and culture looks like within an organization. 

Heather Preu, CEO of Intellect, shared her experience as a CEO multiple times over, raising a family, and her take on work-life balance: "It's just life. Good enough is good enough." 

And Tina Richter of Weapon X Worldwide, Inc., fighting global plastic waste with such passion and purpose.

Then I had the honor of sitting on a panel with Katherine Bashir (CEO, EVCO Plastics), Jennifer Hoffman (PM Director, Eurofins ), and Christine Yeager r (Founder, CSY Impact Consulting sulting). Moderated by Teresa Schell ll, President of Vive Marketing. We talked about mentorship, advancing in male-dominated industries, having a voice, and supporting other women.

And it was full circle moment seeing Lisa Lehman, who I connected with at Carbon. Felt like no time had passed! We stayed in touch over the years, and this opportunity to speak wouldn't have happened without her. 

The statistics we saw were eye-opening. The disparity in executive positions.
The pay gap. How underrepresented women still are in manufacturing (and tech). 

But this room of 200 women? 
This is how we change those numbers. 
By showing up, speaking up, and lifting each other up.

___

P.S. I used to be a shy, anxious person. 
Crazy to realize: that's not who I am anymore.
If you're waiting to feel "ready" to step up - you never will. 
Do it anyway.

Grow the REAL (and profitable) way on LinkedIn | Social Selling for Entrepreneurs & B2B Teams | Filling January cohort of the REALationship Growth Method - ask me about it! 🙌

I’ve never had a year test me like this one.
 
Last Thanksgiving, I wasn’t thinking about business growth or strategy.  

I was sitting in the NICU.
 
Our son arrived 7 weeks early. He was where he needed to be, but leaving the hospital without him broke me in a way I still struggle to put into words.  

Coming home not pregnant and without our baby was one of the hardest things I’ve ever lived through.
 
Unsurprisingly, postpartum depression hit fast and hard.  
My mindset tanked.  My business struggled.  
I questioned everything, including whether I was meant for entrepreneurship at all.
 
But what I know now:  
Sometimes your business doesn’t grow because you push harder.  
It grows because you do.
 
And that’s what happened.
 
Today, our little dude is thriving.  
My business is the strongest it has ever been.  
And last week, we moved into our forever home.
 
This Thanksgiving, I feel an 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 sense of gratitude.  

And I want to say thank you.
 
To the people who checked on me during my lowest moments. 

To my 1:1 clients who trusted me while I was still finding my footing.  

To the 25 who've signed up for my group program even knowing group was out of my comfort zone. 

To my coaches and mentors who helped me rebuild from the inside out.  

To my loving husband who is the best partner and father I could ever have dreamed of.

And to YOU, who continue to support the very unpolished, but always real, me.
 
I am not curated.  
I am not perfect.  
And there is no flawless strategy behind any of this.
 
But you still show up.  
You still support me.  
You make all this possible.
 
If you told me six months ago that we would be buying our dream home, there's no way I'd believe it.  But here we are.
 
I am grateful.  
My family is grateful.  
And I couldn't have done this without you. 
 
Happy (late) Thanksgiving. 💜

Having a network of REAL connections matters.

In the last month, I've made 26 introductions.

That's almost one per day. (Although, did 4 in one day!)

I can only do that because I actually KNOW these people.
Not just their LinkedIn profiles. 
Not just their business cards.
I know them.

Which is why I'm excited about expanding my network by joining The Dames, LLC

By amazing luck, they had an in-person conference here in Charleston last week.

I heard from incredible women with 6, 7, and 8-figure businesses.

I deepened relationships with connections I already had - Deb Boulanger 💫 and Jess Sato 

I met Kim Boudreau Smith IRL - a friend I met on (you guessed it) LinkedIn nearly 2 years ago. 

And I'm excited for the new connections I made: Julia Linn, Samantha Irish, Elizabeth Hill, MSW, Nicole Glover

I love being in rooms where women choose collaboration over competition.
Where truth and honesty echo through conversations.
Where everyone's network benefits from the new relationships being formed.

I was randomly introduced to the Charleston chapter VP while looking for a new community AND trying to figure out how to get out of my baby bubble. (I will be honest, the introvert in me has been LOVING this bubble)
Grateful to Kim Russo for taking that call.

And to the founder, Meghann Conter, for being so incredibly welcoming as I nervously showed up at the welcome BBQ not knowing anyone. (We both lived in the south of France which is a unique connection to have in common!)

This is what real community looks like.
Not transactional networking.
Not "what can you do for me?"
Just people genuinely supporting each other's success.
And that room was FULL of this.

P.S. My entire network now gets to benefit from these new relationships I'm forming. That's the compound effect of showing up and actually building connections that matter.

Last week I posted once.

And I "posted & ghosted" that same post.

No engagement. No comments. A handful of DMs.

Why? Life was life-ing and I had no capacity to show up on here.

And that's OKAY.

There are seasons for everything.

Sometimes I'm heavy on engagement and network building.

Other times I'm focused on the behind-the-scenes stuff that doesn't show up in my feed.

Like the last few weeks:

→ Putting on my first live workshop
→ Speaking on a panel IRL (also a first)
→ Consulting with a Big Four (stay tuned)
→ Launching my group program (another first)
→ Selling out of my 2nd and filling my third cohort

That's a lot of doing the thing while not talking about the thing.

LinkedIn isn't about showing up perfectly every day.

It's about showing up consistently over time.

Some weeks that's 4 posts and 50 comments.

Other weeks it's 1 post and radio silence.

Both are fine.

The goal isn't perfection.

It's presence. Over the long haul.

Don't let the fear of "not doing LinkedIn right" keep you invisible.

Imperfect visibility beats perfect invisibility. Every time.

P.S. Oh, and something BIG on the personal front happened on Friday... can't wait to share more about that soon!

Anyone else's life life-ing hard right now??

P.S.2. Hiiii!! 👋👋 My little guy just learned to wave so you can imagine, we've got lots of waving going on in the house these days. 👋

"Spend 2 hours a day commenting on LinkedIn."

That's what a top personal brand creator recommended.

My reaction: 
Who the heck has time for that? 👀

Then I realized the problem:
You're taking advice from the wrong people on LinkedIn.

Most LinkedIn "experts" are content creators.

Their business model is completely different from yours.

I'm breaking down the difference and why it matters for your strategy.
Check it out 👇

P.S. I'm already filling up my next cohort in January - which isn't actually that crazy because there are only 35 working days left in the year. 35! You've got one week left to join at the founding member rate PLUS lifetime access (yep, I did accidentally start a community 😅 and it's AWESOME). 

DM me "LFG" for deets!

(And that's OK!) I recently saw one of the top personal brand creators in the world recommend spending 2 hours a day commenting on LinkedIn. 2 hours. 

Open article: You're not a content creator by Natasha Walstra • 2 min read

"It worked!" - my client, shocked.

He was skeptical adding a CTA at the end of his posts.

For weeks I'd been trying to get him to do it. WEEKS!

But I was insistent: If people don't know how to take the next step with you, how will they know how to take the next step with you?

For some context...this is person is reaching out to engineers.
If you're struggling with what to say in DMs, imagine an engineer who doesn't post at all.

So we put together a simple CTA: "DM me [keyword] for [offer]"

The result?
The FIRST time he used it, someone reached out. 👀

People are tired of being pitched in DMs.
But we're all here to grow our businesses, right?

The difference: This is a soft sell. 
An entry point to the bigger offer.

We're not trying to get them to buy immediately.
We're trying to welcome them into our orbit EASILY so they can see what we have to offer.

This is exactly how 164 people registered for my workshop.
Not through promotional posts saying "come to my workshop."
Through a nudge in the P.S. and comments.

Give people an easy way to raise their hand.
Then have a real conversation.

_____

P.S. If you're not using soft CTA/CTEs in your posts, you're making people work too hard to connect with you.

"I'm back to being a LinkedIn fan. 😍"

Jackie posted this after 3 weeks of joining my cohort.

Before: 
→ Rewriting every post multiple times 
→ Spreadsheets full of content 
→ Feeling like LinkedIn was taking away from her business

3 weeks later: 
→ Confident about what to post 
→ Booking clients 
→ Actually enjoying it

What changed? It wasn't tactics.

This week's newsletter breaks down the shift that matters + an announcement about switching things up with this newsletter.

____

P.S. Day 2 of what I'm grateful for: Community. I'm about to jump on a call with Aprelle Duany who I met through Entreprenista. We already collaborated on an AI Summit she hosted last year, and now we're connecting to share insights in our respective expertise to support and grow our businesses. Collaboration > competition everyday. 🙌

Hello, subscriber! Quick announcement: I'm switching things up You're still getting this newsletter here on LinkedIn on Tuesdays. But I just switched 

Open article: "I'm back to being a LinkedIn fan. 😍" by Natasha Walstra • 4 min read

24k impressions on one post.
Sounds great, right?

The number that's actually impressive:
→ 209 profile views.

Those are the people who didn't just scroll past.
They saw my clients content and clicked to check out his profile.
That's intent.

And here's the wild part:
Only 160 people liked the post.

That means 49 people were interested enough to visit his profile but too uncomfortable to engage publicly.

They're lurking.
And they're everywhere on LinkedIn.

67% of people log in weekly but never comment or like anything.
That's over 670+ million lurkers (!)

They're reading your content. They're interested. 
But too uncomfortable to engage publicly.

Don't look just at likes and comments to tell you who's interested.
Profile views are a quiet little 'hellos'

After every post, check who's viewing your profile.
If they're your ideal client? Reach out directly.

Big caveat:
This only works if your profile actually speaks to them.
If they land on a corporate resume? They bounce.
If it clearly solves their problem? They remember you.

The most interested people often engage the least publicly.
Don't let vanity metrics fool you.

Your biggest opportunities might be in those profile views, not those likes.

___

P.S. This client just started posting on LinkedIn 3 months ago. Never used social media before in his life. Now with my custom AI bot helping him create content consistently? One post got 24K impressions and 209 profile views. Not bad for being 3 months in!

Y'all, I love that posts live longer on LinkedIn. 🙊

(I might be one of the few who feel this way.)

Why?

Because that means if you only post 2-3x a week, you're still top of mind in your network.
Unlike Meta where posts die after 24 hours, on here they stick around.

I absolutely dig it. 

In October I had a LOT going on and just couldn't get to my usual posting (and I hate posting & ghosting).
So I only posted 3x a week.

But every morning I woke up with notifications - comments and likes from past posts.

And guess what?
October was my best month ever. By nearly double.
Let that sink in.
Less posting and I closed more deals.

Use this as an opportunity to reevaluate how often you're posting.

If you're posting 5x a week: 
→ Do you feel like you're burning out? 
→ Is the quality of your posts all good?

If you're not posting at all: 
→ What if you only had to post 2x a week instead of 5x? 
→ Does that help reframe your overwhelm and make it seem easier to start?

While LinkedIn figures out its algorithm, remember this:
Quality beats quantity. Every time.

Your posts show up in feeds for days...even weeks.
So give yourself permission to post less and stress less.
Your content has a longer shelf life than you think.

___

P.S. My goal is still to show up with quality content at 4-5x a week, but sometimes life keeps life-ing and I can't do it. And that's OKAY. Give yourself grace and do what works for you that doesn't lead to burnout. The LAST thing I'd want is for you to go ham on here and then disappear for months at a time because it got too overwhelming. You've got this! 🙌

"Would I say this if I ran into them at a coffee shop?"

This is what you should be asking yourself before you send any DM. 

If the answer is no... don't send it.

This one filter will save you from 99% of bad LinkedIn DMs.

Most people have forgotten that LinkedIn follows the same social rules as real life.

And that there's a real HUMAN on the other side of the screen.

You wouldn't walk up to a stranger at Starbucks and say: "I noticed you're in leadership and wanted to explore synergies with our AI-powered solutions..."

So why would you say it in a DM?

Instead of treating LinkedIn like a networking platform.
Treat it like your office.

Your connections? 
They're your colleagues.

Comments? 
Water cooler conversations.

DMs? 
Dropping by someone's desk to say hi.

When you make this mental shift, everything changes.

____

P.S. Today in the REALationship Growth Method we're covering "Social Selling & Conversation Starters" - I went through all my DM's in the last month and compiled examples for the group. Might have to make this a lead magnet...would anyone be interested in this?

The most valuable thing I added to my business this year? 

→ A small (but growing!) newsletter.

(Hard to say exact numbers, but it's ~$75k in 6 months and I currently have 381 subscribers + my LinkedIn subscribers)

Here's the thing about newsletters: 
It's not about size. It's about attention.

These people invited me into their inbox. 
They want to hear from me every week. 
No algorithm deciding if they see my stuff.

Just real attention from real people.

When I hosted my first workshop, 176 people registered. 
More than half came from my newsletter. 
And I didn't send a single promotional email! 
Just mentioned it naturally, the way I'd tell a friend.

That's the power of a list that actually pays attention.

This week's newsletter breaks down why newsletters work, what I didn't expect, and why NOW is the time to start one (or fix yours).

P.S. I'm the LinkedIn Lady, yes... but growing your business? That's the actual mission. 😎

Are you thinking about starting a newsletter? Do it. Already have one but not seeing results? Keep reading…you might be missing a few key elements. St

Open article: The most valuable thing I added to my business by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

The most valuable thing I added to my business

Don't think people read profiles?

No worries. My client didn't either.

In fact, she was skeptical even AFTER we updated hers.

Then ONE week later, she got this message:

"𝘖𝘔𝘎. 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 ...𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘭!"

She immediately reached out: "I'm glad to be proven wrong."

What got this person's attention?
Not the banner. Not the headline.

→ The Experience section.

The section most people copy-paste from their resume OR have some corporate marketing jargon they were forced to put in during onboarding and call it a day.

Your Experience section is an opportunity:
- To show off without actually showing off
- To talk about your wins, your obstacles, what you learned

All those lessons that led you to be the expert you are today?
THAT'S what people want to hear about.

Not "Responsible for increasing revenue and managing cross-functional teams."

TELL A STORY.

How did you crush your quota every quarter?
What obstacles did you overcome?
What made you realize you were onto something?

My client's story in her experience section?
Real. Human. Memorable.
And it made someone stop scrolling and reach out.

Not everyone will read it, no.

But if it means ONE person was swayed to have a call with you after just one week?
I'd say that's worth it.

Your profile isn't a resume.
It's your story.
Tell it like one.

___

P.S.  Part of my program includes a total profile makeover. Doesn't matter if you have branding or not (this client here didn't!) I'm all about progress > perfection. Helping you find a system (or brand) that works for where you are. 

I'm booking for January cohort - final weeks to get founding member rate AND Lifetime access. 

DM "LFG" for deets.

How I create 5+ posts from one call.

This is so simple, but no one was doing this!

Whenever I have a really good conversation with a client or team - great questions, big problem solved, interesting debate - I take that transcript and drop it into my chat.

My super simple prompt: 
"Pull all the themes and questions discussed on this call."

It gives me ~3-5 themes/?s (or more in this case)

From there, I turn the best ones into posts.

Here's what it gave me from last Monday's call:

Themes:
- Google Alerts for prospecting
- Post engagement & follow-up strategies
- Avoiding pitch slaps in DMs
- Content creation struggles
- Using call transcripts for content (𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸)

Questions:
• "Should I reach out to people who liked my post?"
• "How do I make content creation faster?"
• "What's the balance between content creation and engagement?"
  
All solid. All post-worthy.

If one client is asking these questions, you can bet others are wondering the same thing.

You're literally getting handed post ideas every day - you just need to capture them.

"𝘋𝘰 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭?"

As much as possible. Why?

→ It turns it into a unique story.
Not some generic advice post anyone could write.

→ It's social proof. Shows I'm doing the thing I say I do. 
On calls. With real clients.

Obviously, I respect privacy - I don't share names or identifying details, unless discussed.

But this approach shows you do what you say you do while creating relevant content.

Easy peasy.

___

P.S. I thought everyone was doing this, until I started to share it with my clients and realized no one was doing it.

Best way to think of this: instead of creating content, you're capturing it.

Is this an AWS meltdown but Cloudfare style? 

I can't access half my tools right now. 😐

(I actually have a great post for today, but Canva wasn't having it and you know me, I like images with posts haha). 

Anyone else feeling stuck?

NEOM

Head of Innovation and Ecosystem Activation, Food Sector

Senior Manager, Technology & Innovation, Food, Energy-Water-Food

NEOM is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory – a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. We are looking for eager learners who are passionate about food and how digital technologies can impact lives. Ping us to learn more about how you can be part of the team innovating the future of food through design x hacks x policy.

Manager, Digital, Policy, & Innovation, Food, Energy-Water-Food

NEOM is a special economic zone in Saudi Arabia where global talents converge to pioneer ideas on the land of the future for the future of cities. As a Food Technology Consultant in the Food Sector, I lead the digital strategy and initiatives of the NEOM Food Sector with the following objectives:
Ensure food supply resilience and sustainability through traceability and advanced analytics
Enhance food production efficiency via environmental sensing and automation

Consultant, Technology, Food Sector

TOPIAN

Head of Innovation and Ecosystem Activation

Hustle Fund

Angel Squad Member

OpenClassrooms

OpenClassrooms is an online education platform for vocational training, providing courses in IT, technology, entrepreneurship, and digital skills. As a mentor, I support and accompany individual students once per week over video chat in order to help them get the most out of their learning on OpenClassrooms. I help students as they work on the projects that count towards the completion of their learning path. I also grade the projects that they do. Paths on OpenClassrooms are comprised of fully-online courses and projects, and completing the projects allows students to earn internationally-recognized degrees.

Mentor (Data Analyst / Data Scientist)

Startup Grind

Startup Grind in partnership with Google for Startups is a startup community actively educating, inspiring, and connecting entrepreneurs around the globe. We do this through our unique fireside-chat monthly events. As Chapter Director, I act as a bridge for founders, developers, and investors to create a #GiveFirst startup culture in Riyadh.

Events:
9/2019 - Mentor at Ideathon 2.0: The New Wave of Digitalization in Beijing
4/2019 - Founder Wellness and lessons from Silicon Valley for Startups in KSA 
2/2019 - Data insights and other lessons from MIT/Stanford/McKinsey for startups in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh Chapter Director

AngelHack

AngelHack empowers developers and communities globally through our signature hackathon series. As an Ambassador, I build the local tech and start-up communities and strengthen the local ecosystems and promote innovations by bringing together passionate and motivated individuals and organizing and running amazing hackathons.

Mentored and supported Jeddah Fintech Hackathon (https://www.hackathon.io/jeddah-fintech-hackathon/)

Riyadh Ambassador

City AI

City AI is a global community of AI practitioners with one goal: to enable everyone to apply artificial intelligence. As the Riyadh Ambassador, I promote the sharing of AI lessons learned through regular meetups, contribute to shaping global best practices in AI engagement, and chart the local AI ecosystem to enable players to leverage AI potential in various business use-cases.

Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS)

The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties is a scientific commission that regulates health care-related practices and accreditation at all levels in Saudi Arabia. As a Consultant at the Knowledge Management Department, I advise the Director on data governance, data analytics, and data culture matters. Specifically, I:
Lead the advanced analytics group (AAG)
Propose and supervise projects in the scope of AAG
Explore data and derive insights using machine learning techniques
Propose proof-of-concepts for applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence
Develop and grow the staff in AAG

Consultant, Knowledge Management

General Assembly

Delivered 960 hours of instruction in applied data science at the Misk Academy to enable 60 early-professionals to transition into a Data Science career in Saudi Arabia
Adapted global data science curricula best practices to fit local market needs
Co-developed 50+ student data science projects for real-world applications with local companies

Lead Instructor (Data Science Immersive)

Saudi Aramco

Identified new technology joint venture opportunities by drafting 30 technical briefs for the Technology Management team
Reviewed in-house IP policies by interviewing 5 prolific in-house R&D scientists 
Developed an invention disclosure process to enhance knowledge flow and to inform IP strategy for the Intellectual Asset Management team

Intern - Technology Management

Innovation X Ecosystems @Topian, the NEOM Food Company

TL;DR
I turn bold ideas into sustainable reality. As Head of Innovation at NEOM’s food company, I fuse technology, sustainability, and food systems to shape a resilient, future-ready world. With a PhD in Applied Mathematics and a track record spanning research, entrepreneurship, and global partnerships, I’m passionate about driving transformative projects that advance Vision 2030.

Speaker bio:
Dr. Andrew Yip is the Head of Innovation and Ecosystem Activation at Topian, the NEOM Food Company. He is dedicated to curating sustainable innovations and strategic partnerships that will help the food sector reach its full potential. With his extensive experience in technology, innovation, and data governance, Dr. Yip is committed to driving positive change and creating innovative solutions for the industry, supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to promote economic diversification, job creation, and social and cultural development.

Dr. Yip holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and has been a NEOM pioneer since 2019. When he's not working, he enjoys tabletop gaming with friends and strangers alike.

Andrew Yip, PhD

Just back from the China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen. The scale is hard to comprehend—5,000+ exhibitors, 16 endless halls, a half-million-person buzz. It was a week of sensory overload in the best way, complete with robot boxing matches and UFO-looking transportation drone (yes, really).

A few observations have stuck with me:

1. Innovation is About Pivot, Not Just Product.
I saw HONOR, the phone maker, demoing everything from smart car OSs to AI-powered cat toys. It was a powerful lesson: true innovation isn't just a new flagship device; it's the agile application of core tech into wildly new markets.

2. The Middle East Isn't a "Market," It's a Partner.
The forum on China-Middle East tech was telling. Hearing from SenseTime's Riyadh joint venture and a speech by Mohammed Aljasser from PIF's TASAMA made one thing clear: this isn't a scattershot expansion. It's a deeply strategic, state-aligned push to build integrated ecosystems, perfectly synchronized with a national agenda like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The focus and long-term commitment were key. Don't come and sell products, come build with us for the long haul.

3. Build it here. bring it everywhere.
My highlight was the KAUST Shenzhen hub presence at the fair. I reconnected with two of our TIE masters teams—one building a medical drone delivery service, the other recycling 3D printer waste at its source. Seeing these students, who operate between our two worlds, physically building the bridges we talk about was incredibly gratifying. 

I saw "Shenzhen speed" applied to global problems firsthand. It brought to mind Steve Jobs' pebbles observation that the best products come from conflict. It's not about agreement; it's about the friction of different perspectives grinding against each other until they create something sharper and new.

Which brings me to a final reflection:

The road to the future is not built alone and in isolation. 

True local demand and a global ecosystem of eager builders make the dream come true.

Saudi Premium Resident | Turning bold ideas into sustainable reality | Tech × Sustainability × Future Food Systems

Yuanfen isn’t just chance — it’s the quiet rhythm of kindred spirits crossing paths, again and again. 

From World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference panelists to innovation park bump-ins, to this midnight airport Starbucks chat (him fresh off Chengdu, me pre-dawn flight in Beijing) — Ming and I circled back to what matters: people, purpose, and bridging cross-border tech and cultural gaps.

Grateful for connections that feel less accidental, more meant to be.

They say, "اطلبوا العلم ولو في الصين" – "Seek knowledge, even if it is in China."

This ancient Arab proverb took on a profound new meaning for me at the recent Shentech bootcamp at the KAUST Shenzhen Innovation Hub. As a KAUST alumnus, returning to a KAUST ecosystem on the other side of the world was a powerful reminder that knowledge isn't confined to a place, but lives where curious minds from every field and corner of the globe come together. This I've got to experience bumping into my old friend Hattan while I was casually scouting the office and ended up with an hour-long conversation on deep tech commercialization, AI education, travels and food in China. Thank you for being a steadfast champion of diversity and living the Arabic proverb to its fullest!

At the event, the energy was incredible! It was wonderful to reconnect with old friends, fellow alumni, and the brilliant startups I've been following. The collaborative spirit was palpable, and it was inspiring to see the deep-tech innovation taking root.

A recent fascination in bioplastics drew my attention to NuCarbon. They are tackling the massive issue of food waste, which contributes significantly to global carbon emissions . Their work focuses on converting liquid food waste into precursors for biofuels, bioplastics, and antimicrobial agents. This is transforming a global environmental liability into valuable chemical building blocks and paving the way for a more circular economy. Kudos to Pascal, Krishna, Hari, and Gabriel in pushing the frontier and demonstrating the possibility on our Thuwal campus. 
 
This bootcamp was more than just sessions and pitches; it was a melting pot of ideas. It reinforced my belief that the next great breakthroughs will happen at the intersection of disciplines and cultures. It was also a great pleasure to bump into the great shapers of the Chinese alumni chapter Dr. Jian Pan and Peng Zhan at the event. Thank you to the Shenzhen team of KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) (especially to Anita FANG and both Sarah's for their tieless coordination, and all the partners, especially the Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen for orchestrating such a stellar event and visits. 

The journey of knowledge continues, and it is unequivocally a global one.

Look forward to meeting you all at The Garage today and tomorrow!

د.أندرو يب يسلّط الضوء في ملتقى EWAx على دور الابتكار وحوكمة البيانات في تشكيل قطاعات مرنة، وتطوير حلول غذائية مستدامة تخدم المستقبل

Dr. Andrew Yip highlights at the EWAx Forum the role of innovation and data governance in building resilient sectors and developing sustainable food solutions for the future.

It's an understatement to say that KAUST changed my life. And I would love anyone in my network with the right aptitudes and attitudes to give this new house of wisdom a fair chance.

Professor at KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

The KAUST Global Fellowship Program is accepting applications until January 15, 2026. This prestigious program attracts exceptional postdoctoral researchers from around the world to pursue independent, curiosity-driven research at KAUST. A slide deck with key information about the Fellowship, including eligibility criteria, application process, and timelines is attached for your reference.

Please note this opportunity to come and work here! 

Descartes had it backwards.

"I think, therefore I am" is a lonely truth. A brain in a jar can think.

But to feel alive? To truly be? That requires another.

I connect, therefore I am.

We are not just thinking minds, but beating hearts that find their rhythm in others.

So how do we start? At Startup Grind, we build on this idea with three simple mantras:

👉 #GiveFirst - Value creation over value extraction.
👉#MakeFriends - Build real relationships, not just contacts.
👉#HelpOthers - Your success is tied to the success you create.

These are the practices that turn a solitary thought into a shared existence.

Your turn: What's one small way you'll practice #GiveFirst this week? Share it below. 👇

With the TIE masters yellow it completes the seeds of unity of KAUST. 

May the clarifying lens ever clarifies.

KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

View company: KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

Yesterday’s Commencement ceremony marked a historic milestone for KAUST with the graduation of the University’s first cohort from the Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) program.

This inaugural group represents a significant step in strengthening KAUST’s role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s innovation ecosystem. The TIE program prepares graduates to translate research into scalable solutions that support national priorities and contribute to the growth of a knowledge-based economy.

We are proud to celebrate this important achievement and the impact these graduates will deliver as they move into the next stage of their entrepreneurial and professional journeys.

#KAUST #Commencement2025 #AcceleratingImpact #TIEProgram #Entrepreneurship #SaudiVision2030

Your inner compass > everyone else's opinion.

Listen to your own voice. 

The rest is just background noise.

It's great to have a support system, but the deepest wisdom for your path already resides within you. 

Trust it.

What's one decision you're glad you trusted your gut on?

Founder Acquisition.com, Co-Founder Skool.com. My new book $100M Money Models is out. [3.6M copies sold] Get yours now.👇

You don't need a mentor.
What you need instead is to:


1. Fire yourself up.
2. Create your own deadlines.
3. Hold yourself accountable.
4. Do more than anyone asked you to make yourself proud.
5. If you're waiting for someone to believe in you, start with yourself.

Well said. A useful and cost effective model beats any fancy model on the field.

AI Expert, CEO of 01.AI, Chairman/CEO of 创新工场 (Sinovation Ventures), Author of 'AI Superpowers', 'AI 2041'

Decent-quality LLMs from China are really helping make GenAI affordable and accessible to the world through open source.  Pursuing AGI with close models might be a winner-take-all game for U.S. big techs, but making AI more open will benefit researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists in building AI that works for them.  More in this Bloomberg interview:

Open article: Sinovation Ventures’ Lee on China-US AI Race by bloomberg.com

Sinovation Ventures’ Lee on China-US AI Race

taplio

The Battle

Natasha Walstra

Andrew Yip, PhD

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreNatasha Walstra's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreAndrew Yip, PhD's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Natasha Walstra

Andrew Yip, PhD

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Natasha Walstra's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreAndrew Yip, PhD's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreNatasha Walstra's LinkedIn Performance