searchlore

Back to Resource

All Segments

Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim — America is Open For Business | Episode 199

Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim — America is Open For Business | Episode 199

43 segments available

Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim are the founders of Plymouth Street, which guides talented individuals through the US immigration process. Its aim is to accelerate innovation through faster and more transparent immigration services. Lisa & Minn join the show to discuss the pitfalls of the current system, how Plymouth Street is injecting agency into the immigration process, the importance of storytelling, and MUCH more! Important Links: - Plymouth Street - https://www.plymouthstreet.com) - Lisa’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-wehden-aa111385/) - Lisa’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/lisawehden?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) - Minn’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/minnkim/) - Minn’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/minney_cat) Show Notes: 0:00:00 Intro 0:01:00 Main podcast 0:02:35 The Origins of Plymouth Street 0:05:18 Problems With the Current US Immigration System 0:10:20 High-Skilled Immigration as a Bipartisan Issue 0:13:08 The Importance of Storytelling to the Immigration Process 0:26:54 Injecting Agency Into the Immigration Process 0:38:04 Scaling with Technology 0:42:42 The Emotional Toll of the Immigration System 0:45:47 Building the Right Team & Breaking Bad News 0:50:23 Dealing With Negative Externalities 0:57:44 Is America Open for Business? 1:03:41 Augmenting Plymouth’s Offering 1:08:38 Remote Work vs In-Person 1:10:56 What’s Next? 1:15:07 Lisa & Minn as Empresses of the World Books Mentioned: - The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner

Segments Timeline

1
0:01 - 0:55
0:54 duration154 words

America: A Hub for Innovators

Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim discuss the allure of America for the world's brightest minds and the challenges posed by the outdated immigration system. They emphasize the critical need for high-skilled immigration and how it serves as America's superpower, enabling innovation and technological progress.

"despite all of our problems we are still the place where many of the world's smartest most Innovative thinkers and doers want to live and work we're moving faster in technological progress and the imm..."

2
0:55 - 1:59
1:04 duration147 words

The Birth of Plymouth Street

In this segment, Lisa and Minn share their personal journeys that led to the founding of Plymouth Street. They highlight their backgrounds in venture capital and the challenges they faced navigating the U.S. immigration system, which inspired them to create a service that assists talented immigrants.

"[Music] business well hello everyone it's Jim oasy with yet another infinite Loops today I have two guests who are trying to deal with one of my favorite soapbox issues and that is this country's up i..."

3
2:00 - 3:05
1:05 duration181 words

Navigating the Visa Lottery

Lisa recounts her experience with the H1B visa lottery, illustrating the uncertainty and confusion it brings to talented immigrants. She discusses the complexities of the U.S. immigration system and how it serves as a barrier for skilled individuals wanting to contribute to the American workforce.

"Bloomberg beta president of the Oxford Union oh my God you're going to destroy me men Bloomberg beta and a violinist also near and dear to my heart I'm the former chairman of the chamber music Society..."

4
3:05 - 4:10
1:04 duration229 words

The Immigrant Experience in Tech

Minn shares her background as an immigrant and her experiences in the tech industry. She emphasizes the importance of high-skilled immigrants in driving innovation and how Plymouth Street aims to facilitate their entry into the U.S. market.

"really really difficult problem to solve um when I finally landed my dream job at Bloomberg beta um my boss at the time said to me we really love you we want you to be here but we're going to put you ..."

5
4:10 - 5:17
1:07 duration232 words

The Need for Immigration Reform

Lisa and Minn discuss the outdated nature of U.S. immigration policies, particularly for technology entrepreneurs. They argue for the necessity of reform to better accommodate the diverse skills and talents of modern immigrants, highlighting the disconnect between current visa pathways and the needs of the tech industry.

"Min because she also has a a unique story and so one my background is I was born in South Korea I moved to the states when I was nine and so as an immigrant I'm also a proud immigrant daughter of Seri..."

6
5:17 - 6:22
1:04 duration163 words

Hope for Change in Immigration Policy

The conversation shifts to the potential for change in U.S. immigration policy. Lisa and Minn express cautious optimism about recent movements towards reform, particularly for high-skilled immigrants, and the importance of recognizing their contributions to the economy.

"able to do so this has been one of my soapbox issues for a long long time I I am absolutely Gob smacked that we have such horrible immigration policies given the fact that despite all of our problems ..."

7
6:22 - 7:35
1:13 duration211 words

Crafting the Immigrant Narrative

Minn explains how Plymouth Street employs narrative mapping to enhance visa applications for talented immigrants. They focus on articulating the unique contributions of individuals in the tech industry, helping them present their stories effectively to immigration authorities.

"designed for previous skills that were very relevant and important I mean if you take the TN as a Cate ree which is the um Visa that allows Canadians and mexicos Mexicans to come over and work in the ..."

8
7:35 - 8:45
1:10 duration174 words

The Challenge of Self-Promotion

Lisa and Minn discuss the cultural differences in self-promotion, particularly among highly technical individuals. They highlight the importance of helping clients articulate their achievements and contributions in a way that resonates with U.S. immigration standards.

"soapbox issues our government seems to be stuck in 1930 and it's almost 2030 uh so just a 100 years or so out of date um do you think that do you have hold out any hope personally uh that uh the Ameri..."

9
8:45 - 9:55
1:10 duration196 words

The Role of Plymouth Street

In this segment, Lisa and Minn elaborate on Plymouth Street's mission to assist high-skilled immigrants in navigating the U.S. immigration system. They emphasize their commitment to expanding access to the O-1 visa category and supporting exceptional individuals in their journey to contribute to American innovation.

"the o1 as their gu as their like stepping stone into the US and the technology industry hasn't really mirrored that in being able to offer other exceptional individuals who don't always neatly fit the..."

10
13:30 - 15:05
1:34 duration297 words

Bridging the Gap: Storytelling in Immigration

Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim discuss the importance of narrative mapping in the immigration process, particularly for highly skilled individuals. They emphasize how their backgrounds in venture and startups enable them to articulate the unique contributions of technical experts to a lay audience, addressing the challenge of self-promotion in the immigration context.

"way that these individuals are served by existing traditional attorneys and providers is there is what we've seen is there's a lack of context when you have a brilliant engineer who has worked at an A..."

11
15:05 - 16:37
1:32 duration272 words

Cultural Differences in Self-Promotion

The conversation shifts to cultural differences in self-promotion, with Lisa and Minn comparing American and UK attitudes. They highlight how American culture encourages individuals to boast about their achievements, which can be a challenge for international clients navigating the U.S. immigration system.

"incorporated into being able to serve our new customers today yeah I love the nod to uh American uh approach to it we're number one we're number one when in fact we are often not even in the top 10 uh..."

12
16:37 - 18:01
1:23 duration258 words

The Hypomanic Edge: Immigrant Bravado

Lisa and Minn explore the concept of 'hypomanic edge' as a characteristic of American culture, particularly among immigrants. They discuss how the willingness to take risks and seek opportunities shapes the entrepreneurial spirit in the U.S., contrasting it with other cultures that may be more reserved.

"culture that is um you know Wonderful like your ability to be very optimistic and share the highlights about what you've created and so a lot of what we do is we you know support our customers who are..."

13
18:01 - 19:36
1:34 duration232 words

Legal Frameworks and Storytelling

The duo addresses the intersection of storytelling and legal frameworks in the immigration process. They explain how Plymouth Street effectively translates clients' achievements into legal arguments that meet USCIS criteria, ensuring that narratives are backed by substantial evidence.

"developed this way was because we are essentially a nation of immigrants and what are some of the things that typified especially earlier immigrants who we are the sons and daughters of was this idea ..."

14
19:36 - 21:02
1:26 duration224 words

Building Empirical Methodologies

Lisa and Minn discuss their efforts to develop empirical methodologies to support their immigration services. They emphasize the importance of data collection and analysis to inform policy changes and improve the immigration process for future applicants.

"story reside it's great question ultimately well for one um we've been quite lucky and fortunate at Plymouth we believe we're quite good at what we do so we've had very few push Backs from USCIS with ..."

15
21:02 - 22:45
1:42 duration281 words

Criteria for Extraordinary Ability Visas

The segment delves into the specific criteria for obtaining extraordinary ability visas. Lisa and Minn explain how they break down the requirements and provide resources to help applicants understand what is needed to successfully navigate the immigration process.

"failures uh it does seem that the a lot of the information and of course this is the Quant in me and so I apologize ahead of time uh is more anecdotal uh are you working on building a more empirically..."

16
22:45 - 24:58
2:13 duration433 words

Coalition Building for Immigration Reform

Lisa and Minn highlight the importance of coalition building in their efforts to reform the immigration system. They discuss partnerships with policy experts and philanthropists to create a more transparent and accessible immigration process for talented individuals.

"Visa pathway and so we do a lot around free resources if you look at our website we've got a lot of uh blog posts sharing these different criteria how you can meet them a very comprehensive uh resourc..."

17
24:58 - 26:21
1:22 duration268 words

The Broader Impact of Immigration

The conversation concludes with a discussion on the broader impact of immigration on the U.S. economy. Lisa and Minn emphasize the importance of sharing data and insights from their work to inform policy decisions and highlight the contributions of immigrants to the country.

"who are working to expand the community of stem individuals who know about these Visa categories and so um yeah and the last one I would add is actually you're um you're asking about what is like the ..."

18
26:21 - 29:00
2:39 duration476 words

Innovative Visa Solutions for Technologists

Lisa and Minn introduce the concept of the O-1 agent visa, which allows highly skilled technologists to work for multiple employers. They explain how this innovative approach broadens access to opportunities for international talent in the U.S. tech industry.

"because what we find is a lot of these Visa categories individuals don't get access to them not because they are not capable but because they don't always have agency around the guide on the informati..."

19
28:52 - 30:30
1:37 duration329 words

Becoming Eligible for O-1 Visas

Lisa Wehden shares insights on how individuals can work towards becoming eligible for O-1 visas, even if they initially do not meet the criteria. She emphasizes the importance of guidance and support in enhancing applicants' profiles, helping them to achieve eligibility through strategic actions and community connections.

"you could be um you know working for open Ai and working for anthropic maybe they wouldn't let you for like conflict of interests but that is possible with this route which I think is really exciting ..."

20
30:30 - 32:31
2:01 duration391 words

Immigration as a Strategic Advantage

Minn Kim discusses how Plymouth Street helps employers view immigration as a strategic advantage in hiring top talent. This segment highlights the importance of understanding various immigration strategies and how companies can proactively support skilled individuals in navigating the visa process, moving beyond reliance on the H1B lottery.

"this pathway and so a lot of the work we do is we support individuals to connect with membership organizations to judging opportunities um we can uh you know support them with guidance around like thi..."

21
32:31 - 34:20
1:49 duration335 words

The Role of Agents in Immigration

Lisa Wehden explains the unique role of agents in the immigration process, clarifying that agents do not function as employers but rather as facilitators of multiple engagements for skilled individuals. This segment explores the potential for new business models in the agent space, particularly for technology professionals seeking diverse opportunities.

"help move um a number of talent over and I think that's been like a really big diff an eye opener for a lot of employers who previously the default has been oh if I have a foreign National that I need..."

22
34:20 - 36:02
1:41 duration296 words

Scaling Personalized Immigration Services

Minn Kim outlines Plymouth Street's approach to scaling personalized immigration services through technology. She discusses the sophisticated platform they have developed to streamline the visa application process, emphasizing the importance of data management and automation in enhancing user experience while maintaining a human touch.

"so um we've worked with a number of clients at this point who've we work with a great agent uh on the east coast and they have a great relationship and the requirement from the individual is to update..."

23
36:02 - 41:37
5:35 duration980 words

Innovations in Immigration Technology

Lisa Wehden shares insights into the innovative technology behind Plymouth Street's immigration services. She explains how they leverage software to improve efficiency in the visa application process, aiming to create a seamless experience for applicants while addressing the complexities of immigration law.

"entertainment agents uh traditionally take a percentage of their client's earnings what other than the idea that uh it might be very wise for a BC to to collect Talent right what other incentives and ..."

24
40:54 - 42:36
1:42 duration292 words

The Human Element in Immigration

In this segment, Lisa and Minn highlight the emotional challenges faced by individuals navigating the immigration process. They stress the importance of empathy and transparency, ensuring that clients are informed and supported throughout their journey. By positioning themselves as guides, they aim to alleviate the stress and isolation often associated with immigration.

"backwards and actually where are are the levers where we can deploy automations and be really smart about how we make this experience more smooth for the end user right the ultimate customer was apply..."

25
42:36 - 44:31
1:54 duration330 words

Building a Supportive Team Culture

Lisa and Minn reflect on the lessons learned in building their team at Plymouth Street. They discuss the importance of thoughtful hiring practices and the challenges of letting team members go. Emphasizing a supportive work environment, they share insights on how to foster a culture that prioritizes success and empathy for both employees and clients.

"human uh one of one of the aspects that I really took away from this is It's a pretty emotional process for people and and can take a pretty big uh emotional toll I would guess how do you how do you d..."

26
44:31 - 46:01
1:30 duration246 words

Navigating Client Challenges

This segment focuses on how Plymouth Street prepares for potential visa denials and the strategies they employ to support clients through difficult outcomes. Lisa and Minn emphasize the importance of having a clear plan of action and maintaining open communication, ensuring that clients feel guided and informed throughout their immigration journey.

"transactional uh information over email the flip side to that I will say on the emotional front is we also have the privilege of supporting people who are genuinely so brilliant right if anything it's..."

27
46:01 - 47:52
1:51 duration330 words

Learning from Mistakes in Startups

Lisa and Minn share insights on the common pitfalls in startup culture, particularly around team dynamics and hiring practices. They discuss the importance of learning from missteps and the value of creating a supportive environment that fosters growth and success for all team members.

"company building insights right um there's so many I mean one that comes top of mind I think that least and I care a lot about is the type of team that we build and I think you know we've been operati..."

28
47:52 - 49:46
1:53 duration318 words

Empowering Clients Through Transparency

In this segment, Lisa and Minn discuss their commitment to transparency in the immigration process. They explain how they ensure clients are aware of their visa status and the next steps, reinforcing their role as guides. This approach aims to empower clients and alleviate the anxiety often associated with immigration decisions.

"um boy where you live and work um is is kind of like the heart and soul and so I'm really happy to hear that uh you're doing that as well but what about on the other side what about on your client sid..."

29
49:46 - 51:31
1:45 duration299 words

Adapting to External Challenges

Lisa and Minn address the external challenges faced by Plymouth Street, including policy changes and economic fluctuations. They discuss their proactive approach to navigating these uncertainties and the importance of building a coalition to advocate for immigration reform, emphasizing that immigration is a vital component of America's progress.

"immigration Journey you can probably hear it and how we talk about it but in our like customer OB Obsession something that we drive home across like our entire team and ourselves is our our success is..."

30
51:31 - 53:38
2:06 duration375 words

The Vision for America's Immigration Future

In this concluding segment, Lisa and Minn articulate their vision for the future of immigration in America. They emphasize the need for a nuanced conversation around immigration, advocating for the recognition of immigrants as key contributors to economic and technological progress. Their goal is to ensure that the best talent can thrive in the U.S., regardless of changing political landscapes.

"around this immigration conversation because ultimately immigration is America's superpower and that's the core of what we believe at Plymouth and can we change a broader conversation around you know ..."

31
53:38 - 54:44
1:06 duration186 words

Navigating Risks in Immigration

The founders reflect on the various risks associated with the immigration process, including economic downturns and legal challenges. They explain how they mitigate these risks by collaborating with experienced legal experts and adapting to changing policies, ensuring that their core services remain reliable for clients.

"goes beyond just startups and Tech totally and again you're preaching to the choir here so um you know I I could not support what you're doing more fully um how do you think about things like you know..."

32
54:44 - 56:34
1:50 duration344 words

Innovation During Recession

Lisa and Minn highlight how recessions can create opportunities for innovation, particularly for immigrant entrepreneurs. They discuss the significant contributions of immigrant talent to the startup ecosystem and how economic downturns can lead to the emergence of successful companies.

"you Dr risk for those we've thought a lot about drisking I mean we're Founders first and foremost and so um without getting too into the weed we prioritize them accordingly where we have set up the Co..."

33
56:34 - 58:40
2:05 duration363 words

America's Immigration Messaging

The conversation shifts to the importance of America's messaging regarding immigration. Lisa and Minn argue that the perception of America as 'open for business' is crucial for attracting high-skilled immigrants, especially in light of competing countries with favorable immigration strategies.

"companies um and you have to be much more uh strategic around the types of capital you bring on maybe you move faster to actually get uh customer revenue and so uh you know 55% of immigrant um unicorn..."

34
58:40 - 1:00:51
2:10 duration370 words

Cultural Shifts and Innovation

The founders discuss the cultural identity of America and its relationship with innovation. They believe that showcasing successful immigrant stories can help shift the narrative towards a more positive view of immigration, reinforcing America's position as a destination for talent and innovation.

"America open for business and we saw previously um quite intense messaging uh saying you know America is not open for business um in lots of ways for these high skilled immigrants uh we have other cou..."

35
1:00:51 - 1:02:01
1:10 duration193 words

The Competitive Advantage of Immigration

Lisa and Minn emphasize the unique advantages that America offers to immigrants, including access to capital and resources. They stress the need for a cultural shift to recognize and promote these benefits, ensuring that America remains a top choice for global talent.

"glomeration effects I'm sure you've seen like are really real and if we don't defend it then we run the risk of losing it and I think that's like kind of this pivotal era that we're living through whe..."

36
1:02:01 - 1:03:01
1:00 duration155 words

Aligning Business with Future Trends

The discussion turns to how Plymouth Street plans to adapt and align its services with emerging trends in the immigration landscape. They explore the potential for expanding their offerings to better serve clients and respond to the evolving needs of the market.

"you know like in much the same way the state of Texas used to have a cier service for businesses moving from California to to Texas they got very very aggressive and I it just seemed weird to me that ..."

37
1:03:01 - 1:04:50
1:48 duration301 words

Immigration as a Talent Strategy

Lisa and Minn explain how they view immigration not just as a legal process but as a strategic advantage for companies. They discuss the importance of integrating immigration into talent recruitment and retention strategies, particularly for startups and small businesses.

"British friend named George Mack um who has this razor where he says if you if you see something on Reddit it might be interesting and actionable because you're early if you see it on LinkedIn you're ..."

38
1:04:50 - 1:06:36
1:45 duration325 words

Expanding Opportunities Beyond STEM

The founders express their commitment to supporting diverse talent, including those in non-STEM fields. They discuss the potential for extending their services to various creative industries, emphasizing the value of all types of talent in driving innovation.

"their visa Pathways how they can attract the very best talent into internationally and this is particularly true for Fields where there's Fierce competition for talent and so we work with a lot of AI ..."

39
1:06:36 - 1:08:40
2:04 duration320 words

Adapting to Remote Work Trends

Lisa and Minn address the growing trend of remote work and its implications for immigration. They explore how their services can adapt to support talent in a work-from-anywhere environment, ensuring that they remain relevant in a changing job landscape.

"help navigate those uh those employees to a different different location or different Visa if needed we see a lot of exciting opportunities down the road um even just around the core technology that w..."

40
1:08:36 - 1:10:54
2:18 duration417 words

The Shift from Remote Work to In-Person Collaboration

Lisa and Minn analyze the growing trend of remote work versus the need for in-person collaboration, particularly in tech startups. They share insights from clients like Lindy AI, who found that in-person meetings significantly boosted productivity. This segment highlights the evolving dynamics of work environments and the implications for immigration as companies seek to bring talent together physically.

"sorts of creative Endeavors what about the growing Trend uh of work from anywhere as I mentioned earlier uh sh C Ventures we have a work from anywhere policy so our team members are distributed global..."

41
1:10:54 - 1:12:34
1:40 duration297 words

Plymouth Street's Vision for the Future

In this segment, Lisa and Minn reflect on their journey with Plymouth Street and their aspirations for the future. They discuss their commitment to scaling their impact and serving thousands of individuals in the coming year, emphasizing the importance of their mission to accelerate technological progress through immigration. Their passion for unlocking talent is evident as they look ahead to the next decade.

"that's a a benefit for Plymouth so what's next you've had uh um incredible success uh over your the short period that you've been doing this well short nearly two years um H what do you hope to build ..."

42
1:12:34 - 1:14:19
1:45 duration308 words

Incepting Ideas for a Better World

Lisa and Minn share their thoughts on impactful ideas they would like to instill in the world. They emphasize the importance of expressing gratitude and nurturing family relationships, highlighting how these values can lead to a more fulfilling life. This segment encapsulates their vision for a better society through personal connections and meaningful actions.

"to the question you just asked earlier around what are the expansionary opportunities that will reveal themselves to us over the course of you know the subsequent many years yeah I think with Plymouth..."

43
1:14:19 - 1:17:51
3:31 duration508 words

Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

As the episode wraps up, the hosts express their admiration for Lisa and Minn's work at Plymouth Street. They discuss the significance of their mission in facilitating immigration for talented individuals and the broader impact on society. The conversation concludes with encouragement for listeners to engage with Plymouth Street and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

"succeeding at it uh how do people find you we are online at Plymouth street.com you can find us also the two of us on Twitter and Linkedin um we fairly easy to Google uh but if anyone is interested or..."