Building Beyond the Billion: Lessons on Leadership and Legacy with Sarah Chen-Spellings

Jun 5, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Sarah Chen-Spellings, an investor and co-founder of Beyond The Billion, shares her journey from Malaysia to impacting female entrepreneurship. She discusses her mother's influence and the ongoing struggle women face in securing funding. Sarah reveals what investors look for in pitches and why intentional networking is vital. She also dispels myths about women in leadership and emphasizes the importance of building a meaningful legacy. Prepare to be inspired and motivated to change the narrative for female founders!

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ANECDOTE

Mother’s Rise Inspires Leadership

Sarah's mother started as a secretary from a small town in Malaysia and rose to CEO of a Japanese automotive company.
Sarah witnessed early female leadership and the power of a supportive partner in her parents' relationship.

ANECDOTE

Early Career Leap Through Venture Capital

Sarah was hired into a corporate venture unit after impressing a senior leader with her problem-solving.
She regularly negotiated big deals despite being young and often the only woman present.

ANECDOTE

Building Network and Founding Beyond The Billion

Sarah moved to the U.S. for love and had to build a new network from scratch.
She volunteered with Billion Dollar Fund for Women, which led to co-founding Beyond The Billion.

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Meet Sarah Chen-Spellings: investor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Beyond The Billion—a movement driving capital to female-founded companies. From her Malaysian roots to writing multi-million-dollar checks, Sarah shares how she’s breaking generational cycles and rewriting the rules of legacy and leadership.

In this conversation, we dive into:

✨ Her mother’s influence on her drive
✨ Why women still struggle to get funding—and how she’s changing that
✨ What investors really look for in a pitch
✨ How to own your legacy—even if you're just starting out

We also get real about awkwardness, networking, and social media… and yes, she calls me out (in the best way!).

If you're building a business, raising capital, or dreaming big—this episode will fire you up. 💥

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[00:02] How Jasmine and Sarah met: From Instagram DMs to SXSW keynote magic

[00:04] The generational story: Sarah’s mother’s rise from small-town Malaysia to CEO

[00:07] Why Beyond The Billion matters: Bridging the gender funding gap

[00:10] How to network intentionally (and why stalking amazing women online works!)

[00:14] Advice for female founders seeking funding—and how to pitch investors with confidence

[00:18] The power of partnership: Sarah’s personal and professional lessons on support

[00:23] Biggest myths about women in leadership and money

[00:28] How to think beyond success and start building a legacy

Listen to Related Episodes:

Connect With Sarah Chen-Spellings:

Sarah Chen-Spellings is the co-founder of Beyond The Billion, a global consortium dedicated to mobilizing over $1 billion in capital toward women-founded companies. Born and raised in Malaysia, Sarah’s journey took her from corporate boardrooms to the frontlines of venture capital, where she’s become a fierce advocate for underrepresented founders. Named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” Sarah’s work has reshaped conversations around gender, funding, and innovation worldwide.

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For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode550

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