B-Schooled Podcast Episode #195: Food, Wine and Entrepreneurship
Today’s B-Schooled guest is Hanson Li, Founder and Managing Partner of Salt Partners—a restaurant industry-focused investment and operating company. Since 2014, Salt has been involved with eight significant restaurant companies, including four restaurants with Michelin stars.
Salt Partners has also invested in 15+ technology and branded companies in the food and beverage industry. Prior to Salt, Hanson spent ten years as Managing Director at The Hina Group, a China-focused private equity firm and investment bank.
Born in Hong Kong, Hanson grew up in Asia and Rochester, New York. He graduated from Stanford Graduate School of Business as both a Siebel Scholar (awarded to top 5 graduates) and an Arjay Miller Scholar. He also holds a BA and MA from Stanford.
Finally, Hanson currently sits on the board of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, Center for Asian America Media, and the advisory board of OpenTable.
In this episode, Hanson and Chandler talk about a wide range of topics, including:
• Advice for applicants who grew up outside of the United States,
• Suggestions for those interested in the fields of PE and investment banking,
• Advice for entrepreneurs hoping to start their own enterprises, and
• Suggestions for anyone interested in “non-traditional” MBA careers (generally) or those with a passion for the food and beverage world (specifically),
Hanson also offers suggestions that will benefit any MBA, including:
• The best decision he made in business school,
• The one thing he wishes he’d done differently while in business school, and
• Important lessons he’s learned from failure.
This B-Schooled episode can be found here, or take a listen on any of the major podcast platforms below.
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