#190 Zaka Presents My Journey Vijay Rajendran

Vijay Rajendran has coached founders in more than 80 countries, but in this conversation we go far beyond Silicon Valley buzzwords and venture metrics. Vijay opens up about growing up between countries, learning to read new cultures and power dynamics from scratch, and how those immigrant experiences shaped his approach to leadership, risk, and resilience. He shares how watching his father serve patients from every walk of life led him to microfinance work in Cameroon, and how that calling to “be of service” eventually evolved into coaching entrepreneurial leaders around the world. We talk about pressure, expectations, and that simple but life-changing question: “Would I ever want my children to feel this way?”

Vijay breaks down imposter syndrome as a sign of growth, not failure, and explains how to find the “joy of juggling” when you have a lot on your shoulders. He shares practical tools to minimize regret, find clarity in uncertainty, and reclaim your agency so your confidence can finally shine through.