When you meet someone like YJ Lin, it’s easy to assume he’s just another tech leader with a corporate title. After all, he’s a senior program manager at Dell for Startups, a division that supports early-stage entrepreneurs. But once you hear his story, you realize—he’s something much more rare:
A community architect.
In this episode of Rock Solid, I had the pleasure of sitting down with YJ to talk about everything from ERGs and economic resilience to board game 3D printing and the true meaning of building community.
And spoiler alert: none of it’s accidental.
The Spark Behind the Spotlight
YJ was recently named Volunteer of the Year by the Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, a recognition that caught him by surprise.
“I didn’t go looking for awards,” he told me. “I just wanted to be present.”
That mindset led him to lean into service when others leaned out—especially during the layoffs that hit Austin’s tech industry hard. Many employee resource groups (ERGs) were losing funding. Morale was shaky. And collaboration seemed impossible.
So YJ did what few had the courage to do: he reached out anyway.
“I didn’t care how much money people had,” he said. “I just asked, ‘What could we build together?’”
What followed was a multi-corporation collaboration, uniting professionals from Dell, Oracle, National Instruments (now Emerson), Indeed, and others. Within two years, what started as a scrappy Zoom call turned into a 600+ person event supported by nonprofits and even the Austin Police Department.
What Dell for Startups Really Means
YJ’s day job at Dell isn’t just about selling hardware. It’s about empowering founders who are chasing unsolved problems.
“We know they’re taking risks. So we ask, how can we support them—not just with gear, but with guidance?” he explained.
His team acts as a bridge between Dell’s expertise and startups’ ambition, offering:
• Personalized tech consultations
• A direct line to Dell support (so founders aren’t Googling at 2 AM)
• Strategic guidance from seasoned specialists
But it goes beyond products. “It’s about honoring their courage,” YJ shared. “They’re betting everything on a belief. That deserves real support.”
Startups + Corporations = A Two-Way Street
YJ’s unique background—running a 3D printing e-commerce shop from his garage while working inside a Fortune 500 giant—gives him an unusual perspective.
“Startups teach corporations how to move fast. Corporations teach startups how to scale sustainably. We need each other.”
He believes that when both sides listen, incredible things happen.
The Community Playbook: Built to Be Shared
YJ isn’t just building ecosystems in Round Rock and Austin. He wants to teach others how to do the same.
“What if we could give other cities a playbook?” he asked. “What if we could show nonprofits how to build programs that don’t burn out their teams? Or help faith leaders avoid compassion fatigue?”
It’s why he’s considering graduate research. It’s why he mentors. And it’s why he keeps showing up—even when no one’s watching.
The Human Story Underneath It All
Perhaps the most powerful insight from our conversation wasn’t about tech or business. It was this:
“Half of building community is just being present,” YJ said. “Understanding people’s dreams. Their fears. And being there for both.”
That’s not a corporate strategy. That’s a human one.
Why Round Rock?
For YJ, Round Rock represents everything he values: accessibility, humility, and a shared belief in raising families and businesses in the same soil.
“If you’re not finding connections here,” he said, “you might not be showing up. Because the doors are open.”
YJ Lin doesn’t just talk about innovation. He lives it—in the boardroom, on stage, and behind the scenes. His story is proof that when community, commerce, and courage align, you don’t just build programs. You build movements.
Transcript:
Bryan Eisenberg:
I’m here with YJ Lin, Senior Program Manager at Dell for Startups. YJ, before we dig into startups and community building, congratulations are in order. You were recently named Volunteer of the Year by the Greater Austin Asian Chamber. That’s huge.
YJ Lin:
Thanks, Bryan. Honestly, I was a bit surprised. But I’m deeply honored. When I moved to Austin about seven years ago, I knew I wanted to be involved. The best way to get to know people and the community is to show up, be present, and serve wherever there’s a need.
Bryan:
And you’ve done that in spades. Tell me more about your work with the Chamber.
YJ:
I really started getting involved about three years ago. Around that time, there were a lot of layoffs in tech. Budgets for employee resource groups—ERGs—were getting cut. These groups are volunteer-led and super important for connection and support, but they were being deprioritized.
I’d already been doing work in the startup ecosystem, so I started reaching out to ERG leads at other companies. I said, “Let’s not worry about budget. What if we just came together and created something?” That first year we had support from companies like National Instruments (now Emerson), Oracle, and Indeed. We brought in about 200 attendees.
Last year? Twelve corporations, over a dozen nonprofits, and 600+ attendees. It was a true community collaboration. And it’s scalable. We’re passing the baton to new leaders now to keep it going and make it sustainable.
Bryan:
I love that. And you said something to me off-mic that stuck: “How do we create playbooks and inspire other cities and industries to build like this?” You’re not just doing the work—you’re making it repeatable.
YJ:
Exactly. Whether it’s Austin or Round Rock or another city, this only works when the community leaders are aligned and working together. Dell has given me the space to bring that thinking into the work I do with startups.
Bryan:
Speaking of that, tell people more about Dell for Startups. What do you actually do?
YJ:
We started about six years ago as part of Dell’s alternate routes to market, focused on supporting small businesses and startups. We work with founders across the U.S. and Canada. Dell is an end-to-end solutions provider—from peripherals to servers to enterprise tools—and our job is to make all that accessible to entrepreneurs.
More than anything, our value to startups is giving them someone to talk to. We help them make decisions on tech specs, procurement, and scale—without them needing to figure it out alone. If you’re a startup founder juggling everything, we want to take tech off your plate.
Bryan:
I know you’ve also talked about the synergy between startups and corporations. The way each can learn from the other.
YJ:
Absolutely. I run my own side business with my brother—we’ve got an e-commerce shop with 3D printers in the garage. So I see both sides.
In corporate, you’ve got systems and decades of experience. In startups, you’ve got speed, experimentation, and risk-taking. When those two mindsets come together, it’s powerful. Entrepreneurs can benefit from deep expertise. And big companies can re-learn how to move fast, stay close to the market, and stay customer-obsessed.
Bryan:
That connection piece seems central to everything you do.
YJ:
It is. I’ve realized my passion isn’t about being the hero of the story—it’s about helping others tell their story better. Whether it’s corporate, nonprofit, faith-based, or family systems, I want to help leaders build sustainable communities that create impact.
Bryan:
That’s gold. So what’s next for you?
YJ:
I haven’t told a lot of people this, but I want to teach. Whether that’s pursuing a master’s or doctorate or building out more community playbooks, I want to help people understand how to build intentional, impactful ecosystems. I want to show that community efforts aren’t just feel-good side projects. They can drive real business results.
Bryan:
Well, I’ll be the guy asking, “Where’s your book?” every time we talk now.
YJ:
Deal.
Bryan:
Final question. You live here in Round Rock. What do you love most about it?
YJ:
The accessibility. People are humble, open, and collaborative. The city and chamber have built something special, and if you show up and have an idea, someone will give you their time. That’s rare. And it’s one of the reasons why I believe in this community.
Bryan:
If someone wants to connect with you?
YJ:
Find me on LinkedIn. I respond to DMs. If you’re trying to build community or align your strengths with impact, I’d love to chat. And I’m also a Gallup Strengths Coach, so I can help teams uncover what they naturally do best and build from there.
Bryan:
YJ, thanks for being here. Keep doing the important work.
