Foundr Magazine Podcast | Learn From Successful Founders & Proven Entrepreneurs, The Ultimate Startup Podcast For Business

Tony Fernandes turned a failing airline into a billion-dollar business and built AirAsia into one of the most recognized brands in Asia. In this interview, Tony explains how he bought AirAsia for just 30 cents and $10M of debt, scaled it into the fourth largest airline in Asia, and created a culture that transformed 24,000 employees into a unified team. From building a brand with global impact to navigating failures, scaling fast against competitors, and leading digital transformation, Tony’s story is packed with actionable lessons for founders ready to think bigger and move faster. What you’ll learn from this interview: • How Tony bought AirAsia for just 30 cents and $10M in debt • Why scaling fast is critical when competitors can copy your model • How to build a culture that drives loyalty, performance, and innovation • The role of branding, PR, and personal brand in scaling globally • Why self-funding and profitability are underrated growth strategies • How to know when to reinvent, when to focus