My story

Life was great…until it came crashing down.

But it began with humble beginnings. I was raised by immigrant Chinese parents who grew up under poverty, violence, and persecution— it’s important that I mention this, because their story is also my story. They came to America for a better life, and they were able to achieve their American Dream. As for myself, I would later learn their version of “success” is very different from mine…

I checked all the boxes. I got into a great university (UCLA). I worked with reputable companies in Hollywood and Silicon Valley. This was stable. This was “success”…

But something didn’t feel right.

We all have life-changing moments in our lives, and for me—leaving my job in Hollywood to go to Africa was one of them.

It wasn’t about going to Africa, but it was about being true to my values. Because for a long time, I followed—even if things weren’t aligned with my values. I followed because it was safe. Because I needed a company and job to define me. But when I didn’t have something external to define me, I finally started asking myself…

Who am I?

I had no idea. But I started to search…I read books like The Four-Hour Workweek and The Alchemist. I worked with coaches. I attended workshops on how to design your life. I had coffee chats with dozens of people.

And I experimented a lot—I studied photojournalism, took a digital marketing bootcamp, and worked in startups. I felt lost, but my philosophy at the time was…

I’d rather experiment than to regret never having tried.

It’s still my life philosophy today.

And then, there was a forgotten dream that came back to me…

I’ve always wanted to live and work in Europe.

But no one would hire me. But I found a different way in…studying abroad in The Netherlands.

I found a Masters program in Learning & Development in Organizations that sounded and felt right. I applied, got accepted, and moved to The Netherlands in 2018.

Luckily, I loved the program. I loved the country. And I found a job in Amsterdam, where I was introduced to the world of leadership development and coaching—I loved it. I was finally using my strengths, enjoying what I was doing, and loving life in Europe. And while at it, I also built a YouTube channel. I was living my dream.

But then, everything changed…when my mom suddenly died.

I quit everything, including my life in The Netherlands, to move back to the US to be with and take care of family affairs—this was one of the most important things I’ve ever done.

While it was my biggest loss, it wasn’t the first. One of my best friends also died at the age of 31.

Our time really is limited. And I don’t want to waste any of it.

So my life’s mission has never been more clear—I help people grow, change, and design careers and lives that feel more meaningful, energizing, and aligned.

This is my story. It’s who I am. And it’s what I do.