Did you always consider yourself an entrepreneur?
I never thought I would start my own company. I moved to China in 2012 after graduating from university, so for sure I am a person who likes a challenge and is open to exploring. Living abroad expanded how I think about the world and creativity, in turn it has broadened my community, my network, and the way I think about my role in society. Now I honestly feel I couldn’t be anything other than an entrepreneur.
For people who are still on the fence whether or not they could be an entrepreneur, do you have any thoughts to share on taking those first steps to starting your own business?
You have to know yourself and know your strengths. It is essential to understand what need you are filling in your particular industry – this doesn’t mean to be an entrepreneur you have to have some world-altering idea, rather know precisely what you are contributing and how it is different or better from others. This also doesn’t necessarily mean starting your own business, because I can tell you it’s not easy, so perhaps brainstorm ways you can be entrepreneurial in your current role. The job satisfaction and control over your own time and money are worth it though you have that personal passion combined with the discipline to put your ideas into concrete actions.
What has been one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned since starting your own company?
Gab China is not my first company, so I have lots of lessons I could share, but certainly, if you’re going to start your brand or company, the mission must closely align with your personal goals in life, and you must also find a way to make it sustainable. It might sound obvious but it’s easy to fall prey to one or the other. For example, I started a property management company with a friend, and even though we had funding and it was successful, in the end, it wasn’t a good fit for me, and I decided to leave the venture.
On the flip side, I started an app to nurture and support China’s LGBTQ community, a cause that I not only saw a need for but resonates with me personally. We eventually ran out of funding, but after shutting down the app, I was able to reflect on what we did best, which was building online communities. I started Gab China then firmly knowing what unique skill I had to offer and how I could create a sustainable business that wasn’t overly dependent on outside funding.