In a compelling story recently featured by CNBC Make It, Jenny Woo’s transformation from a non-English speaking immigrant to the founder of a successful side hustle exemplifies the profound impact of emotional intelligence (EQ) and an entrepreneurial mindset. This story, part of CNBC Make It’s Six-Figure Side Hustle series, sheds light on how personal challenges and skills can forge a path to business success.
CNBC reveals Woo’s early life challenges when she moved from China to Houston at the tender age of ten. Without the ability to communicate in English, Woo mastered the art of understanding nonverbal social cues, laying the foundation for her future career and entrepreneurial endeavors that capitalized on her EQ skills.
Woo’s professional journey, as detailed by the CNBC report, includes impactful roles at corporations such as Deloitte and Cisco, where she leveraged her EQ expertise to enhance managerial communication. Her commitment to EQ also led her to contribute significantly to her children’s Montessori school, further blending her personal passions with professional pursuits.
During her master’s degree at Harvard University in 2018, Woo took a decisive step towards entrepreneurship by investing $1,000 from her savings into Mind Brain Emotion, a venture CNBC Make It reports generated $1.71 million in revenue last year, with an estimated 40% profit margin.
The CNBC article emphasizes Woo’s deliberate choice to maintain sole control over Mind Brain Emotion, prioritizing the flexibility it offers her as a full-time student, parent, and entrepreneur. This decision reflects a strategic approach to business management that values personal well-being and family time.
Woo shares with CNBC Make It practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the accessibility and potential of platforms like Amazon and Etsy for launching a business. Her success story underscores the importance of digital marketing skills and adaptability in today’s competitive online marketplace.
In her conversation with CNBC’s Make It, Woo champions the ethos of lifelong learning and the importance of self-support.
For people who do not have her impressive educational and employment background, she offered the following two tips for achieving success:
“I think you have to do two things to be successful. The first: Never stop learning. I tell my students I am a lifelong learner first and an entrepreneur second.
“You also have to be your own cheerleader. When I was still learning English in middle school and high school, there were so many incidents where I felt so embarrassed, where I felt I wasn’t good enough, where I felt like I didn’t know anything.
“[Navigating those] things can give you coping skills and make you more resilient. There will be haters and copycats. You just have to keep going.”
Featured Image via Pixabay
