Michelle who was born in South Korea but had attended the highly prestigious Shanghai American School and has spent most of her life in Shanghai, China moved to New York City just less than a decade ago to start her new life in the big city and pursue her dreams of becoming an artist. Attending one of the world’s most renowned higher education institutions, Parsons School of Design where she is majoring in Fine Art she took interest in internet culture and joined TikTok, a popular social media platform that enabled anyone to quickly create and share short form video content.
She quickly gained immense popularity creating BTS and storytime content that has gained her a following of over 500,000 people worldwide, making her one of the most successful creators on the platform. Her fun demeanour and her enthusiastic energy has earned her placements with luxury goods and services conglomerate LVMH and entertainment juggernaut Warner Bros. all within her gap year.
She is also the Creative and Marketing Director for Online Shop, Britain’s largest marketplace and e-commerce platform alongside her partner Terry McGinnis. She is now being lauded as one of the biggest influences for females to join the world of tech in Europe and US and is showcasing her entrepreneur side even before reaching 21 years of age.
We caught up with Michelle for a look inside her life in New York through a Q&A and the tips she had for others looking to become entrepreneurs like herself.
Q: How was the move to NYC coming from somewhere such as Shanghai?
A: The two cities are surprisingly similar in terms of the bustling energy but it’s definitely different. Moving to New York felt quite natural to me. Adjusting wasn’t easy but it felt like the right move for the next chapters of my life. I haven’t visited Shanghai in a couple of years and I terribly miss it. I highly recommend visiting both cities.
Q: The experience of a big city must be daunting, how did you adapt to New York compared to Shanghai?
A: Luckily, my family has always been supportive of my decisions and they try their best to help in any way. I was privileged enough to have my support system with me during times of hardship, especially through the pandemic. New York was so daunting at first that I even found it difficult to leave my apartment for the first month. I spent that month trying different creative hobbies and projects in order to ground myself again.
Q: Majoring in Fine Art must be exciting, have you always wanted to be an artist?
A: Without a doubt! I would say that I’ve always been attracted to emotional experiences. I even nagged my parents to take me to visit art exhibitions as a kid. I admire the artist’s ability to question, change and evoke the viewer’s emotions through timeless works of art. There’s nothing better than a good cry in the middle of a museum.
Q: You recently were interviewed by a British business magazine that called you a ‘Top Tech Executive’ and an inspiration, how does that resonate with you?
A: I feel incredibly honored to have been interviewed by such a notable news outlet. It surprises me every time to see my face being featured next to those I look up to. To be frank with you, I still haven’t gotten used to the title ‘Top Tech Executive’. I’ve always been focused on the next step that I haven’t realized how far I’ve come. Especially being a young woman in a heavily male-dominated field, my position of power was always questioned. Although I don’t quite see myself as an inspiration just yet, I aim to bring more young creative talents into higher positions of power.
Q: Who is the biggest inspiration in your life right now?
A: I’ve learned from amazing mentors that have guided me to where I am right now and I’m grateful to each and every one of them. I would say that Naomi Gleit has been a massive inspiration to me and to countless others. I truly believe that Meta would not be where it is today without the help and determination of her fiery passion. She’s taken her platform to help young women like myself to take leadership and has even helped the team at Online Shop with optimal problem-solving. I look forward to more of her “Naomi-isms” and hope to apply it to my everyday life.
Q: You must be quite the socialite, how is it working in the fashion and entertainment business, especially at such a young age.
A: I’m actually not the socialite people imagine me to be. I’ve would say that I’ve been pretty successful with spotting opportunities and growing my network but it definitely took time and perseverance. Most of the projects I’ve been involved in have been very hands-on and it’s been a great way to push my creativity in different ways.
Q: Some say New York is the home of art and fashion, what are some of your favorite spots to visit to view art or get the latest threads?
A: Being that I’m always in and out of the city, my fashion designer friend Grace Jung, knows all the best places to go at the right times. During our free days, we would spend our afternoons visiting galleries in Chelsea to spot some inspiration.
Q: Having worked with likes of LVMH and Warner and now being in big tech at a senior executive level, especially internet retail, how do you find interacting with other employees who might be more senior to you?
A: It’s amazing to be able to exchange ideas with employees that have more years of experience. I am always open to learning and finding the most effective ways to resolve an issue. Given that I’ve started a bit younger than others, I was always surrounded by people that were older. Although I did have moments where I felt “too young” or even underqualified to be working with major companies, I always tried above and beyond. I threw myself at opportunities even when the chances were slim and I believe that’s what got me here.
Q: What’s on your Spotify playlist this year? Any new artists you’re enjoying thoroughly?
A: Although I’m known to be a massive BTS stan, there have been other artists that have been on repeat recently. I believe that there is no better feeling than going out on late night drives and blasting songs by The Weeknd. I’m very excited to see his artistic story and message prevail as he progresses into future albums.
Q: Many people are trying to create their own brands, it is hard to set yourself apart in a noisy world, what are some of your top tips to be noticed?
A: Not only is brand identity extremely important when it comes to business but so is personal identity. I’ve realized that people buy for people. The stronger and more compelling the story behind the product, the further you set yourself apart from others.
You can find Michelle and follow her content on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok to keep up with her updates and her entrepreneurial journey.
