Last Week Today: Networking 101
Last Week Today: Networking 101
September 23, 2024 🌀
“The fun is in the getting, not the having.”
- Roelof Botha, in my November podcast episode with him
I come back to this quote all the time as I’m working on my own startup after business school. It’s a different way of thinking than I grew up with. To my core, I am results and outcome driven, especially in high school and college: I strove for the good grades, job, and promotion as indicators of my success. Over the last 3 years, I’ve learned to slow down and enjoy the process of getting there, wherever there may be. It’s made for a more fulfilling, fun, and exciting life. Because most of the time is spent in the getting, not the having, so you might as well enjoy it 🌀
Welcome to my Substack where I share the best of my week. Think of this as a catch-up between friends with life hacks & advice sprinkled in. Grab your beverage of choice and let's get started ☕️
Highlight of the week ❤️
We are going to Japan!!!!! (Yes, WE). Jean and I are hosting a 7-day trip to Japan in May 2025. We already have 8 signups, which means the trip is officially happening!! IT’S HAPPENING. There are 7 more spots if you’d like to join us. I can’t wait to meet you in person and experience one of my favorite places with you. You can find the full itinerary and travel details in the link below. Let’s goooo!
✅ Sign up here for an adventure of a lifetime
Networking 101 tips from Jean & Cherie
In our season 1 finale of Tiger Sisters podcast, we dive into the secrets of becoming a better communicator, from chatting up execs at work to dissecting the art of flirtation...🫢 We’re sharing real-life tips on how to build confidence, connect with others, and create lasting bonds. Watch the full episode below:
A quick snippet: no one teaches you how to have good coffee chat etiquette in school, so here’s some of the tips Jean and I have learned.
☕️ Do your homework, especially if you’re the one who requested the coffee chat: Research the person you’re meeting, their background, and recent projects to ask thoughtful questions.
🚨BARE MINIMUM: scroll through their LinkedIn profile for at least 5 minutes. And do not ask basic questions you could have just Googled!
📅 Follow up: After the chat, send a thank-you note to maintain the connection. It could be a quick email or a handwritten note if you’re feeling fancy ✍🏻
You can find the full episode on our Tiger Sisters podcast on YouTube and Spotify.
In Case You Missed It: What I posted on IG 💅🏻
Episode 1: Introducing our Matcha Company, Sisters Matcha
Episode 3: Goodbye Stealth Mode and Hello Building in Public
Asian Creator Awards in Los Angeles
Last week I attended the Asian Creator Awards as a writer for Forbes (yes, I am fulfilling my journalist dreams from high school). You can read the article here if you’re interested: Asian Content Creators Redefine Success in the Creator Economy.
While many were honored for categories you’d expect, such as Best Food Creator and Best Podcast Creator [at the awards], what stood out most were the unexpected journeys that led these creators here. A number of these individuals previously had careers in traditional, high-powered professional environments before pivoting into the creator economy. Former employees of Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Instagram, Meta, Google, J.P. Morgan, and LinkedIn are now full-time creatives and leaders in the creator economy, producing content that shapes cultural conversations and engages millions.
No longer limited to passion projects or side hustles, content creation is becoming a highly professionalized industry where strategic planning, data analytics, and financial management are as important as creativity and storytelling. Sure, the traditional influencer who wants to focus on their artistic pursuit can hire business partners, but what about the creatives who can and want to do both?
A special thanks to Jerry Won, Chloe Shih, Andrew Leonard, John Hu, Jean Luo, and Rajen Budiyan for their invaluable insights and contributions to this discussion!
Collaboration with Rareliquid, Ben Chon 👀
My friend Ben is a recent graduate of Wharton’s MBA program and we finally got together for a the collaboration you didn’t know you wanted or needed. We filmed a podcast episode on Dating, Dirty Secrets, & More at Top MBA Programs as we compare and contrast our experiences at Wharton vs. Stanford GSB.
You can watch it on his YouTube channel:
Keep an eye out for future collabs coming your way. If you enjoyed this episode, you should give Ben a follow on YouTube and Instagram 💡
Meet My Friend, Tai Bendit, Former LinkedIn Data Scientist & Product Manager 💗
In this video, I speak with my friend, Tai Bendit. He’s an ex-LinkedIn data scientist turned product manager. He’s worked in private equity, venture capital, data science, business operations, product management … and excelled in all of those roles!
On top of that, Tai is one of the most mindful people I know: I think you can really tell from this conversation how he now approaches career, friendship, relationships, and life with a gentleness that I really admire. He shares with us what he’s learned on his many silent meditation retreats; he’s a brilliant friend that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for the last 8 years. We have so much to learn from him!! I hope you enjoy this conversation.
Meme Reminder
Have a great week my friends!
XO, Cherie