👋🏻, I’m Jennifer!

Hard to believe that we’ve passed the midpoint of Jan 2024, but here we are.

And given that we’re still basking in the new year, I thought I’d give an introduction to everyone unfamiliar with my story!

👇🏻

Since I was young, I was very interested in art and drawing.

But growing up in a typical Asian household in Hong Kong, my parents lovingly told me to be more practical and to focus on my academics, which I did.

When I got into Columbia University, I was drawn to Art History. But again, the “practical” question arose: What kind of career could an Art major have?

I didn’t want to become another “starving artist”!

So I went down the conventional route by majoring in Economics.

And ended up working at BlackRock for 7 years.

Those 7 years were the best and worst years of my life.

Terrific because from a material perspective, I was on top of the world:

✅ 6-figure salary in my early 20s
✅ Opportunities to work in Hong Kong, New York and London
✅ Fancy hotels and other corporate perks
✅ The best colleagues.

But inside, I was dying because I:

❌ Dreaded my days;
❌ Struggled to connect with my work; and
❌ Kept feeling as though there was surely something better out there.

Eventually, I joined a Singaporean fashion startup.

It was a huge learning curve.

I helped to open its Hong Kong office and even dabbled with the idea of opening my own fashion line (which didn’t work because I chickened out; I didn’t have any confidence in myself back then!).

While this startup role was a much better fit for me, again, I felt an itch.

A little feeling that told me that this wasn’t quite right.

In the meanwhile, I started my podcast: CTRL ALT Career - where I interviewed interesting people about the alternative careers that they had built. I also started receiving messages from listeners asking if I would help them with their career pivots too!

So I took on one client.

Then another.

And another.

Until one day, I decided to take the plunge to become a full-time career coach!

Because I had realised, while balancing my startup role with my coaching side gigs, that the latter was what truly lit me up.

And I’d always wanted to build a business on my own.

StyleTheory had been my business school and gave me a first-hand glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship and now that I had found the right ‘subject matter’, I was ready to take the plunge.

And so here I am, 3 years later: A full-time career coach who specialises in helping high-achieving professionals leave their “perfect on paper” career for a career that is perfect for them instead.

If you’re feeling the urge to make a pivot in 2024, do reach out!

There’s no better time than the present.

And help is just a DM away. 😉

P/S: Submit a contact form, “SWITCH” so we can get started on your career-switching journey!