As Women’s History Month begins, I find myself reflecting on my path from a proud Chinese immigrant family to the CEO of TRADEMARK Event Productions. My story is about determination, creativity, flexibility, and the power of authentic leadership—qualities I believe are essential for any woman charting her own course in the business world.
Finding My Roots While Spreading My Wings
My family’s journey to America planted the seeds of resilience in me early. As a Chinese immigrant family, in Burlington Vermont, my parents set down their roots and I was the first American-born baby. Growing up in New England and upstate New York was my first classroom in being a minority as a young Asian-American. The vibrant cultural tapestry of the Bay Area became my first classroom in diversity and adaptation. These early lessons in navigating and embracing different worlds and experiences would become foundational to my business philosophy.
At Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, I was introduced to education unbound. With its self-directed learning approach, the progressive educational environment at Hampshire challenged me to define my own path rather than follow a prescribed one. This was my first taste of true creative freedom—the ability to envision something and then bring it to life through dedication and hard work. Entrepreneurship and experimentation are the life-blood at Hampshire and I explored projection Asian-American self portraiture (with renowned photographer Carrie Mae Weems) and identity and representation in feminist video art (my first Production job with Joan Braderman of No More Nice Girls Productions)
Learning Production Magic at Industrial Light & Magic
Post-college, landing a position at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) felt like stepping into a dream. Working alongside some of the most innovative minds in film production, I absorbed everything I could about bringing imaginative visions to reality. The attention to detail, the seamless coordination of complex elements, the marriage of technology and art—these lessons became part of my professional DNA.
At ILM, I learned that the most spectacular visual effects weren’t just about technical prowess but about serving the story. This fundamental principle would later guide my approach to event production: stunning visuals and technological innovations must always serve the client’s narrative and also impact the audience experience.
Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap
The decision to co-found TRADEMARK Event Productions with Jon Forst didn’t happen overnight. It grew from a shared vision that corporate events could be more than just functional gatherings—they could be transformative experiences that tell compelling stories, create lasting impressions, and build brands.
Starting your own company requires a special kind of courage. As an entrepreneur, you rely on yourself. You’re not on someone else’s payroll. For me, it meant channeling the same determination that brought my family to America. I wanted to build my own success. There were sleepless nights, financial uncertainties, and moments of doubt. But there was also exhilaration in creating something from scratch, something that reflected my values and vision.
Finding My Superpower: Experience Design
Every entrepreneur needs something unique–a dream, an approach, an idea, a capability, a superpower. Over time, I discovered my professional superpower: the ability to translate business objectives into immersive, memorable experiences. When a tech giant needs to launch a product that will change its market position or a biotech company needs to communicate complex scientific breakthroughs to investors, they need to inspire their audiences. And that’s when I find myself in my element.
What makes this work fulfilling is the synthesis of seemingly disparate elements—storytelling, audience psychology, technical production, visual design, and business strategy. I love the challenge of weaving these threads into a cohesive experience that not only meets but exceeds our clients’ goals.
The most successful events we’ve produced aren’t just visually stunning; they’re strategically sound. They build brands, sell products, attract users, and foster community. They’re business tools wielded with artistic precision.
Leading with Purpose: Building TRADEMARK
Leading a company of nearly 100 full-time employees and coordinating thousands of contractors and vendors has taught me countless lessons about leadership. The most important? People perform at their best when they feel valued, heard, and connected to a larger purpose.
As CEO, I’ve worked to create a company culture that embraces diversity of thought and background. This isn’t about meeting diversity quotas—it’s about recognizing that the most innovative solutions emerge when different perspectives converge around a common challenge.
Being certified as a woman-owned business and participating in organizations like WBENC has opened doors, but it’s also created opportunities for me to advocate for other women-led businesses. My membership in CHIEF has connected me with women executives across industries, expanding my understanding of leadership challenges and strategies beyond my own sector.
Balancing Personal and Professional
The journey of building a successful company while maintaining a fulfilling personal life as a wife and mother to my daughter has been my greatest balancing act, and an opportunity to constantly learn and adjust my approach to challenges. There’s no perfect formula—some days tilt more toward work, others more toward family. What matters is presence: being fully engaged in whatever I’m doing at the moment.
This balance isn’t something I’ve achieved once and for all; it’s something I practice daily. And it’s something I discuss openly with the women I mentor because the myth of “having it all” perfectly balanced always creates unnecessary pressure.
Lifting as I Climb
My commitment to supporting other women in their professional journeys has evolved as my career has evolved. Whether through formal mentoring relationships, speaking engagements, or simply making time for coffee with a young professional seeking advice, I believe in the power of shared experience.
The business world still presents unique challenges for women, especially women of color and immigrants. Each obstacle I’ve overcome has equipped me to help others navigate similar terrain. Each door that has opened for me becomes an opportunity to hold it open for someone else.
Looking Forward
As I look to the future, I’m excited about the evolution of event production and brand marketing in a constantly changing world. The blend of virtual and in-person experiences offers new creative possibilities and greater accessibility. I’m also energized by the increasing recognition of women’s leadership capabilities across industries and professions––even predominately male-dominated professions like technical production.
My advice to women building careers is simple but hard-won: Define success on your own terms, cultivate your unique strengths, build authentic relationships, take calculated risks, learn from failures, celebrate wins, both large and small, and, whenever possible, bring others along on the journey.
The path from immigrant dreams to business leadership hasn’t always been straightforward, but it has always been mine. And, ownership of my own journey, with all its twists and turns, is the most empowering realization of all.
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