[She’s Got Hustle] Balancing Passion, Purpose, and Business With Virginia To

Virginia To is the Acquisition Marketing Manager at Warner Bros. Discovery, a global media company known for its entertainment networks and streaming services. With over a decade of experience in marketing, Virginia has led efforts to grow the Max streaming platform. In addition to her corporate role, she is an entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of mimi & kiki, an Amazon-based brand offering baby essentials, and the Sponsorship and Growth Account Manager at Asians In Advertising. Virginia is also involved in real estate investments and Airbnb management, balancing multiple ventures alongside her other endeavors.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [3:53] How Virginia To’s marketing career started and evolved over time
• [05:24] Key lessons Virginia learned from working at Warner Bros. Discovery
• [06:09] The importance of learning and pushing oneself in both small and large corporate environments
• [07:12] Virginia shares her motivation for exploring real estate and e-commerce
• [09:22] What inspired Virginia to launch mimi & kiki?
• [11:49] Tips for investing in real estate and Airbnbs
• [14:09] How to maintain focus when juggling multiple business ventures
• [15:55] Virginia‘s advice for those transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship

In this episode…

What does it take to balance a corporate career, entrepreneurial ventures, and personal passions, all while maintaining a sense of purpose? How do you keep pushing forward when faced with the uncertainties of leaving a 9-to-5 job? For many, the journey to financial independence and personal fulfillment can seem overwhelming. So, what’s the key to making it work?

According to Virginia To, a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing expert, the answer lies in embracing calculated risks and continuous learning. She highlights the importance of starting with small, manageable ventures, testing ideas, and learning from failures. For Virginia, juggling multiple businesses like real estate investments and e-commerce ventures while maintaining personal commitments requires a clear sense of priorities and relentless hustle. Her journey demonstrates that with perseverance, you can turn your passion into profit, but it’s crucial to be organized and adaptable in the face of challenges.

In this episode of RAW Spotlight, host Emily Au sits down with Virginia To, Acquisition Marketing Manager at Warner Bros. Discovery, to discuss how she balances passion, purpose, and business. They talk about her entrepreneurial endeavors, including starting an Amazon business and managing Airbnbs, and how the pandemic sparked her entrepreneurial spirit. Virginia also gives tips on staying motivated, the importance of research, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Emily Au on LinkedIn
• Victor Huynh on LinkedIn
• Ready Artwork
• Virginia To on LinkedIn 
• Warner Bros. Discovery
• mimi & kiki: Instagram | TikTok

Special Mentions

• Max
• The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. by Robin Sharma
• Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz
• monday.com

Quotable Moments

• “You have to put yourself out there; never stop learning, or you’ll never grow, whether it’s professionally or personally.”
• “During the pandemic, I adopted a dog, started a small business, and it really just sparked my entrepreneurship.”
• “Do your research and focus on one new thing at a time to avoid stress and stay excited.”
• “Believe in yourself; the first move is always the hardest, and it’s okay to fail.”
• “I love learning new things, and I’m always like, what’s next? Traveling motivates me to keep hustling.”

Action Steps

1. Embrace lifelong learning: Continuously seeking knowledge keeps you agile and ready for various challenges in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments.
2. Network strategically: Building a strong network can provide valuable insights, partnerships, and support, helping you navigate diverse business ventures.
3. Prioritize and organize effectively: Doing so helps manage stress and ensures that you allocate adequate time and resources to each project, maximizing productivity and efficiency.
4. Take calculated risks: Evaluating the potential rewards against the risks and making informed decisions helps in pursuing innovative paths without jeopardizing your stability.
5. Stay resilient and adaptable: Embracing failure as a learning opportunity and being willing to adjust your strategies keeps you moving forward and opens up new avenues for success.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Ready Artwork, where we deliver uniquely tailored B2B digital marketing services to facilitate the long-term growth of your business.

At Ready Artwork, we combine data-driven insights with innovative design to help your business thrive in the digital age. From SEO and digital advertising to web development and email marketing, we have experts who help companies uncover growth in unexplored and extraordinary ways.

To learn more, visit readyartwork.com or get a free proposal. Let Ready Artwork discover your full potential.