Dear Younger Me, Take the leap. Move to that new city. Host the dinner party. Travel the World. Ask the question. Say yes to the adventure. Your career won’t be a ladder — it’s more like a jungle gym. You’ll climb, slip, swing sideways. That’s all part of the journey and the magic. You’ll keep building resilience — and that’s one of your superpowers. In your 20s, don’t chase titles. Instead, chase growth. Don’t worry about having it all figured out. Focus instead on acquiring: 💼 Skills 🤝 Networks 📜 Credentials They will open doors you can’t even see yet. These are your career capital. You’ll cash them in later. Live like a beginner. Stay curious. Stay humble. Find communities that uplift and elevate you. 💞 And always surround yourself with people who make you feel alive, inspired, and seen. Cities like SF, NYC, Paris, London, Singapore, Saigon are idea hubs — places where magic happens and networks converge. As you build your path: 1. Know your North Star and values. 2. Clarify your purpose and Ikigai. 3. Create an action plan. 4. Design a relationship action plan — your Personal Board of Advisors. 5. Take consistent action. Embrace Kaizen — small steps compound into transformation. You don’t need to have it all figured out. But you do need to take the next step. That’s how we build something meaningful. With love and purpose, Henry In today’s Empower Circles Podcast episode, I’m responding to a few thoughtful career questions from a college student from my US alma mater, Amherst College — questions I wish I had the courage to ask when I was younger. These questions gave me the much needed space to reflect on my own career decisions and transitions the past 15 years. I invite you to do this exercise. It’s very cathartic to talk to your younger self, like a caring older brother sharing his hard-earned wisdom over the years. These are some of the lessons I wish I knew back in my early 20s about career planning, venture building, making the most of my summers. Some questions I addressed in this episode: What skills did you gain at Nextdoor and Tesla that helped you transition into working at Techstars and working closely alongside start-ups?What skills do you currently possess that make you an expert in helping start-ups grow?What specific traits do you see in start-ups that can help you discern whether the company will eventually succeed or fail? What led you to eventually start your own business (10 Nexus Global)?How important was learning how to code for your career and your understanding of what makes a start-up successful?Is there any other advice that you could give me about start-ups and running a business as a whole? At 25, 28, 32, then 36, I pivoted. From product marketing to software engineering to coaching. I discovered what truly lights me up: empowering leaders and creating spaces for them to connect, learn, and grow. Today, I am living my Ikigai as a coach, host, and edutainer. So, if I could whisper to my 25-year-old self, I'd say this: “Don’t rush. Build career capital. Follow curiosity. Be open. But stay firm and live by your values. And say yes when opportunity meets preparation — that’s called luck. Fall in love with the craft. Consistency is the secret. You’ve got this." With love, Henry Empower Circles is a global podcast and community by 10 Nexus Global — where leaders, creators, and dreamers come together to unlock their voice, share their stories, and elevate one another. Through honest conversations, powerful questions, and storytelling, we explore how to live, lead, and build with more courage, clarity, and connection. ✨ If this episode resonated with you — join our growing global community. 💌 Subscribe to our newsletter to receive inspiring stories, transformative tools, and stay updated about upcoming workshops/events right to your inbox: 👉 https://henryvbao.substack.com Together, let’s co-elevate. Welcome home. 💞
