The Solova Podcast with Genevieve Cen

Travelstylechic

The Solova Podcast with Genevieve Cen is a business show about how real product companies actually get built. Host Genevieve Cen (founder of Solova, supply-chain operator since 2017) interviews entrepreneurs across industries about the parts most shows skip: sourcing and manufacturing, margins and ownership, how founders think, and how a domain expert becomes a creator who can sell what she builds. The through-line is systems. One piece of the machine per episode, until you can see the whole thing. Real numbers. Real operations. No highlight reel. Instagram: @join.solova www.joinsolova.com

Episodes

  1. Oct 10

    From 7 Readers to 100K+ Followers: How Miki Morita Built Oui Speak Fashion Global Media

    The Solova Podcast is where founders, experts, and creators share how they turned what they know into something they own.When Miki Morita first launched her fashion media platform, she opened Google Analytics and found seven readers. Every one of them was her.In this episode of the Solova Podcast, I sit down with Miki Morita, founder of L Media Group and the Oui Speak Fashion platform, to talk about what it really looks like to build something from nothing when you have no connections, no industry experience, and no one telling you it is going to work.Miki's story is proof that curiosity and self reliance can take you further than any credential:• How she built a global fashion media platform with no media experience and no connections• The 4 a.m. years in Japan, juggling a full time job, a jewelry import business, and TOEFL prep, all to get herself to New York• The morning she opened Google Analytics, found 7 readers, and realized every one of them was her, and why she kept publishing anyway• The single email from a fashion week PR team that turned her into a working fashion journalist• How her early jewelry business on Etsy gave her the confidence to start something of her own from zero• How she runs a lean, global media company today, across two editions with a small teamAnd she was right. Oui Speak Fashion now has over 100K followers on Instagram, 2 editions covering Japan and global markets, 5 editors publishing 10 to 15 articles a day, readers across the US, Europe, Singapore, and China, and strategic partnerships with international trade shows and Google News.One thing Miki said that I genuinely cannot stop thinking about is when she described checking her analytics in the early days. "When I checked the Google analytics, there were only seven people. But I realized that was me." She laughed about it, but that moment says everything about who she is. Most people would have stopped. She kept writing, kept publishing, kept hoping someone would eventually find her work. And someone did. That kind of quiet persistence without any external validation is something I deeply admire and honestly something I think more of us need to hear right now.If you have ever wanted to build something of your own but felt like you did not have the right background or the right connections, this one is going to feel like the permission slip you have been waiting for.Thank you for being here 🤍#OuiSpeakFashion #FashionBusiness #MediaEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #StartFromScratch #SolovaPodcast #CuriosityOverPermission #FashionMedia #SideHustleToEmpire #BuildYourOwnThing0:00 Intro and meet Miki Morita1:25 The 4 a.m. grind in Japan: full time job, jewelry business, and TOEFL3:01 Importing jewelry from Etsy to Japan4:47 Deciding to start Oui Speak Fashion with no media experience6:07 Teaching herself to code and building the website8:11 Seven Google Analytics visitors, and it was just her9:50 The Taipei Fashion Week email that changed everything11:10 The vision: a luxury fashion brand in New York13:21 Two editions, five editors, and 10 to 15 articles a day14:08 Using AI and SEO to run the business leaner15:30 Fashion as a common language20:41 Curiosity over permission, and evolving with ageConnect with Miki:➫ Website: https://mikiherme.com/➫ Oui Speak Fashion: https://ouispeakfashion.com/about-us/➫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikihermeSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/---/// MY SOCIAL MEDIA \\My Social Profiles:➫ Instagram: / travelstylechic➫ TikTok: / travelstylechicSolova Podcast➫ Website: https://joinsolova.com/➫ Instagram: / join.solovaMy Flower Shop:➫ Website: https://flowerevershop.com/➫ Instagram: / flowerever.shop➫ TikTok: / flowerever.shop

  2. Sep 19

    Managing $120M in Real Estate | Saying No to Golden Opportunities Got Sherry Li @CSTAR Paibox Here

    What if the smartest move of your career is saying no to the opportunity everyone else is fighting for? Our guest today saw something better before anyone else could, again and again, and she was right.In this episode of the Solova Podcast, I sit down with Sherry Li, founder of C Star and AI proptech startup Paibox, about how to trust your gut, follow your instinct, and bet on your own vision when everyone around you is telling you to play it safe.Sherry's story is proof that the golden opportunities you turn down can matter more than the ones you take:• Why she was the only student out of 36 to skip the prestigious internship that guaranteed job security, and how that one decision launched her real estate career• The interview mindset shift between junior and senior roles, and what employers actually want at each level• Why she gave up a full year's salary plus bonus when her company was acquired, while everyone else stayed for the easy payout• How a decade on Wall Street, across sales and acquisitions, set up everything she built next• What it really takes to raise capital, and why you have to believe in yourself before anyone else will• How building Paibox from zero taught her you are never fully ready, and the leap is the preparationAnd she was right. Today her firm C Star manages 120 million dollars of investments, her first fund delivered a 27 percent IRR, and she built Paibox from the ground up.One thing Sherry said that I genuinely cannot stop thinking about: "you will never be ready because you can always learn from the startup company, you never stop learning." So many of us wait for the perfect moment, the perfect savings account, the perfect sign. Sherry is living proof that the leap is the preparation.If you have ever felt torn between the safe paycheck and the thing that actually makes you feel alive, this one is going to feel like permission to trust yourself.Thank you for being here 🤍#femalefounders #womeninfinance #entrepreneurmindset #proptech #careerpivot #trustyourgut #solovapodcast #ambitiouswomen #wallstreet #startupslife00:00 Introducing Sherry Li, saying no to golden opportunities00:13 Urban planning at Peking University and pivoting to real estate01:26 Skipping the internship everyone else wanted03:49 Graduating into the financial crisis and moving to New York05:00 Hundreds of resumes and her first Wall Street job05:42 Junior vs senior, what employers actually want07:20 A decade on Wall Street: Chamber Street, Rosewood, Fosan09:09 The golden payout she walked away from13:45 Building C Star14:04 Raising capital, rejection, and believing in yourself18:54 Building Paibox24:00 Hiring specialists and learning to delegateConnect with Sherry:➫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xueyingli➫ C Star: https://www.c-star.co/➫ Paibox: https://www.paibox.com/Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/---/// MY SOCIAL MEDIA \My Social Profiles:➫ Instagram: / travelstylechic➫ TikTok: / travelstylechicSolova Podcast➫ Website: https://joinsolova.com/➫ Instagram: / join.solovaMy Flower Shop:➫ Website: https://flowerevershop.com/➫ Instagram: / flowerever.shop➫ TikTok: / flowerever.shopSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/

  3. Jul 1

    She Built an Education Empire From Nothing: How To Stop Underselling Yourself & Level Up | Serene Wang - Elitelink Education

    What happens when you're the youngest person on a panel of Fortune 500 executives — and no one lets you speak? You figure out how to make them remember you anyway. In this episode of the Solova Podcast, I sit down with Serene Wang, CEO of Elitelink — an ecosystem of companies spanning education consulting, executive coaching, a women's foundation, and a publishing house — to talk about how to turn every perceived disadvantage into your most powerful personal brand. Serene's story is proof that the things that make you different are the things that make you unforgettable: • How she went from sitting in a black box as an interpreter to building a million-person following by sharing free study materials online • Why she treats her middle school students like CEOs and her CEO clients like babies — and why both love it • The exact strategy she used to earn her voice on a panel where the other speakers were decades older and far more titled • How to stop underselling yourself — having 100% capability but only communicating 60% is holding you back • Her 3 keys to building social media from scratch: find your niche, stay consistent for 3 months, know your platform • "As a 14 year old if I fail my startup it's still a really good story but if you're a 40 year old it's a different story" One thing Serene said I genuinely cannot stop thinking about: "something seems to be the disadvantage for you at the moment you might flip it and making it into your advantage." She didn't just say it — she lived it. She walked into rooms where no one looked like her, where no one expected her to contribute, and instead of shrinking she created value no one else had the time or humility to offer. That reframe changed everything for her and honestly, it's changing how I look at my own moments of feeling out of place. If you've ever walked into a room and felt like you didn't belong — this one is going to feel like the permission slip you've been waiting for. Thank you for being here 🤍 #FemaleEntrepreneur #PersonalBranding #ImpostorSyndrome #WomenInBusiness #CareerReinvention #ElitelinkEducation #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessPodcast #AsianWomenLeaders #EntrepreneurMindset 0:00 Welcome and introduction to Serene Wang 0:15 The Elitelink ecosystem explained 0:51 From English literature to interpreter work 2:36 Building a million-person following from scratch 4:45 Working with clients from age 1.5 to 60s 7:01 Breaking into the Fortune 500 executive panel 8:27 Stop underselling yourself: the 100% vs 60% gap 15:45 Origin story: when the boss disappeared and the team stayed 16:42 Training with a Broadway coach for executive presence 18:48 Speaking in front of 3,000 people 22:54 Elitelink Women Foundation and upcoming Wall Street conference 26:12 Gamification mindset: life as an XP point game Connect with Serene: ➫ Website: https://www.elitelinkadmission.com/ Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/ --- /// MY SOCIAL MEDIA \\ My Social Profiles: ➫ Instagram: / travelstylechic ➫ TikTok: / travelstylechic Solova Podcast ➫ Instagram: / genuinely.good My Flower Shop: ➫ Website: https://flowerevershop.com/ ➫ Instagram: / flowerever.shop ➫ TikTok: / flowerever.shop

    She Built an Education Empire From Nothing: How To Stop Underselling Yourself & Level Up | Serene Wang - Elitelink Education

  4. Apr 29

    From Music to Real Estate Law: Trusting Every Detour — Maggie Gu

    What happens when a girl who trained to perform Chinese classical music at one of Beijing’s top academies ends up owning a real estate law firm in New York? Maggie’s story is one of those journeys that only makes sense when you look back at every unlikely turn. In this episode of the Genuinely Good Podcast, I sit down with Maggie, owner of a real estate law firm she opened in late 2019, to talk about how an immigrant journey from music to business to law taught her that every detour is actually preparation — and why trusting the process matters more than having a perfect plan. Maggie’s story is proof that every uncertain chapter of your life is shaping who you’re meant to become: How growing up in a hyper-competitive environment in China and learning the PIPA shaped her discipline — even though music wouldn’t become her careerWhy her mom arriving in the States with only $1,000 and getting sales orders before she even had a factory is the boldest entrepreneurship lesson you’ll hear todayWhat it feels like to face a language barrier so intense in law school that you have to translate legal English into regular English and then into Chinese just to understand your readingsHow one elective business law class at Baruch completely redirected her life away from international businessWhy knowing what you’re NOT good at is just as powerful as knowing your strengths when choosing your career pathHow a four-hour daily commute at her first job pushed her toward building something of her ownThere’s one moment Maggie shared that I genuinely cannot stop thinking about. She described waking up in the middle of the night as a child and seeing her mom still working behind a partition with a dim light on at 2am. She said, “I feel like oh, we need to do better.” That one image — a mother working in near-darkness so her daughter could have a brighter life — that’s the kind of thing that builds a person from the inside out. It shaped everything about who Maggie became. If you’ve ever felt like your path doesn’t make sense, like you’re too behind or too different to break into the career you actually want — this one is going to feel like permission to keep going. Thank you for being here Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/ Timestamps:0:00 Introduction and welcome1:30 Growing up in China and learning the PIPA3:30 Mom’s bold move to the States with $1,0006:00 Living in a crowded apartment at age 138:00 Mom working until 2am — the moment that shaped Maggie10:30 From Brooklyn College to Baruch — choosing business over music12:30 The business law class that changed everything15:00 Struggling through law school’s language barrier18:00 First job, four-hour commute, and deciding to start her own firm22:00 Building reputation in real estate and the blind box philosophy

  5. Apr 15

    The Career Strategy That Takes You to Wall Street Private Equity - Nancy Chen

    She was never supposed to work in finance. Now she closes deals on Wall Street and coaches the next generation to do the same. In this episode of the Genuinely Good Podcast, I sit down with Nancy Chen — Wall Street executive strategist and founder of New York Bamboo Consulting — to talk about what it took to completely reinvent her path, make it in one of the most male-dominated industries in the world, and build a career coaching platform that's helped hundreds of students land their dream roles at top firms. Nancy's story is proof that the path you didn't plan for can take you further than the one you did: • The specific career moves Nancy made early on that made doors open — not luck, pure strategy • How to navigate a male-dominated industry as a woman of color and find what only YOU can bring to the table • What it actually takes to go from international student to Wall Street private equity • How Nancy built New York Bamboo Consulting from free mentoring sessions into a thriving coaching platform • Why your setbacks might be the most strategic thing that ever happened to you • The mindset shift that separates people who make it from people who don't There's something Nancy said that I keep coming back to — that the world will find your limitations, but only YOU will find your opportunities. She didn't just say it. She lived it. And hearing her break down exactly how she did it, step by step, was one of those conversations that makes you want to go rewrite your entire game plan. If you've ever felt like you don't belong in the room — or you're building a career in a space that wasn't made for you — this one is going to feel like a roadmap. Thank you for being here 🤍 #GenuinelyGoodPodcast #WomenInFinance #PrivateEquity #WallStreet #CareerAdvice #InternationalStudents #WomenInBusiness #AsianWomenInFinance #CareerCoaching #AmbitionMeetsHeart Timestamps: 0:00 — Meet Nancy Chen 2:00 — Switching from literature to finance — the leap that changed everything 5:30 — Moving to New York as an international student with no connections 10:20 — Landing at the Big Four and what she did differently 14:00 — From EY to PIMCO to Wall Street private equity 18:30 — Being an Asian woman in a male-dominated finance world 22:45 — How Bamboo Consulting was born and why she started for free 27:00 — The career strategies Nancy teaches her students today 30:00 — Her closing advice for women who feel like they don't belong in the room Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/ Connect with Nancy: ➫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanzhuchen/ ➫ Email: newyorkbamboo2020@gmail.com --- /// MY SOCIAL MEDIA \\\ My Social Profiles: ➫ Instagram: / travelstylechic ➫ TikTok: / travelstylechic Genuinely Good Podcast ➫ Instagram: / genuinely.good My Flower Shop: ➫ Website: https://flowerevershop.com/ ➫ Instagram: / flowerever.shop ➫ TikTok: / flowerever.shop

  6. Apr 8

    "I Felt Like a Bird Without Wings" — How May Liu Chose Herself Over Family Pressure and Built a Fitness Movement

    Subscribe to my Newsletter:https//:velstylechic.ubstack.om(@8572) /e of Taiwan' most recognized fitness influencers —with over 005ubscribers on YouTube,0+03llowers on Instagram,a Nike partnership,a Vogue feature,and a bestselling book.But none of it came without a cost,—,".":•'—•••—•',''—.🤍➫:/➫:/➫:/.:➫:://./ .

  7. Mar 13

    From Influencer to Silicon Valley Founder - How Maggie Sin Gained 600K Users for MyCompanions.AI

    Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/What does it actually take to go from building an audience online to building a company in the heart of Silicon Valley?Welcome back to the Genuinely Good Podcast. In this episode, I sat down with Maggie Sin, co-founder of MyCompanions.ai, to talk about AI, ambition, and what it really takes to build a company from scratch in Silicon Valley.Maggie's story starts long before the startup world. Growing up shy in Los Angeles with no clear path into tech, it was an early internship and a curiosity she couldn't ignore that slowly pulled her toward the industry. She went on to build her career at Amazon, Morgan Stanley, and Adobe — learning how to think big, move fast, and lead in complex environments.When two brilliant co-founders came to her, she said yes — and together they built MyCompanions.ai, an AI platform helping creators turn one-way audiences into two-way conversations. Within their first year, they closed a funding round and have now gained 600,000 users. We also get into the side of founding that most people don't talk about — the hesitations, the steep learning curve, and what it really looks like to be a female founder in one of the most competitive ecosystems in the world.If you're a woman thinking about breaking into tech, building something of your own, or simply wondering if you have what it takes — this one's for you.Thank you for being here 🤍/// MY SOCIAL MEDIA \\My Social Profiles:➫ Instagram: / travelstylechic➫ TikTok: / travelstylechicGenuinely Good Podcast➫ Instagram: / genuinely.goodMy Flower Shop:➫ Website: https://flowerevershop.com/➫ Instagram: / flowerever.shop➫ TikTok: / flowerever.shop#personalgrowth #womenempowerment #femaleentrepreneur #interiordesign #podcast

  8. Feb 28

    You Live for Yourself - Ashley Liu's Story of Motherhood & Building Her Own Interior Design Studio

    Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/Welcome back to the Genuinely Good Podcast. In this episode, I sat down with Ashley Liu, the founder of her own interior design studio, to talk about craft, motherhood, and what it really takes to build something of your own.Ashley grew up with no design background — it was a book of Tadao Ando's work in a college library that changed everything. She shares how she taught herself 3D rendering to let her work speak louder than words, and what finally pushed her to launch her own studio in 2021 — only to find out she was pregnant two weeks after quitting her job.We talk about what that moment felt like, how she kept projects running through her pregnancy, and the bigger question so many women face: can you really have it all? Ashley's answer is honest and grounded. We also get into the side of interior design most people don't see — building codes, structural constraints, and why a beautiful rendering means nothing if it can't actually be built. If you're building a career, navigating motherhood, or waiting until you feel ready to make a leap — this one's for you.Thank you for being here 🤍/// MY SOCIAL MEDIA \\My Social Profiles:➫ Instagram: / travelstylechic➫ TikTok: / travelstylechicGenuinely Good Podcast➫ Instagram: / genuinely.goodMy Flower Shop:➫ Website: https://flowerevershop.com/➫ Instagram: / flowerever.shop➫ TikTok: / flowerever.shop#personalgrowth #womenempowerment #femaleentrepreneur #interiordesign #podcast

  9. Jan 28

    Single Mother at 25 — How Cathy Huang Built a $300M+ Sales Business in 5 Years

    Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/Welcome back to the Genuinely Good Podcast.In this episode, I sat down with an incredibly inspiring female founder—Cathy Huang, the Founder & Broker of Record of ACRE Realty.In just a few years, Cathy built ACRE Realty into a powerhouse real estate brokerage with over 170 agents across New York and New Jersey and a record-breaking $300 million in annual sales—all without outside partners, and largely through the power of social media.Cathy shares her journey from being an international student struggling to find housing in New York, to navigating divorce, single motherhood, and rock-bottom moments that forced her to rebuild her life from scratch. What started as a necessity turned into a calling—and eventually, a platform that now changes the lives of hundreds of agents.In this conversation, we talk about how she transformed herself during COVID, leveraged platforms like Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu), and used AI tools to scale her business, manage teams across countries, and stay focused amid nonstop pressure.We also dive into burnout, sacrifice, and what it really takes to grow a business—giving up social life, redefining priorities, and choosing long-term fulfillment over short-term comfort.This episode isn’t just about real estate.It’s about resilience, reinvention, and how hitting rock bottom can unlock your greatest potential.If you’re a young woman building a business, questioning your path, or learning how to stay grounded while chasing big goals, I hope this episode reminds you that your hardest seasons can become the foundation of something extraordinary.Thank you for being here 🤍/// MY SOCIAL MEDIA \\My Social Profiles:➫ Instagram: / travelstylechic➫ TikTok: / travelstylechicGENuinely Good Podcast➫ Instagram: / genuinely.goodMy Flower Shop:➫ Website: https://flowerevershop.com/➫ Instagram: / flowerever.shop➫ TikTok: / flowerever.shop#personalgrowth #womenempowerment #femaleentrepreneur #realestate #podcast

  10. Jan 21

    From Chinatown to Nike & Rihanna- How A$AP Eva Built a Viral Business Before Social Media

    Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://travelstylechic.substack.com/Welcome back to the Genuinely Good Podcast.In this episode, I sat down with someone who has inspired me both personally and professionally—our beloved Auntie Eva, also known as A$AP Eva, the owner of Popular Jewelry.30 years ago, she opened a small jewelry shop in Chinatown with no social media and no roadmap. What she built instead—brick by brick—became one of the most beloved jewelry destinations in hip-hop culture, with artists like Wu-Tang Clan, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and more walking through her doors.In this conversation, we talk about how a single, unexpected encounter with Wu-Tang Clan’s Cappadonna helped shape the future of her business and why kindness—not fear—became her greatest strength.Auntie Eva shares what it really looked like to show up every day for over 30 years, the resilience it took to stay open through challenges like 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, and why she never allowed herself to give up—even when it wasn’t easy.This episode isn’t just about success or celebrity.It’s about persistence, self-belief, and how an ordinary life can grow into something extraordinary through consistency and grit.If you’re building something from the ground up, questioning your path, or learning to trust yourself through uncertainty, I hope this episode reminds you that showing up—day after day—can change everything.Thank you for being here 🤍/// MY SOCIAL MEDIA \\\My Social Profiles: ➫ Instagram: / travelstylechic ➫ TikTok: / travelstylechic GENuinely Good Podcast➫ Instagram: / genuinely.good My Flower Shop:➫ Website: https://flowerevershop.com/ ➫ Instagram: / flowerever.shop ➫ Tiktok: / flowerever.shop #personalgrowth #womenempowerment #podcast

  • 10 Episodes

About

The Solova Podcast with Genevieve Cen is a business show about how real product companies actually get built. Host Genevieve Cen (founder of Solova, supply-chain operator since 2017) interviews entrepreneurs across industries about the parts most shows skip: sourcing and manufacturing, margins and ownership, how founders think, and how a domain expert becomes a creator who can sell what she builds. The through-line is systems. One piece of the machine per episode, until you can see the whole thing. Real numbers. Real operations. No highlight reel. Instagram: @join.solova www.joinsolova.com

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