An Interview With Eden Gold
Increase focus on life outside of work. For me, both the pandemic and starting business school gave me the time and space to think through my life holistically and answer the question “What does success look like outside of the workplace?” It has given me the space to merge content creation with my career and explore new hobbies.
In a world rapidly changing through technology, societal norms, and global challenges, a new generation of leaders is emerging. Ambitious young adults are not just aiming for traditional markers of success; they are redefining what it means to be successful. Beyond the corporate ladder and financial milestones, they prioritize impact, sustainability, and personal fulfillment. They are entrepreneurs, activists, scientists, and artists who are shaping the future with innovative ideas and actions. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Cherie Luo.
Cherie Brooke Luo is a Bay Area-based content creator, Stanford MBA student, and former LinkedIn senior product manager known for her career-focused content that has garnered millions of views online. She hosts “Cherie’s Corner Podcast,” where she profiles business leaders and shares valuable career and productivity tips based on her MBA journey and experiences in the tech industry. Cherie’s vision is to empower 100 million people to advance their careers and be a trusted online mentor for women seeking career and life advice.
Cherie brings her audience along on professional journeys, sharing her successes, failures, and valuable lessons learned. She’s partnered with major brands like Salesforce, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and more, showcasing her influence and expertise. Before pursuing her MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Cherie led the development of consumer and enterprise learning products as a senior product manager at LinkedIn. She also made significant contributions to Bain Capital Ventures’ outreach efforts in the creator economy.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about cultural sensitivity, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
Growing up, I never imagined I would become a content creator. I was raised in a single-parent home in an immigrant family and was taught to work hard and choose a stable, safe career path. This drive led me to graduate from Barnard College of Columbia University with a degree in computer science. I then joined LinkedIn, where I worked my way up to becoming a senior product manager.
At LinkedIn, I loved leading cross-functional teams of engineers, designers, marketers, and data scientists. But while working on LinkedIn learning, LinkedIn’s edTech platform, I also discovered my passion for creating knowledge and career-based content. This led me to become a LinkedIn Learning instructor, solidifying my belief that teaching and empowering others is what I’m meant to do. Now in my second year at Stanford Business School, I continue to share my experiences and learnings with others online.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
Working in the tech world and now attending business school, I’ve met some of the world’s most successful and incredible minds of our generation. I’ve spoken with LinkedIn Founder, Reid Hoffman, Sequoia Capital’s Managing Partner, Roelof Botha, Bumble Founder and former CEO, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Congressman Ro Khana, etc. And you know what I’ve realized? They’re not too different from us. When they were our age, they dreamed big, suffered from imposter syndrome, and felt driven to make a change in the world. When speaking to executives and business leaders, I’m in awe of what they’ve accomplished, but sometimes it feels so unattainable. In peeling back the layers through conversations and my podcast interviews with these folks, I can see their humanity. I believe that we too can be in their shoes one day, creating global impact.
You are a successful individual. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
The key traits that have helped me succeed in my career are grit, adaptability, and empathy. Grit is doing the hard work, even when it totally sucks. I love the idea that I’m not “too good” for any job or role when it comes to building my own business. As entrepreneurs, we have to continue to do all parts of the job and be able to pick ourselves up when we’re knocked down. Next is adaptability. No project or idea is perfect. Being able to adapt to new stimuli and challenges in our professional and personal lives is how we continue to learn and grow. If we get bogged down by the way things were or the way things are “supposed to be,” we can miss new insights and opportunities. At Linked In, we had the idea of “next play,” which was borrowed from Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. No matter how good (or bad) the last play was, Coach K wanted his team to adapt and focus on what was coming next — not stew on what just happened. Finally, empathy is the most important skill (yes, it’s a skill) that someone can build. Life is about connecting with others and with deeper, authentic connections with friends and coworkers, I feel that I’m able to do my best work. It’s not just having the small talk, it’s about genuinely caring about the people around you and investing in them. Life is more fun that way.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about how ambitious young adults are redefining success. How would you define success?
I’ve always viewed success as trying to do my best and taking risks. When I place the bar for success high, it helps me to invest my time and effort wisely. I can ask myself, is this something where I can be consistent over a long period and do my best work? If the answer is no, then it doesn’t align with what I want to do. If the answer is yes, then I’m going to pursue that 100%.
How do you incorporate social responsibility and sustainability into your definition of success?
I consider social responsibility an essential component of my definition of success. Through my content, I aim to democratize access to career and graduate school advice, reaching communities that may not have considered these paths otherwise. My goal is to break down barriers in traditionally exclusive industries.
In any career, we have to have difficult conversations and make hard decisions. That’s why I want to give my audience the frameworks, tools, and insights necessary to help them through whatever they are going through professionally.
Can you describe a moment or decision that significantly redirected your path toward leadership?
My experience as a student at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business has transformed my understanding of leadership. Some of my classmates have even referred to business school as leadership school because you learn the soft skills needed to be an effective leader. The curriculum provides opportunities to practice and reflect on your leadership, communication, and negotiation styles. The classes create a safe space to make mistakes and learn so that when the time comes in real life, we are ready to be effective and successful leaders.
What role do mentorship and community play in shaping your approach to leadership and success?
Mentorship and community have been a big part of my life. When I started Cherie’s Corner Podcast, I started by showcasing the experiences of my mentors and classmates. Helping me launch my podcast by providing their insights was a tangible example of how the people around me directly supported and amplified my success. Even today, it’s often a Stanford alum who recommends another guest or who connects me to someone else, which helps me grow my podcast and platforms.
In what ways do you think your generation’s view of success differs from previous generations?
My generation’s view of success cannot be separated by the way that online culture has come to define success. Today, having an online presence and being seen as a thought leader online can enhance your career in many ways. Sharing my insights and posting educational content online not only helps others learn, but it also creates community for my wider network.
After business school, I plan to take content creation full-time, which is yet another redefinition of success and something that previous generations didn’t have available to them.
Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Ways Ambitious Young Adults Are Redefining Success?”
1 . Content creation vs traditional 9–5. Young adults are defining career paths outside the traditional workplace or diversifying their income with side hustles and content creation. Even if you’re not ready to go all in on becoming an influencer, creating a strong online presence can be key to standing out in your industry.
2 . Breaking down the “boys’ club.” The diversity of my generation is questioning the status quo and entering spaces previously dominated by older, white men. I am adamant that my future daughters will be learning golf, or at least be exposed to it at a young age, because learning to play golf isn’t just about the game. It’s about cultivating confidence, fostering connections, and shattering barriers on and off the green. We should do all we can to open up networking opportunities, business deals, and social engagements, enabling women of color to navigate professional and personal landscapes.
3 . Increase focus on life outside of work. For me, both the pandemic and starting business school gave me the time and space to think through my life holistically and answer the question “What does success look like outside of the workplace?” It has given me the space to merge content creation with my career and explore new hobbies.
4 . Not taking ourselves too seriously. Even at Stanford’s business school where I am surrounded by some of the most intelligent and hardworking peers, the relationships we’re building can only happen when we are enjoying ourselves and not being too serious. That’s why I try to show the trips, fun moments, and behind-the-scenes of business school — because it’s in those times that I really get to know my peers outside of the classroom dynamic.
5 . Standing up for myself. I’ll admit that confrontation is not my favorite, but it’s also inevitable in your career. Having difficult conversations around workplace performance or speaking up when someone interrupts you are skills that we all need. While previous generations may have had a more heads-down approach, learning to stand up for what you believe in the workplace with empathy and confidence is key to success.
How do you navigate the challenges of innovation and change while staying true to your values and vision for success?
I have a core vision for success, which is to empower 100 million people to advance in their careers and to be the person that women turn to for career and personal life advice. Working in tech and as a content creator, I’ve been fortunate in that innovation and change have spurred my growth and vision, allowing me to reach women on the other side of the world. I’ve adapted to new platforms to grow my reach and I’ll be continuing to do that no matter what comes next!
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I think central to my current mission is making the business world more accessible, especially to young women, by creating content that dives deep into the highlights and lowlights of people’s professional journeys. You often have to see it to believe it, which is what my content aims to do. I hope that my work will be a foundational step in helping more women start businesses or reach the C-Suite. When our leaders are more diverse, our companies and workplaces as a whole are stronger.
How can our readers further follow you online?
🤳🏻 Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/cherie.brooke
📱 TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@cherie.brooke
✍🏻 Substack — https://cherieluo.substack.com/
👩🏻💻 Linkedin — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherie-luo/
❤️ YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@cherie.brooke
💚 Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4n7IElX7ExYPmNoGqlS9NS?si=RwKvKCpWRX6Tt0Y_KKyp3Q
🌍 Personal website — https://www.cherieluo.com
Ｘ Twitter — https://twitter.com/cherie_luo
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self-confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.
Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/EdenGold
Future Leaders: Cherie Brooke Luo On How Ambitious Young Adults Are Redefining Success was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.