Tea Time with Janice

How do you go from feeling invisible in a new country tobecoming a sought-after celebrity makeup artist with your own agency and beautyline?

In this episode, celebrity makeup artist KellyZhang shares her incredible journey from growing up in Henan,China to moving to the U.S., navigating life between two cultures, and building confidence through beauty and creativity. She reveals the early challenges of starting out, how she turned a creative dream into a reality, and the perseverance it took to finally break into the celebrity world.

Kelly’s story is a powerful reminder that success rarelyhappens overnight. It took 12 years of dedicationbefore Kelly landed her first celebrity clients, including Chriselle Lim, Sherry Cola, Amy Liu and Jenn Tran.

We talk about:

• Growing up between two cultures and learning to embrace identity

• Letting go of expectations and saying “yes” to your dream career
• The early hustle of starting your own business
• Her big break: 12 years later
• Tips for Asian makeup
• The secret to building a lasting brand
• And OBVIOUSLY the most important question: If you could only use one product, forthe rest of your life, what would it be?

We love to say success comes from hard work but the truth is, timing might be the biggest factor no one talks about.

 In this episode, we break down the story of Kasing Lung, the creator behind the world’s most viral collectible: Labubus, and how he quietly worked for YEARS before seeing mainstream success at nearly 50 years old.

Behind Labubu’s viral rise is a deeper story: one of slow success, timing/luck, and an economic concept called the lipstick effect.

Everyone says “age is just a number” until that number is 30 and life feels maybe even more chaotic than your early 20s.

This episode is for anyone who thought they'd have it all figured out by now and instead…well, you’re here. BUT WITH ME!! HAHAH We’ll dive into the disconnect between childhood expectations and adult realities. It’s about letting go of unrealistic timelines, embracing the chaos, and redefining what it means to “make it.”

What if you’re just not built for the “safe” path everyone else seems to be on? What if that practical, stable corporate career that’s supposed to feel secure just… makes you feel stuck and unsettled?

In this episode, I’m getting real about the messy middle: the uncertainty, the guilt, and the luxury of chasing a creative dream instead of staying on the traditional path. I share the unfiltered truth about “following your passion” as a high-achieving woman in her late 20s or 30s and why it’s not as glamorous as it looks.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re too old to start over or questioned if your dream job is worth the risk, this one’s for you!

Everyone talks about the freedom of being your own boss, but no one prepares you for the loneliness, sacrifice, and self-doubt that comes with building your dream from scratch. 

Deborah is a licensed esthetician with over 20 years of experience. She has two spas and a sugar manufacturing company, but it didn’t come easy or quick. This week, she takes us on the emotional rollercoaster of building her sugaring empire from nothing.

She shares how her business was suddenly stolen from her with NO notice, how she rebuilt and pivoted during COVID, and what it’s really like working with celebrity clients. We also dive into who she was before becoming the “Sugar Mama,” and who she’s learning to be beyond it.

SHE CRIED, we laughed—you don’t want to miss this one!

For ALL your skincare needs, check out Sugar Mama:

Instagram

@theskindenbysugarmama

@sugarmamapro

Websitehttps://skindenbysugarmama.com/

What happens after you achieve the impossible?  

This week, we have an OLYMPIC SWIMMER Jamie Yeung (so yeah, she knows a thing or two about dreaming big), joining us to talk about: 

• Her journey from high school swim team to Division 1 swimming at the University of Michigan

• The road to qualifying for the Olympics
  

• What it’s really like inside the Olympic Village
  

• Women vs men in sports and why female athletes still have to be “exceptional” to be seen
  

• Finding your identity and purpose after the world stage
  

This is a conversation about dreams, discipline, identity, and reinvention—so join us, whether you’re an athlete or just a woman trying to figure out her next chapter! 

***This episode is bilingual , video has English translation***

This is for EVERY woman who’s ambitious but tired, capable but unsure, driven but also terrified to start. 

Some people know her as a chairwoman. Some know her as an artist. But I know her as ‘Mom.’

In this episode, my mom shares her journey from being a housewife to becoming the chairwoman of a major international charity (HKTNWA). Raised in a traditional Asian household to becoming a woman who leads, this episode is about what it means to build a life that’s both grounded in tradition and boldly your own.

Mama Shiao also gives dating advice on what it means to be mysterious, rules of dating and  what she really thinks about moving in with your S.O. 

So if you’ve ever felt like you need to have your entire life figured out by your 20s or 30s - this episode gives US permission to breathe. 

Episode resources

• More on HKTNWA
• More on period poverty

How do you say no without guilt? 

How do you set boundaries without pushing people away? 

How do you stop overcommitting just to avoid disappointing others?

In this episode, we dive into boundary setting, how to say no (thank you) in different situations, and how to prioritize yourself without guilt. From friendships to relationships, if you struggle with people-pleasing, this one's for you.

Facing a career dilemma or thinking about getting an MBA?

In this episode, I brought two of my close MBA friends to talk about the real struggles of navigating career choices in our late 20s.

We’re getting real about career pressure, comparison, financial stability vs. creative passion. PLUS, I put them to the test with a game to see if money really buys happiness. And of course, we spill the MBA tea: what surprised us, why does it sometimes feel like high school all over again?

What does it take to take risks and build a successful career in media — without losing yourself along the way?

In this episode, the Director of Integrated Media Strategy, spills the tea on navigating the corporate world, making bold career moves, and balancing ambition with personal life.

Growing up with Chinese immigrant parents who ran a restaurant, Annie learned early how to take risks and make big decisions independently. She opens up about the reality of working in entertainment, the challenges of advocating for bold ideas, and how she balances ambition with her personal life.