Lauryn Chen
Lauryn Chen is a Business Analyst Apprentice for a Financial Services Firm during the day, but a business owner and multi-income stream earner throughout the evening and weekends!
She tells us that, “As a Business Analyst Apprentice I am primarily focused with business change and implementing new processes to make the business better which can be quite fun, I am also undertaking a degree next year once I finish this stage of the apprenticeship and I plan to take the degree in either Finance or Business Management/Administration. I currently own 2 businesses, a coaching business and a hair care business, and I am a content creator (TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram), an ambassador for 3 companies and an investor in real estate and stocks.”
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your professional journey and what inspired you to choose this career.
My initial years of growing up were very fun, I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood and teenage life. I’ve always been a very ambitious child, and it was evident as I was always working hard at school (I was very liked in each school too) and was known amongst my teachers as a very good pupil. I had wanted to become a Vet when I was younger, although that changed to me wanting to be a writer, and then a corporate lawyer, and now I am very happy.
There are numeral things that I had achieved when I was younger before I started my career path now. I once had one of my books copyrighted and almost published (I refused), I went to multiple Performing Arts schools and went through casting agencies, I was an interview expert (I job hopped a lot), I was a Prefect in Secondary School and then a Black and Minority Ethnic Officer (basically another Prefect) in Sixth Form. I was always in a leadership position because that was what I enjoyed, I was often the one leading projects and getting everyone involved.
As for what inspired my career now, I had always wanted to be rich (hence why I am building up my income streams), and I have always loved Finance and Technology/Data and Business and Insurance, and my role combines them all very nicely.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
Not really, I just always had it in my mind that I wanted to become a millionaire, and I knew relying on someone for an income wasn’t going to let me achieve it unless I wanted to work long-term.
Tell us about your goals, interests, and role models.
I have so many goals and interests, we can be here forever! In terms of role models I would definitely say my parents, they sacrificed so much and worked so hard to provide an amazing life for my sister and I, and I cannot thank them enough for that. I don’t have any other role models as such, but anyone that has achieved more than me and is at millionaire/billionaire status is someone I look up to.
For my goals, I aim to be a millionaire by the time I am 23. I want to retire early and live a long and luxurious life with my partner. One of my goals is to reach 6 figures this year, and to also complete all of my to-do list for this year (I have about 16-20 things left to do entrepreneurial wise). I also want to have even more assets than liabilities this year so I can truly have financial freedom. I also want to enjoy this year as much as possible (I’m going to Florida next month and then Singapore in October).
In terms of interests, I love reading, travelling, going to theme parks, exploring different cultures and trying different foods (I’m a foodie), talking about business and finance, getting rich, baking, talking to others, learning new things, dancing, singing, listening to music, watching shows etc.
Everyone has their own set of challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. Still, the most essential part for others to learn is how you deal with those. Would you like to share with us your challenges and your coping mechanisms?
I would say the most challenging part was probably forming a successful business idea and the marketing side of the hair care business. Also content creation sometimes, sometimes engagement can fluctuate and you can never really predict it. My coping mechanism is just to power through it, you don’t get anywhere unless you try and you put the work in. 1 year from now I will look back and I will be happy I did that.
What impact do you feel you have been able to create with your work so far and how would you want to grow in the next few years?
I definitely think I’m able to help my team at work more and provide more relief to them, I recognise the good that I am doing for them and the trust they give me with certain projects. In the next few years I would love to be in a Treasury, FP&A or Senior Business Analyst role.
In terms of my businesses and ambassadorships I feel I have been able to create a safe space for young people and mentorship. For my hair business it seems I have aided a lot of people on their hair growth journey and a lot of my clients have seen their hair thicken and grow longer. In the next few years I want to hire a bigger team around me to help me with running the businesses.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
I would like to see a change in racism, black women are often put down for being successful and I would like to change that.
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women’s leadership today?
I love women leadership, and I think the more women leaders there are, the better. I love seeing someone like me succeeding and gaining the attention they deserve. The world can benefit from a woman’s perspective.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
I would just like to say that you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. Don’t second guess things or talk yourself out of things, just do it.