Danielle Hu is the Founder of The Wanderlover and host of The Wanderlover Podcast, helping creatives and online service-based entrepreneurs achieve time freedom, location freedom, and financial freedom. She is also the Co-Founder of ANDA, an ocean-inspired jewelry line where they donate 5% of every sale to save and restore coral reefs.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your professional journey/venture/initiative and what inspired you to choose this career.
As a first-generation immigrant, I had to unlearn a lot of what I grew up with in order to create the life I’ve always dreamed of living. I grew up as a shy Asian-American in a conservative household, where I was told to get into a good university, land a stable job, and take minimal risks in life. It wasn’t until I started traveling when I realized that the world is massive and I could do anything I set my mind to.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
Unsurprisingly, when I entered Corporate America, I quickly learned a 9-5 job was not for me. I felt like a cog in the wheel, trapped with 15 vacation days, creativity stifled, arriving at the office before sunrise and leaving after sunset. I would scroll through Instagram during the day, seeing influencers travel full-time, run online businesses, work from co-working spaces in Bali, daydreaming about the day I’d be able to do the same. I then looked around the office at my managers and executives, and asked myself, “Is that where I want to be in a few years?” because that’s exactly where I would end up if I stayed on this path. So I decided to take massive, inspired action. During my lunch breaks and after work, I was on a mission to learn as much as I could and build an online business. That’s when I started The Wanderlover.
Tell us about your goals, interests, and role models.
My goal is to help people around the world who feel “stuck” — like I once did. By showing them what is possible, building a supportive community, and guiding them step by step. I’ve always looked up to those who have taken the risks and live a life that is different but incredibly fulfilling, and I hope to be the same source of inspiration for those just starting out as well!
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?
Rejection and failure is a natural byproduct of entrepreneurship, and it’s important to work on creating a toolbox to help you bounce back quicker. When I first started pitching hotels and travel brands as a content creator, almost no one wanted to work with me. So many of my emails and messages were left unread. But I stayed persistent and never gave up, and after a few years those brands were the ones that started reaching out to me! My coping mechanisms include going out for a surf, getting off of Instagram, and spending time with people I love.
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?
By increasing my global reach, I have impacted lives whether it be providing inspiration, helpful resources, tips on my podcast, or coaching clients to live more abundant lives. In the next few years, I hope to write a book so I can reach even more people and help them design a better life and business for themselves!
While the global pandemic of COVID-19 is associated primarily with adversities, it has also brought about a true boom in startups, with successful entrepreneurship in many countries. The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another. Would you like to share your experience on a personal and professional level?
COVID-19 was pivotal in my entrepreneurship journey because The Wanderlover started out as a travel blog with an emphasis on moving locations and social media. However, when all the borders closed, I sought opportunity in this and expanded into online business coaching, with the experience that I had grown The Wanderlover successfully as a location-independent online business for many years already. With people looking to transition online, I was there to help! It is important to always look at the lessons and opportunities amidst crisis.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
I have helped almost 100 clients reach and exceed $100,000 USD in revenue with their online businesses, quit corporate jobs, and book one-way flights — and our business has hit 6-figures in just ebooks alone! I’ve traveled to over 60 countries while doing so, and have worked with luxury hotels and tourism boards across 6 continents.
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?
Constantly work on making yourself better each day, and this will help make the world a better place.
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
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?
Women’s leadership still has so much room to grow and I fully support women breaking barriers and ceilings of all kinds. There are so many male-dominated industries, some of which have been tradition for centuries, and there’s no time like now to change that.
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?
You can truly do anything you set your mind to! If you need advice, want to share thoughts, or just want to say hi, my DM’s are always open.
