Where Viya is from

Yantai, Shandong, China

 

Interview

What was your dream when you were a kid? What was the reason?

I want to become my parents’ proud.  Because they will give me lots of food, candies and new cloths

 

What was your dream when you were 18 years old? What was the reason?

I want to go to a college that is REALLY far away from home and very liberal.

I was emotionally tired of being restricted

 

What made you start thinking about social entrepreneurship/social enterprises? When was that?

In college, I was leader of TEDxUIC, we have to find the best idea in China. And that’s how I learned social entrepreneurship, social innovation.

Then because of my volunteer experience, I was very sad to see the difference between people who give and people who receive. So I want to do something that make people in need feel respected

 

How much do you think social entrepreneurs play an important role in the world?

100% in my imaginary, all business should be social business

 

What would you say to future social entrepreneurs / those who are interested in social entrepreneurs?

Dream big, act small. Learn as much hard skill as you can and put it in creating social good.

 

What is your favorite quote? Who said that quote?

My favorite quote for pineapple: Stand tall, wear a crown & sweet inside

My favorite quote for myself: Be free.

 

Who Viya is

Viya gets what she wants. She pursues what she wants until she gets it. It is actually harder than it sounds, but she is somebody with the determination and resourcefulness to do it.

Viya is such a fearless person — outgoing, sociable, an extrovert, an explorer of many things. Wherever she goes, her friendship is as expansive as her openness. She does not care how she is seen or perceived by others at all. In fact, her openness sometimes explodes…and she becomes unstoppable. Yes, literally unstoppable, no one can stop her when she becomes unstoppable.

One skill that Viya has is to scan, she observes people by scanning them. I know it sounds weird and creepy but she can tell what is happening to others or at least distinguish a difference when she sees others. I have been amazed at the accuracy of this, especially when she scans me.

Viya is a researcher, good at conducting research with her love of  numbers and data. When you show her details with numbers and data, watch out, or she will find gaps and faults that you have not noticed.

I am comfortable to talk to her about anything. Even when we were at an event and there were many people, or when we hung out with our friends, Viya and I often chatted with each other alone. I shared personal things with her and she did the same with me. Viya has consulted with me in person as well. I trust her. I hope she feels the same.

 

Awesome Episode

Viya misses her friends and cannot stand being alone. So she often visited my apartment because it was a kind of a gathering spot for our classmates. We have never minded that she is with me and my roommates, but it seems that she was concerned of that. One day, she gave a present to me and my roommates to show her appreciation r to us. This is what I got from her.

Viya said that it means “magic.” When I took the present from her it was the beginning of many amazing things that would happen to me, so actually the present did bring a lot of “magic” to me.

 

The Power of MSE

What Viya is holding is a symbol called “go-en(ご縁)”, which means ‘fate’, ’destiny’ and ’special tie.’

I believe that it is meant to be that we met in San Francisco! I studied Social Entrepreneurship with Viya for a year, saying “We will make the world a better place.” I would love to spend the rest of my life with MSEs (Master of Social Entrepreneurship; my classmates) until the very day I die. They have already completely changed my life.

At the same time, however, I also think that we should not be together all the time, because that is not the reason why we learned Social Entrepreneurship. That is not how we will deliver the impact we want to give to society and to the world.

I think MSEs are like dandelions. We were seeded at the first day at Hult and we bloomed on our graduation day. Our mission is that we spread all over the world like dandelions and seed the future, the next generation, from each place where each of us has landed.

本当にありがとう(Honto ni Arigato-); Thank you very very much for everything!! The world needs you! Let’s make the world a better place together!!