I’m a Marketing Strategist, Biz Educator & Writer.
Hiya! I’m Jeffrey.
(they/he)
I help individuals and small business owners uncover marketing strategies that are aligned with their values and attuned to their capacity, energy, and wellbeing.
I’m committed to learning, growing, and working in service of our collective liberation, and I’m here to support people who wish to do the same.
The shop is: open!
AUTUMN 2024 COLLECTION
your marketing lodestar. a video training + marketing strategy template
seasonal realignment sessions. a container & practice for stepping away from your daily routine and consider your marketing/business big picture.
marketing angel. a guide or steward for your marketing efforts.
A Little About Me.
I’m a first-generation American of Han Chinese (Hakka and Hunan) descent. My parents are both immigrants who were born in Taiwan.
I was born and raised in occupied and unceded Indigenous territories*, specifically those of the Munsee Lenape, Lekawe (Rockaway), and Matinecock nations.
I graduated from Emory University in 2013 as a liberal arts student. Technically, it was a history degree but, honestly, I just took whatever classes interested me any given semester—I ended up with the most credits in history so I went ahead and fulfilled that requirement!
I lived in Dublin, Ireland for four years where I started my career working as an in-house marketer with a boutique study abroad company, Stint Ireland.
In 2017, I started working as a freelance marketer, beginning a meandering journey as a self-employed person that has led to where I am today.
Re-imagining how we do business/marketing is at the heart of what I do. I’m a steward of:
Business For The People, a virtual co-werking and learning space for entrepreneurs, creatives, healers, and guides who are dedicated to doing business differently.
I’m also a huge nerd. I love to read. I love to write, and I dream of finishing one of my many unfinished novels and short stories one day. I love science fiction and fantasy and stories of queer joy that make my heart feel full and tears well up. I love to travel so much. And I also love to play sports, dance, and be active too.
While it’s not always easy, given all the challenges we face at the moment, I try to live my life with a sense of awe and wonder, to appreciate everything from the roots beneath this beautiful Earth to the magnificent stars that glitter above.
*I include a land acknowledgment to honor Native communities and bring awareness to the history of exploitation and genocide conducted against Indigenous people through colonization, which is still happening today. An acknowledgment is only one part of decolonization and reconciliation, otherwise it is but an empty gesture. There needs to be a restoration of land to Indigenous nations. The harm done as a result of the violent displacement of Indigenous peoples must be addressed as well. I believe that having these conversations is important, and I pledge to continue my education as well as take action to support Indigenous organizations and movements whenever I am able. To learn more, a good resource to start with is https://native-land.ca/.
My ethical marketing pledge.
I put the person before the sale. I respect you and your privacy. I will help you make the best choice for your needs.
I communicate inclusively, truthfully, and clearly. I will not confuse you or hide information from you. I will help all audiences feel welcome.
I take responsibility for my part in changing the marketplace. I recognize the need to break the cycle of consumerism. I will continuously review my sales and marketing to ensure they benefit the common good.
I count on you to hold me accountable. Please connect with me if you see me not honoring my pledge.
Lineage.
Who I am today is a product of a number of things, from my environment to my upbringing to the people who’ve supported, inspired, educated, or mentored me along the way.
I want to shout out some of those people here.
First up, My Parents.
They are immigrants who raised me and encouraged me to pursue my own dreams. While there are a million things I could mention about these two legends, I’ll choose a few anecdotes that are somewhat related to my business.
My mom: She always told me “活到老，學到老.” The phrase means we should always learn and grow for as long as we live. It’s something that she repeated often throughout my childhood, and it’s something that I took to heart. (Socrates has nothing on her!)
I attribute my lifelong curiosity and interest in learning to her loving and nurturing parenting. She was always there to support me, from my schoolwork to my extracurricular activities.
There was another lesson, perhaps even more important, that she taught me: life isn’t just work. It’s important not just to study hard and work hard, but to play hard. (Enjoy life!)
Little did she know, that might’ve been one of the seeds that led to me being an anti-capitalist as it helped me interrogate hustle culture and come to the conclusion that everyone should be paid a thriving wage, regardless of their occupation, so they can enjoy life.
My dad: He set me on the right path regarding civil rights/social justice. I will always remember one time when I was a little kid, he was walking by and spotted a picture of MLK Jr. while I was flipping through an illustrated book of American history. He made sure to stop me right there and emphasized the significance of the Civil Rights Movement. He pointed out how we are indebted to those who fought for our rights as people of color. I always think of this as the moment I learned to be in solidarity with—and in support of—Black movements. I think it’s also why the commonly-held goal of assimilation in the East Asian community has never quite sat right with me. (Of course, there’s more nuance as to how I became educated about these topics over the years.)
Another time, this was when kids were throwing around gay as an insult back in the early 2000s, I remember sulking one day after being called gay. My dad asked, what’s wrong with being gay? He taught me about homosexuality that day. Like my mom, I’m sure little did he know, I would end up wanting to take a sledgehammer to systemic racism and the cishet-patriarchy, but I’m sure they’re proud of that fact now.
The most important person in my life: my partner, Stacy.
We’ve been on adventures, grown together, and there’s still so much we have to do. Again, there’s way too much I could rave about, but to stay relevant to business, I’ll say that she has been my biggest support as I’ve figured out how I can show up in my business in the most authentic way I can, aligned with my values which are often at odds with our capitalist society. And let’s be honest, she’s been pivotal in providing me perspective as I’ve deprogrammed myself from the years of brainwashing that Americans have undergone throughout our lives! (That shit runs deeeeeep!)
My biggest inspirations when it comes to doing “business differently” has been Toi Smith and all the wonderful members of Business For The People. As well as Alice Karolina and all my fellow team members at The Ethical Move. I’m thankful to know these wonderful souls.
I want to give a shout out to Rowan and their anti-capitalist agency, Queerit, for inviting me to collaborate and work on projects with them.
Throughout the years, I’ve learned about marketing and business from various sources, either personally or through their work, including, but not limited to: Rand Fishkin, Moz, Ash Ambirge, Copyhackers, Hubspot, Everyone Hates Marketers, Seth Godin, The Copywriter Club, Stephanie Hayes, and Kelly Diels.
However, business does not exist in a vacuum. It’s very much entrenched in this world we live in. Much of my work is informed by the many activists, authors, artists, creators, and other folks who have helped me tap into my imagination and envision a better world. People ranging from writer/activists like adrienne maree brown, bell hooks, Dr. Ayesha Khan, and Kai Cheng Thom; to podcasters like Kamea Chayne and Rose Eveleth; novelists like Octavia Butler and Becky Chambers; artists like Janelle Monae; YouTubers like Jonathan McIntosh; researchers like Jason Hickel; and many many many more.