Meet Shelley Lok | Entrepreneur & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelley Lok and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelley, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m from Shanghai, China, and graduated from the Multimedia department at Northumbria University. After graduating, I interned for a while and then went to Japan, as I wasn’t ready to start working yet. Upon returning to China, I began working at major advertising companies, including Google China. During that time, I felt a bit lost and unsure if that was the life I wanted.

Later, I had an entrepreneurial opportunity. Faced with the choice between a comfortable job as a cog in the machine, and the challenging but unstable income of entrepreneurship, I chose the latter. I thought I was still young and wanted to try different things; even if I failed, I could always go back to working for someone else.

So, I partnered with someone to start an online store and also took on social advertising projects. After a year, I realized that as an intermediary in e-commerce, making a profit without sufficient cash flow was difficult. Therefore, I decided to focus on developing social advertising and e-commerce agency services. Although there were many difficulties along the way, the overall results were positive. I enjoy the challenges that entrepreneurship brings, as they allow me to approach problems from different angles and enhance my problem-solving skills. Entrepreneurship has made me realize the importance of continuous learning and adaptability, embrace change while staying true to my original intentions. This applies not only to work but also to life.

In my personal life, I am passionate about traveling and have visited 41 countries so far. I enjoy experiencing different cultures, appreciating diverse geological landscapes and architectural designs, all of which inspire me in various ways. The uncertainty, randomness, and serendipity of travel fascinate me deeply, and they have introduced me to a sense of Zen in life: going with the flow, adapting to circumstances, and living in the moment.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a serial entrepreneur with experience in social media, e-commerce, short film production, influencer and live-streaming management, offline immersive entertainment spaces, and variety shows like matchmaking programs. Since coming to the U.S., I’ve found transitioning my skillset to be tough, as the media environment is quite different from China, and I have no established network or work experience here. I’ve had to start all-over from scratch.

However, through a series of fortunate events, I’ve recently had a number wonderful things come my way. I got involved in the production of a short film, where we assembled a crew, and have started exploring opportunities for the team beyond that project. Alongside that, I’ve built a team for international digital marketing, aimed at Chinese businesses who wish to build a brand and presence oversea. Our mission is to link them with resources here, expand their brand awareness, and ultimately connect them with customers and drive sales.

Of course, there have been many challenges along the way, and I am continually learning and exploring new directions. While my career was relatively smooth before, my entrepreneurial experiences in the U.S. have taught me that sometimes waiting is also a form of growth. Additionally, I want to emphasize the importance of never giving up and self improvement!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
1. Walk around Malibu, Getty Villa Museum. Eat at Palisades Village, maybe go horseback riding at Will Rogers State Park
2. Go to Santa Monica beaches & the pier. Shop around, and dine at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel — roof-top — or Elephante
3. Shop at Westfield Central Mall, Rodeo Drive, drive around Beverly Hills, and eat somewhere cute in West Hollywood
4. Visit Griffith Observatory, and go hiking up to the Hollywood sign, then grab a bite at Yamashiro Hollywood
5, Watch a performance at the Hollywood Bowl, or go on a studio walk, and definitely check out The Original Farmers Market in La Brea
6. Hang out in the Silver Lake area, check out some of the boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, and maybe experience a roof-top bar downtown
7. Universal Studios

If there is any extra time, and you’re down for a (not too long drive), I’d recommend Santa Barbara or San Diego for visit as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to start by thanking my parents. My father is an entrepreneur; he built his company from scratch during the most challenging times in China, and he has been a great role model for me. While building his business, he also balanced his family life. He and my mother have a perfect marriage, and their love has given me immense confidence, making me feel that no matter what happens, I have my parents as a strong support.

My mother is a homemaker. She provided me with the freedom to choose my own path in life as I grew up and gave me tremendous support during difficult choices. Additionally, I want to thank my husband, who is also an entrepreneur. He has taught me resilience, the perseverance to pursue dreams, and the courage to sacrifice material comforts for greater goals.

Instagram: lu.shelley

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-lok-382aa916/