Welcome to the latest installment of our interview series, where we delve into the journeys of successful entrepreneurs and business owners. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Danielle Hu, the founder of The Wanderlover Business Academy.
Danielle’s story is one of courage and determination, as she left her corporate Finance job in 2017 to pursue her dream of running her own business while traveling the world full-time. Over the years, she has successfully navigated challenges such as the impact of COVID on her travel-based business and has pivoted to online business coaching.
In our conversation, Danielle shares insights on how she tackles ongoing challenges in areas like social media trends and managing a hectic travel schedule. She also recounts a memorable experience with a client who achieved remarkable success under her guidance. Looking ahead, Danielle reveals her plans for the future of her business and emphasizes the importance of overdelivering on value to clients and customers.
Join us as we explore the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship with Danielle Hu and uncover the strategies that have led to her success in the small business world.
Interviewee Name: Danielle Hu
Company: The Wanderlover Business Academy
Intervirew Host: Jesse Samberg
The Interview
Let’s get started. First, we’d like to know more about how you started your business journey
Danielle Hu : I have been running The Wanderlover and traveling the world full-time since quitting my corporate Finance job in 2017. The Wanderlover Podcast was launched in 2020, and the Digital Nomad Society (http://thewanderlover.com/digital-nomad-society) was launched in 2023. I always knew I wanted a freedom-based lifestyle, so I set out to create a life of time freedom, location freedom, and financial freedom, and have never looked back. Over 5 years later, and I’m so happy about the choices I’ve made, the things that have happened, and where I’m headed over the next 5 years!
Reflecting on your business history, what stands out as the single greatest challenge you’ve successfully navigated, and how did you overcome it?
Danielle Hu : When I was a full-time travel content creator, COVID initially had a devastating impact on my business as I lost all ability to travel, along with all of my work for hotels and tourism boards. However, I was able to pivot into online business coaching, helping other individuals and brands grow their social media accounts and online presences.
Businesses often face ongoing challenges. What does your business consistently grapple with, and how do you tackle these challenges head-on?
Danielle Hu : As a business owner myself, as well as a business coach who has a large social following, staying attuned to the ever-evolving landscape of trends and social media platforms is an ongoing challenge. To tackle this, I advocate for the establishment of a robust email list that acts as a stalwart asset, transcending any individual platform’s fluctuations. By cultivating a direct line of communication with your audience through email, you not only secure a more stable connection but also gain the ability to adapt and pivot as trends and platforms inevitably shift.
The constant whirlwind of travel and the juggling act of navigating different time zones can also be overwhelming. To confront this challenge head-on, I emphasize the importance of setting clear boundaries on time. Implementing structured checkpoints at various intervals—annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly—helps in gaining a comprehensive understanding of upcoming commitments, travel schedules, and critical deadlines. This strategic approach enables influencers to proactively plan, identify tasks that can be batched in advance, and maintain a balanced lifestyle while ensuring a consistent online presence. The dual challenges of staying abreast of dynamic trends and managing a hectic travel schedule can be particularly demanding. In my experience, addressing the issue of changing trends involves the proactive creation and nurturing of an email list, which serves as a resilient foundation for communication.
Can you share with us the most unforgettable story involving a customer or client? What made it memorable, and what lessons did you draw from the experience?
Danielle Hu : I had a client who went from a burnt-out sales associate to starting and scaling her online business to a million dollars in revenue in under 2 years. It was such an honor to watch her overcome self-imposed limiting beliefs, take inspired, aligned action every single day, and completely transform her life. She proved that when YOU change, everything changes for you.
Looking ahead, what are your current plans for your business when you retire?
Danielle Hu : I’m currently living the life I would want to have once I retire, full of travel, new experiences, and business wins. I have no plans to sell the company and would love to continue growing my team and business into the future, growing our impact, and working when I want to.
I hope to continue recording new episodes of The Wanderlover Podcast (http://thewanderlover.com/podcast) until I’m no longer able to! I love what I am doing and I feel lucky and driven to keep doing it!
Navigating the small business landscape can be both challenging and rewarding. Can you share a bit about the specific hurdles you’ve encountered in areas like sales, marketing, and adapting to changing customer trends?
Danielle Hu : As sales and marketing trends are constantly changing, the one thing that has proven to be true over all these years is overdelivering on value to your clients and customers. When past clients enthusiastically endorse and recommend your offerings to their network, the organic power of word-of-mouth marketing surpasses any meticulously crafted sales tactic.
Exceeding customer expectations fosters deep trust and loyalty, elevating a business above the competition in a crowded marketplace. In an age where consumers are spoiled for choice, businesses that consistently provide more than expected not only secure customer loyalty but transform satisfied clients into influential brand advocates. The authenticity of positive word-of-mouth recommendations resonates with potential clients far more effectively than traditional marketing messages, and in today’s interconnected world, the ripple effect of such endorsements can extend globally, making overdelivering on value a timeless strategy that transcends fleeting trends.
Leaders Perception magazine would like to thank Danielle Hu and “The Wanderlover Business Academy” for the time dedicated to completing this interview and sharing their valuable insights with our readers!
Interested in connecting with the host of this interview series? Feel free to reach out to Jesse Samberg on LinkedIn: Jesse Samberg’s LinkedIn Profile