She is the CEO of a multi-media production company based in three major cities, representing a myriad of creative talents. She has hosted multiple TV shows starring international personalities and stars, aiming to bridge and incorporate Chinese culture into global media. Her company, Nova Universal – which she founded at the age of 19 – has represented artists in reputed platforms such as the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition and partnered with equally respected brands such as Sony Music, TaiHe Music, and Aiqiyi. She is Jasmine Xie, and she’s achieved a lot, to say the least.

After conducting an interview with Xie (a nerve-wracking 45 minutes for me), I was able to gain valuable insights into how her environment as a multi-cultural, international student shaped her, eventually leading to her success as a young entrepreneur. 

Xie’s background is not unlike many of ours, having received an international education both in China and abroad. After attending primary and secondary school in Canada and China, she enrolled in the University of Edinburgh and graduated with a degree in International Relations. However, it was during her youth that she participated in numerous extracurriculars such as tennis, equestrian club, and piano which would largely shape her success later in life. “Many don’t know this, but Chinese parents are…strict,” explains Xie. “However, my mom was relatively hands-off.” Though she no longer pursues most of them, those experiences have informed her lifestyle today. “I still try to set aside time from work as those activities taught me the importance of rest and perseverance.” In fact, Xie still enjoys a bit of horseback riding from time to time.

In our increasingly hyper-competitive world, it’s no secret that tiger moms and helicopter parenting are believed to lead to academically successful children. And yet, it’s important to remember that allowing children a certain amount of agency over their future has its benefits. Basically, there is a common misconception that just a few areas of study will lead to professional prosperity, but this is a dire misjudgment that minimizes equally as indispensable skills. Thankfully, it was precisely through defying this “path of least resistance” that Xie started her own company. “I came home one day from an internship and discussed with my mother on how dull an office job was,” explains Xie. “She immediately suggested I license a company with my only interest at the time, which was Instagram, and start a media company.”

Entrepreneurship is doubtlessly a risky endeavor, something Xie has had to contend with firsthand. Not only did she give up a lucrative job and stable life in London, leaving everything behind when she returned to China and dove headfirst into being her own boss, she also rejected offers from master’s programs at numerous respected colleges (“ones that many Asian parents would nod their heads at”), all but eschewing the supposed ideal path that she and many of her contemporaries work their entire lives to achieve.

So what exactly were the hardships that Xie has encountered? “I would say the naysayers continuously pose as a challenge.” For instance, recently, when submitting one of her client’s portfolios to an established brand, she was told to “come back when you are more credible.” Although such flippant remarks are expected in the entertainment industry, especially for entrepreneurs, Xie’s resilience and courage in the face of such condescension are a testament to her success.

When asked what advice she has for anyone aspiring to enter the entertainment industry or start their own business, her advice was surprisingly conventional and simple: study hard. Unfortunately, job opportunities are still largely tied to a degree, university, and greater educational background. As such, according to Xie, it’s imperative that students find something they’re passionate about, study hard, make the most of the resources they have, and seize every opportunity that comes their way. And when it comes to building a career in the entertainment industry specifically, Xie emphasized that there’s more to it than a glamorous facade and that learning the technical aspects of cinematography can be somewhat of a lonely process.

Lastly, I was eager to find out Xie’s secret to success. “My secret to success is being open to mentorship. Having mentors who I can speak to, consult, and guide me in my decisions in both life and business…A conversation with someone who is experienced can help me navigate a problem much better than if I went about trying to solve something alone or with others who maybe only know just as much as I do.”

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Images: Jasmine Xie