Jean Kang, a 32-year-old entrepreneur, has successfully transformed her side venture into a thriving business generating approximately $20,000 monthly. Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, Kang initially envisioned a career path in the tech industry, inspired by the rise of Silicon Valley in her hometown.
After graduating in 2014, Kang embarked on a decade-long journey in the technology sector. Her career path was far from straightforward, involving two job losses, roles at six different companies, and experience across various functions including sales, operations, and strategy. In 2020, Kang discovered her aptitude for program
management, which became a turning point in her professional life.
Two years later, Kang noticed an increasing number of people seeking her guidance on program management careers. Recognizing a market need, she decided to launch a coaching business. With a single LinkedIn post in October 2022, Kang announced her new venture, offering sessions to those aspiring to become program managers.
This marked the birth of “Path to PM,” Kang’s side hustle focused on creating career content on LinkedIn and providing online coaching. By the end of 2023, her efforts had yielded impressive results, with a total revenue of about $30,000 and success in helping 10 clients secure jobs. The additional income, matching her take-home pay from her tech job, was a revelation for Kang.
However, the demands of maintaining both her full-time corporate position and her growing side business began to take their toll. Kang found herself working an additional 15 to 20 hours weekly on her venture, leading to burnout by early 2024. She grappled with the decision to leave her stable job, questioning the potential of her business if given her full attention.
A fortuitous opportunity arose when her startup employer offered voluntary departure packages with three months’ pay. After careful consideration and discussions with her husband, Kang decided to bet on herself and her business. In February, she left her corporate role, which had provided an annual salary of $180,000.
Since then, Kang has nearly matched her previous salary through her business. In about eight months, she has generated around $160,000 in revenue. Kang has diversified her income streams, securing brand deals for her content and earning royalties from a LinkedIn Learning course. Her LinkedIn following has grown to approximately 100,000.
To scale her business, Kang transitioned from primarily offering one-on-one coaching to running 5-week group programs. She now dedicates 35 to 45 hours weekly to her business, maintaining similar working hours to her corporate job but with more personal time.
Kang offers four key tips for aspiring entrepreneurs:
1. Identify a need that aligns with your skills and expertise. 2. Create a minimum viable product (MVP) that addresses this need. 3. Continuously refine and scale your offering to maximize efficiency. 4. Maintain discipline and focus on execution.
She emphasizes the importance of addressing market needs rather than solely pursuing personal interests. Kang advocates for creating simple, executable solutions and improving them over time. Her approach involves launching products even when they’re not perfect, focusing on execution and gradual refinement.
Reflecting on her journey, Kang expresses a sense of energy and freedom in her new role. She views her experience as a testament to the power of intentional self-investment and personal growth, encouraging others to pursue their aspirations with purpose and dedication.