Article Author: Lesean, MetaEra

Growth: Stories in the Eyes, No Frost on the Face

In the workplace, she is decisive and efficient; in life, she is carefree, natural, and charming. The approachable and innovative traits of an Aquarius, along with decades of continuous learning and fitness, make her not only appear youthful and lively but also full of energy in thought and action.

"At the halfway point of my life, I look back. I have completed two master's degrees and am currently pursuing a doctorate. I have lived in seven cities across four continents. I have experienced eight years as a senior manager and eight years as a cyclical entrepreneur." When discussing "growth" with the reporter, Jessica spoke slowly, her eyes filled with stories as if everything was right in front of her. "My life has always been about saying goodbye to the past. Every time I ask myself, 'If life is repetitive, should you make a change?' - often at that moment, I already have the answer. In fact, the few key turning points in our lives usually happen outside of our plans. To find the source of motivation, we need to wisely recognize our limitations during times of great change and have the courage to say goodbye to our former selves, facing the new unknown with composure."

Turning Point: If You Haven't Seen the World, How Can You Talk About Worldview?

"I love to share a saying with my friends: 'If you haven't seen the world, how can you talk about worldview?'" Jessica continued, "The ancients taught us, 'Read thousands of books, travel thousands of miles, and make friends from all directions.' In fact, what we see, what we aspire to, the heights we reach, the careers we have pursued, the wealth we have created, and the friends we have made… this is our world."

When asked about "turning points in life," Jessica replied, "Looking back over the past decade, from a values perspective, studying and settling in the U.S. for graduate school was one of the important turning points in my life. It reshaped my value system based on multiculturalism, inclusivity, freedom, and equality, allowing me to follow my heart and do the right thing without confusion or worry in every subsequent choice. From a career perspective, entering the Web3 industry and meeting a group of amazing entrepreneurial partners was another significant turning point. It opened an accelerated path for a Chinese immigrant across the ocean and made my journey as a cyclical entrepreneur particularly steadfast and composed. Now, returning to Hong Kong to start a business and study, I know this will be another exciting turning point. 'After wandering for half a lifetime, returning still feels youthful.' I remain sincere and ambitious, but now I can better understand this world and possess greater strength. I want to do even better things, and I will definitely succeed."

Challenges: Female Leaders Should Be Brave to Be Themselves

When asked about the challenges faced by female leaders, Jessica shared, "People often say that humility and peace are virtues of women, but in the career arena, women cannot benefit from these virtues. You see, in the workplace, what usually suits us best is work where we are only competent for less than half of the tasks. Only then will you have the space to learn and continuously improve until you are fully competent. If you have already reached 90% competence in your work, it's time to trigger change and seek a more challenging opportunity. Whether or not you feel you have 100% ability to try for a higher position or lead a new project, you should bravely lean in and challenge yourself."

"The real opponent in life is oneself." Perhaps this is why Jessica bravely makes changes time and again. From traditional industries to Web3, from a professional manager to a cyclical entrepreneur, from New York to Hong Kong, she has never stopped at merely obtaining and possessing, nor has she been limited by her identity as a woman. On the contrary, she believes that the Web3 industry offers more opportunities for women. "Compared to traditional industries, the Web3 sector is less rigid, creating more opportunities for women to enter senior positions. If you have your own area of expertise, such as product design, marketing operations, data analysis, or financial management, joining early and maintaining rapid learning and growth will provide many opportunities to become an industry OG or a corporate executive. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that the Web3 industry tends to offer flexible working arrangements, which helps women better balance work responsibilities and family duties. After working in Hong Kong, I found that the working women here are independent, career-oriented, well-educated, and financially strong," Jessica continued, "but in Eastern culture, most men take the pursuit of wealth and power for granted, treating their careers as life itself. Women need to better manage multiple roles, achieving a dynamic balance between family and career over the long term. This requires them to be braver in being themselves and managing multiple roles well."

Achievements: Passion Can Resist the Long Years

When asked about achievements and plans, Jessica smiled and said, "I like the word planning, but I don't love making plans. Because simply making a [plan] is not enough; what matters more is achieving [results]. The most scarce resource in our lives is time. By being [goal]-oriented, managing our resources and energy well, we can leverage the time lever." Speaking of achievements, she added, "I am fortunate that MetaEra achieved tenfold business growth and doubled valuation growth in 2024. Over the past year, we have found the right strategies and positioning for the company and made significant achievements in both marketing and conference services. This is the result of the team's collective efforts."

"If we talk about the small goals for 2025," she continued, "the following will definitely be in my top three: First, the innovative technology business line of MetaEra should be smoothly established, with the company achieving at least another 100% revenue growth and more than double valuation growth; second, during my doctoral studies, I will systematically organize and iterate my theoretical knowledge framework and apply it to Web3 business practice cases; third, during my time in Hong Kong, I hope to spend more time and occasions with my mother."

When discussing hobbies, Jessica's response was also impressive: "Focus and simplicity are the secrets to my happy life, allowing me to have more time for important things. Deep reading and independent thinking are essential; communicating with high-cognition individuals from different cultural backgrounds is important and deserves a certain proportion of time; no matter how busy I am, I will set aside relatively stable time for fitness, as good physical health gives me more energy and efficiency."

"If I am lucky enough to have a whole vacation, I will go skiing," Jessica said with a smile, as the March sunshine bathed her, as if she were already standing on a pristine, vast snowfield.

About Jessica

Jessica is currently the CEO of MetaEra. She was a co-founder and COO of the digital currency trading platform BitMart and was responsible for supply chain financial product management at the BOCE (China Bohai Commodity Exchange).

Jessica holds a master's degree in finance from Johns Hopkins University and is a doctoral student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.