Today we’d like to introduce you to Van Thu Nguyen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My experience in brand building dates as far back as my sophomore year in high school. The first brand I ever created was the à la mode club (fashion club), which means the most modern style or fashion. La Quinta high school’s first fashion club allowed me to produce fashion shows with a team of seamstresses, fashion designers, and models. To cover the cost of fabric and materials, my members and I made and sold beaded jewelry. Eventually, I passed the baton.
The second brand was a personal one, Kitane. It was my model alias/alter ego that began in 2001. I knew I needed a unique, memorable name and one that didn’t require people to know my last name. To my surprise, it worked! People referred to me on a first-name basis. Later I became an art muse featured in art shows, hair salons and walked on the runway for iconic fashion designers. Having an alter ego allowed me to step into a character. I was timid and quiet; my alter ego gave me the courage to be in the spotlight. Every few years, I would reinvent myself.
Fast forward to my mid-twenties, I transitioned to be an event assistant for an entertainment PR firm in Beverly Hills for their special events division. That’s where I got to work with the world’s most recognized brands. I helped out at The Playboy Mansion for a poker tournament hosted by Ryan Seacrest from KIIS FM, numerous events with special appearances by the Kardashians, the Black Eyed Peas, and the Twilight movie cast, a Las Vegas Spring Bling event assisting All-4-One for their new single release “My Child,” and an Every Monday Matters fundraiser hosted by Forest Whitaker. It didn’t matter my role; I always strived for excellence and went over and beyond my call of duty. I worked my way up to project manager. That was when I finally got to flex my creative muscles. I oversaw big projects and the creative team from logos to graphic design work to event logistics. I loved my new role.
Soon after, in 2016, I launched my first company, messageNOW, a geeky chic boutique PR firm with the tagline “we effectively get your message out!” In 2018, I received certifications in Life Coaching at The Academy of Modern, Applied Psychology, and Career Coaching. When I ventured off to Washington state, I had co-created a Pacific Northwest brand with Human Potential Coach Steven Williams called PNW Biohackers. Our mission was to simplify the art of biohacking and make it more accessible. As strategic partners and Co-Organizers of Biohackers Collective, a global community-based brand, we were able to do just that by fostering health, knowledge, and community. We grew our Meetup group by 43% in just six months to 700 members. Proudly, we consistently had more event attendees than RSVPs. We teamed up with local health and wellness companies to raise brand awareness, got subject matter experts to speak at our events, and through our sponsorship outreach, we got our members great deals and free products/services. That opened doors to public speaking and podcast interviews on the topic of biohacking and healing. After I moved back to California in 2020, I received mentorship from Jim Lee, my leadership coach at B-Spoke, LLC, as a member and cohort of the National Association of Asian American Professionals Los Angeles Chapter (NAAAP LA). After all of that I was finally ready to formally be a personal empowerment coach. Thank heaven for Alexandr Kislitsyn, with his encouragement and help I found the courage to launch my YouTube channel, Revival You. My role at Revival You LLC is to be a catalyst in life and business.
That same year, my good friend Calvin Kim, a PR Pro/product spokesperson for Porsche Cars, explained what I do for people, “you’re a brand builder.” After researching and learning brand builders lead and grow brands, I felt compelled to rebrand messageNOW to Envisionary Studio. Now I’m a Brand Builder providing solutions that accelerate goal achievement for clients.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It was as smooth as the rocky mountains. That’s why my icon logo has a mountain in it. The launch of my own business was met with a lot of backlash from my family. It was not uncommon for friends and family to misunderstand me for thinking differently. When people say the way up is lonely, that was true at first, until I found a like-minded supportive and driven circle of friends. These obstacles were blessings in disguise. Why? Because I discovered who my real friends and family are, I developed resilience and courage, I increased adaptability, found my true self, and became more empathetic. That made me more equipped to empower others. If it wasn’t for all of that, I might not have discovered biohacking or become the person I am proud of today. My family’s abandonment and forfeiting my belongings in 2016 sparked a new way of living, minimalism and ambition. I adopted the philosophy, “be like water,” and realistic optimism from that moment on. Life is not easy, but that’s ok. Adversity builds character. I am grateful for the bad experiences because I discovered my strengths, passions, and learned how to make myself happy on my entrepreneurial journey despite how hard it has been.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Envisionary Studio provides an optimistic future for our clients through unequaled business, branding, social, and marketing. A lot of our philosophies are much like a utopia. We focus on solutions that deliver results to move clients closer to their ideal future.
My team of envisionaries handles business consulting, brand development, marketing, public relations, social media, directory listings (Yelp, Google Maps, and other industry and local listings), workspace, streamline team communications, web design, and sometimes things in between, such as producing a photoshoot and event planning. I am known for working with personal development, music, film, health-driven, and biohacking brands. Sometimes even authors.
What sets me apart is my refined eye for detail, 360-degree branding approach with a full view of business, reinvention life skills, learning agility, mentoring and coaching background, and experience in many industries. I balance the big picture and details, passion and reality. These things provide the foundation for me to execute plans that lay out the wisest path to success. 360-degree branding is holistic and considers the business as a whole, creating a united and positive image. It’s customer-centric online and offline and puts my clients in touch and visible with customers at all times. This approach discourages customers from going to a competitor. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” is locked in my subconscious. I treat every client like a VIP at a party. My aim is always to simplify my client’s life and help them avoid pitfalls. I’m a resourceful problem solver, so if I don’t have the solution, someone in my network does.
I’m most proud that I’ve been able to over deliver on 95% of the projects, which has earned me great testimonials. One client exceeded sales goals after a social media contest I project managed. In working with my client’s team, together, we got eleven sponsors instead of the nine we had aimed for. After updating LinkedIn and some career coaching, one person landed the job she wanted in less than two months. My author client told me she spoke to many people who do what I do, but I stood out in our consultation, and expressed how happy she is with her decision to go with me. Her testimonial, “Van Thu Nguyen at Envisionary Studio is a true winner. As a first-time author, I needed direction in every area in order to promote myself. Van not only immediately understood my needs and coached me at every step along the way, but also created a beautiful website and social media platform for me as well as helping me with brand consulting. She is extremely responsive, organized, passionate and knowledgeable. I was very lucky to have found her. Van puts a 110% in everything she does. I enjoy working with her and will continue to move forward in the right direction with Van.”
Revival You is an empowerment coaching brand and vlog on YouTube. I have plans to release meditation music with a music producer and an eCommerce store. I’m most proud of the time my first YouTube video “5 Things To Know Before Launching a Business” received 463 thumbs up and made it to the number three spot on Google search engine in the video section out of 818 million search results right under CNBC and Forbes. It was uncomfortable to break free of perfectionism and get used to hearing and seeing myself speak on camera. Where discomfort lies, growth occurs.
What makes you happy?
Being able to help other people live happier and healthier. Whether that is being a growth catalyst to reach their goals faster, giving them strength to overcome difficult times, supporting them in their endeavors, being their number one cheerleader, just knowing I add value makes me happy. I love it when one conversation can make a difference in someone’s life; I feel like I’m living my purpose every day.
I grew up always being there for other people, and it would make me happy knowing I made them happy. I was a people pleaser back then. And somehow, I’ve turned that into a healthy career.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://envisionarystudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanrevival
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamVanRevival
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/vanrevival
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RevivalYou
- Other: https://www.revivalyou.com
