Hidden Gems: Meet Juliette Wang of Here*

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliette Wang.

Hi Juliette, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m originally from Taiwan, but spent the majority of my childhood in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. My parents still reside in the hustle and bustle of Saigon but the rest of my extended family all live in Taiwan. So, I grew up with the luxury of spending time in both places whilst being able to explore new countries. This was the root of my love for seeing the world and capturing it.

I graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art in Graphic Design with a huge love for digital design, within products and apps. Between moves from coast to coast, several design studios and agencies, collaborating with a variety of clients later, I moved back to NYC to downtown Brooklyn for a Master’s program in Strategic Design and Management at Parsons. Upon graduating, I got a Job at Google as an Interaction Designer, where I currently work, creating the next generation of shopping experiences on Search.

I’m now residing in sunny Los Angeles, spending my weekends working on Here*, a passion project that was started back in Portland, created at the intersection of everything I love: designing and building products, new challenges, entrepreneurship, traveling, community, and exploring new restaurants and neighborhoods. I work with two close friends with a mission to inspire people to reflect and share their favorite spots with people they love.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been hard, especially being an international student in the US. There is an added layer on top of the typical challenges in the conventional path of getting a job after graduating from undergrad and seeking companies who hire employees who need a visa sponsorship. It felt like I had to work harder than other people and sacrifice some of the fun or downtime. Or when I was forced to figure out a backup plan and stop working for my first job because I didn’t get the visa lottery. But it all worked out in the end, and I wouldn’t change anything for the world. Everything I experienced has built me into who I am today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Here* (@itshere.app) is an app for people to discover and share their favorite spots in a city through ‘city playlists’. It emphasizes curation by people and friends who like the same things as you! It’s designed so that you have a little sidekick when you’re stuck on where to go for the weekend or a trip; not only can you search for lists of people you like, but also the app will suggest a spot based on what you like!

I’m the co-founder and CEO of the app with my two close friends, Ekin and Remy. Our app is different because it’s community-based and intentionally curated. The app will learn your tastes and interests as you use it more and you can have all your travel favorites in one place. I’m proud that we’re able to create something simple and fun that everyone would find helpful to implement into their life. It is something we’re perfecting right now so we would love any support, thoughts, or ideas sent our way.

Here’s an example of a city playlist: https://itshere.app/hyejin21/best-weekend-spots

And here’s a little survey we would love for you to fill: https://forms.gle/f2dwpemLBps1HSqXA

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love how big the city is – there is so much you can do and neighborhoods to explore depending on your mood. There’s the beach, hikes, and just a drive away from the desert or snowy mountains! Obviously, the weather is great and I can’t ever be sick of the palm trees and sun. I also love the people here and hanging out with friends on the weekends, exploring the hidden gems of the city.

What I dislike is also how far everything is. I love that we can go on nice drives and it feels great and freeing but when traffic hits, I really wish I could be in the subway on my phone (coming from New York).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://itshere.app/
• Instagram: instagram.com/juliettewang
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/98795190/
• Other: https://forms.gle/UZzBYgkQTVVc2kqG8