Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian “Cali” Lopez.
Hi Christian “Cali”, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Pacoima and lived there until I was 13. Then life took a big turn. My stepdad’s Canadian, so we packed up and moved to Toronto just as I was starting high school. That’s when people started calling me “Cali.” I was the new kid from California, and the nickname just stuck.
Even after we moved, we stayed super connected to our roots. Every winter break, we flew back to California to visit our huge Mexican-American family. We were the only ones who had moved out of the U.S., and honestly, we really missed our Chicano culture in those early years in Toronto. Those trips back were everything.
I ended up studying at Glendon College, a French-language university in Toronto, and that’s where my love for languages and education really started to bloom. I majored in Linguistics and English, picked up French and Italian, and completely fell for the art of communication. I also got super involved on campus, working as the communications officer for the student newspaper and the DJ liaison for the campus radio station. That’s when I really started to get a taste for media and storytelling.
After graduating, I took a big leap and moved to China to work for Disney English. We taught English through dance, drama, and Disney magic, and it was one of the most fun, eye-opening experiences of my life. I got promoted twice and eventually became the campus manager. Leading a team, especially through the challenges of the pandemic, taught me so much about leadership, empathy, and staying adaptable under pressure.
After Disney English closed, I stayed in China for a few more years managing another language school. But with the long border closures and the realities of building a life as a gay couple there, my partner and I decided it was time to head back to Canada and tie the knot.
Once we were back, I threw myself into building my brand. I started tutoring private students online, became a language and culture coach, and began working with brands as a social media marketer and ambassador. I have partnered with companies like redtag.ca, Veuve Clicquot, Health Canada, Amazon, and Intuit. It has been amazing to combine education and entrepreneurship because it gives me the freedom to do work I care about and help others at the same time.
That journey has now brought me to my latest adventure. I work with a toy sourcing and manufacturing company in Shantou, China, which is basically the toy capital of the country. As an independent contractor, I help develop and design toys and work with companies around the world to bring these products to life. I get to use my language skills daily, helping clients feel confident that they will be understood, no matter where they are from or what language they speak. It is such a cool feeling to help create educational toys that reach kids all over the world, knowing that I am contributing to their growth and development far beyond what I could do in a single classroom.
From being an employee, to becoming self-employed, to now building my own brand, I have learned that time really is the most valuable currency. I am committed to spending mine growing, learning, and sharing my passion with as many people as I can.
These days, I also share my life online, talking about language, culture, and my experiences living in China. That little corner of the internet has turned into something pretty big. I have now built a community of over 40,000 followers across my platforms, and it has opened the door to collaborations with language learning apps, educational software companies, and more. I did not even start posting seriously until I was almost 30, so if there is one thing I have learned, it is that it is never too late to start something new, keep exploring, and bet on yourself.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road. Getting to where I am now has been a real journey, with plenty of bumps along the way. I have lived in LA, Toronto, Valencia, Guangzhou, Nanning, and Chenghai, and every single move meant starting from scratch. New country, new culture, new friends, new everything. It was exciting but also overwhelming at times, and finding my own voice in each place wasn’t always easy.
On top of that, I have ADHD, which made new situations even more intense. When I was a kid and first diagnosed, doctors immediately wanted to put me on medication, which was super common for kids growing up in the 90s. But thankfully, my mom—who has her own experience with mental health—chose a different route. She taught me coping mechanisms instead. Meditation, mindfulness, learning not to obsess over the past or panic about the future. Honestly, that foundation saved me more times than I can count, especially when I was taking risks like leaving a steady paycheck to start my own thing. There were definitely moments where I wondered if I would get a client, make rent, or if I had totally screwed up. My anxiety was always lurking, but my mom’s voice and the skills she taught me kept me moving forward.
Being a gay man in business, especially living in China, has also come with its own set of challenges. There are no legal protections here, and in the beginning, I definitely felt like I had to mask parts of myself at work. I would tone down my natural energy and personality just to fit in, and it honestly felt a lot like being back in high school, pretending to be someone else just to survive. But eventually, I realized that was making everything worse. Hiding who I am just fed my anxiety and held me back. Once I decided to show up fully as myself, everything shifted. I started attracting the right people and opportunities, and I learned that if someone does not want to work with me because of who I love, they are not someone I want in my world anyway.
Getting married to my husband in Canada was a big turning point. Even though in China, legally, we are just “roommates,” our bond and our marriage are real and unshakable. We are hopeful that the future will bring more protections and equality here too, but for now, we are focusing on living fully and fearlessly wherever we are.
And to be real, as a fat brown guy online, I am constantly met with obstacles in an industry that favors thin, blonde faces. But that has never stopped me from posting and sharing my story. I hope that somewhere out there, a young brown gay kid can see me and realize that there is a place for them too, that they are powerful, and that they can push even harder to achieve their dreams. Representation matters, and if I can be that little bit of visibility for someone else, it makes every bump in the road 100% worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work as an independent contractor helping businesses around the world source toys and products from China, especially educational toys that inspire learning and creativity. I specialize in working with small to mid-sized companies that might otherwise feel lost in a saturated industry where big orders from massive brands get all the attention.
What I am most proud of is helping small businesses bring their ideas to life. Whether it is a creator trying to make affordable merch or a company wanting to develop toys for their original characters, I love being the bridge that makes it possible without the stress of language barriers or miscommunication.
What sets me apart is that I take a personal, relationship-first approach. I speak several languages, I understand both Western and Chinese business cultures, and I genuinely care about making sure clients feel heard, respected, and supported every step of the way.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think the toy and product sourcing industry is going to become even more global and personal. Small businesses, independent creators, and influencers are starting to launch their own product lines, and they need sourcing partners who actually care about their vision, not just huge companies placing million-dollar orders. I also see a big shift toward more sustainable and educational products, especially as parents and consumers become more conscious about what they are buying for kids. Technology will definitely keep playing a role too, with more smart toys and interactive learning tools coming into the market. Chinese technology is developing so quickly and I am glad to be here to see the country grow and leverage the efficiency. I believe the future will be about making sourcing more transparent, more accessible, and more human, which is exactly what I am passionate about bringing to the table.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.calilopezz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calilbohemian
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianharolopez
- Twitter: www.tiktok.com/@calilopezz
