Today we’d like to introduce you to Helen Zhao
Helen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, I wanted to be a writer of fiction novels. For me, writing was a form of therapeutic catharsis, a way for me to explore my inner world. Once I got to college, I became much more curious about the world around me and about others’ stories. I discovered my love of journalism. My struggles to find a job and pay my bills after graduating from a prestigious university are what planted the seed for my interest in business journalism. I believe business journalism is helping to fill a gap in the education system. Students are often taught things like Shakespeare and differential equations, and nothing about how to actually survive in the real world. I worked as a digital video journalist at CNBC for five years, primarily covering personal finance and entrepreneurship. In 2022, I quit my dream job to pursue my longtime dream of traveling the world full-time for 1.5 years. It was an immensely eye-opening journey that I believe makes me a much better journalist. I came home in March 2024, and am now a senior digital video producer, covering tech and investing for Moniify, a digital business news platform launching in November, that aims to empower the next generation of business leaders and young professionals in emerging markets.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all. The journalism industry is notoriously unstable, competitive, and cutthroat. I did not discover my passion for journalism until my senior year of college, wasting a lot of time I could have spent interning and networking. I really struggled to break into the industry. In my first two years out of college, I was unemployed for a cumulative total of about one year. I also spent a year working $10/hour internships. I often asked myself whether I should give up and pursue a more stable profession, but there was a burning passion that wouldn’t let me throw in the towel. I was working 70 hours a week trying to balance a full-time job and push forward in my goals.
My career really blossomed after I arrived at CNBC in 2017, and I felt that all my hard work and struggle was paying off. My dreams came true and I thought my career was set. Then I quit in 2022 to travel the world for 1.5 years and left on very good terms with my former employer, with the potential to return. But when I got back in 2024, the industry had gone through thousands more lay-offs and I again could not find a job for about 6 months. I started doubting my career choice again and questioned leaving the industry, like countless of my peers have done. Eventually, I landed a great job with Moniify, a very well-funded start-up based in Dubai, that is backed by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris. I also started my own YouTube channel, covering money and happiness. For now, things are going well in my career, but as a journalist, you never know if and when that could change. And I’ve realized it’s important to have an exit strategy in place, in case things do.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a digital video journalist, I specialize in producing 5 – 15 min explainer videos for the Internet, covering all things money. At CNBC, I focused on covering personal finance and entrepreneurship. That ranged from videos about how to build an ESG investing portfolio to why you spend so much money at Trader Joes. At Moniify, I’m breaking down the latest trends in tech and how to benefit as an investor. I’m especially doubling down on coverage of artificial intelligence. I think what sets me apart is my ability to tell stories in a way that is engaging and crystal clear, and that forms an emotional connection with the audience.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I was extremely lucky during Covid and actually benefitted more from the crisis, than was hurt by it. I think I just realized how grateful I should be, compared with so many others. I was able to keep my job the entire time as well as relocate from NYC back to California, where I’m from. I was in a long-distance relationship with my partner, and we were able to reunite. I also took some road trips through beautiful nature destinations in the USA, while working remotely. The pandemic actually gave me the flexibility to be with my loved ones and to see parts of the country I’d always wanted to see, but couldn’t because I had to be in the office in Midtown Manhattan 5 days a week.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://helenjennifer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenjzhao/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@helenjzhao
