What happens when you follow the “perfect” career path… and realize it isn’t actually yours?
In this episode of Quiet the Clock, Beth Gulotta sits down with Ava Lee, founder of the skincare brand byAVA, to talk about the bold pivot that changed her life. Raised in an Asian household where academic success and traditional career paths were the expectation, Ava spent years pursuing the definition of success she believed she was supposed to want. After moving to the United States for college, she went on to build a prestigious career in investment banking. On paper, everything looked perfect. But internally, something didn’t feel aligned. Ava shares the pivotal moment that pushed her to leave finance behind and pursue her passion for skincare and holistic wellness. She opens up about navigating cultural expectations, stepping outside of her comfort zone, and building a business rooted in the philosophy of glowing from the inside out. Beth and Ava also discuss the personal side of ambition, including Ava’s decision to freeze her eggs and how she navigated societal timelines while building a life on her own terms.
This conversation explores career reinvention, identity, cultural pressure, and what it really means to create a life that feels authentic.
We Also Talk About:
Ava Lee’s career journey from finance to the beauty industry
The influence of family expectations and cultural background on career choices
Challenges and toxic environment in the finance industry
The decision to transition from a structured career to entrepreneurship
The fear of judgment and societal expectations
The challenges faced as an entrepreneur and influencer
The development of Ava Lee’s skincare brand, ByAVA, and its focus on holistic health and inner glow
Personal experiences with egg freezing and the assumptions made by others
The importance of sharing personal experiences to help others navigate similar challenges
About Our Guest:
Ava Lee, Content Creator & CEO of byAVA
Born in Seoul and raised in Shanghai, two of biggest beauty capitals of the world, skincare and wellness was ingrained in Ava from an early age. Ava’s passion and knowledge for beauty was adopted from her mother who practiced beauty holistically- from what she put into her body to what she put on her skin.
Ava started @glowwithava as a creative outlet from her job in finance where she could share her passion and knowledge of skincare and beauty. In a short period of time, it became evident that @glowwithava was becoming a source of inspiration and education for those wanting to start their own skincare journeys. From teaching her fans how to do at-home facial massage for facial sculpting to sharing anti-aging traditional Chinese tea recipes to achieve #jelloskin, Ava’s content is absolutely addicting for beauty aficionados.
Ava is now on to her next endeavor @byava, an inner beauty brand with values that very much align with #jelloskin and feeling good in the inside to glow on the outside.
Instagram – glowwithava
YouTube – glowwithava
TikTok – glowwithava
Website – glowwithava.com
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