Every other week, Lead. Empower. Grow Podcast features interviews from entrepreneurs who lead productive teams that empower their communities and grow successful businesses of their own.
This week’s guest is Holly Or, a Senior Associate who runs her business out of Charlotte, North Carolina. She spoke to us about the importance of representation — both onstage at FFS events and through building her own team of women who give back to their Cambodian community.
See below for an excerpt of our conversation — you can listen to the full episode here.
What was your life like before you built your business with FFS?
In the beginning, Polly Outhay and Ali Bouasavatdy had approached me about the business opportunity — but at the time, I was in the transition. It’s all about timing, you know.
My previous company had recently been bought by another company, so I took that opportunity and moved to Colorado. A year later, I lost the job. I said, “Okay, it’s a sign. I have to do something for myself.”
I remembered Polly and Ali’s offer, and went to get my life insurance license. I studied in one week, and I went to get my license the following week.
Before we started recording, we were talking about your experience at events like Leaders Convention. Can you tell us a little about why you look forward to FFS events?
I just love going to Leaders Convention. I never want to miss any. I would drag everybody there if I could. It’s very motivating to see people who look like me find success.
I am trying to get my new associate to go with me to LC22. Because they are new, it is very important for them to attend these types of events. Seeing people be successful is so important and so inspiring.
It’s very motivating to see people who look like me find success.
Polly and Ali are powerhouses — we just heard from them on the podcast a few weeks ago. Tell us a little bit about your experience on their team.
Polly — she’s my coach — is a real go-getter. If I need to go to the field, she says “Let’s go, Holly. Whether you want me to go or not, I’m coming with you.” And I need that. I like that.
Seeing Ali and Polly, seeing Victoria, getting to see all these powerful women find success, I think, “Why not me too?”
I just love going to Leaders Convention. I never want to miss any. I would drag everybody there if I could.
Most of my team is made up of women, and I’m building it that way because I want to give them the chance to be the best they can be. And I want to help the community — especially the Cambodia community.
I started school in the seventh grade. I didn’t even know my ABCs when my family came to the United States. I don’t let that hold me back. My mom raised me with an entrepreneurial spirit: stand up for yourself; go after what you want. Our community has only a small amount of financial professionals, so that’s what I’m building in North Carolina.
I started school in the seventh grade. I didn’t even know my ABCs when we came to the United States. I don’t let that hold me back.
Listen to our full conversation with Holly for more valuable insight on the power of representation and entrepreneurship.
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