I was on my way to try and get into med school and thought I had it all figured out. But, as it turns out, my path wasn’t always clear. In fact, I ended up taking a pretty unorthodox route to get to where I am today, running JH LAW – the commercial, corporate, and property law firm I started at 30.

I grew up in Rotorua, a beautiful place, with a very interesting smell. My family bought a massive farm there, with over 100 horses. We’d take groups out for horse riding, farm tours, and just share a bit of Kiwi life with people from all over the world. That’s it, aye – the world is massive. There are 8 billion people, 195 countries, and 18 free trade agreements between NZ and some of its top export partners. There is a lot of possibilities out there. Plus now with technology, you could work in a role that impacts people all over the world, sometimes without even leaving your house.

I always loved English and debating – I was better with words. But there I was in a University lab, counting cells and mixing test tubes. I remember my mum would even lock me in my room to learn my ABCs until I got them perfect. I would have been six years old, only spoke Chinese, and had a lot to catch up on. My family believed in pushing for academic success, and still do! But that’s another story.

Fast forward a bit, and I took another leap – I went to business school and got my MBA. While there, I worked on this project commercialising a medical eye solution for people with keratoconus, a medical condition involved the thinning of the cornea causing vision issues. So biomedical science and business school – I thought, maybe this is where I’ll find my place.

At the time, I still felt lost, like I was wasting time doing all these different degrees without a clear direction. But looking back, I can see how each step taught me something that has shaped who I am today. To employers, those unique experiences set me apart.

When people look to hire, when I look to hire, we’re not just searching for grades; we’re looking for the person behind your qualifications. I’m a Taiwanese girl who grew up mucking out stables and showing people around farms from a young age. People remember those stories and experiences beyond the classroom. Grades matter, yes, but what sets you apart from the hundreds of other people that got an excellence in English are the unique parts of your life.

So if you’re feeling unsure about your path or a bit overwhelmed, just know that I think that’s completely normal. You should leverage each life experience, and present it to the world as your Unique Selling Proposition (also handy business school lingo).

Fast forward to 2021, lockdown, I started JH LAW, I became a business owner – my own boss! It sounds incredible, right? And it is – but it’s also a roller coaster, with its own wins and challenges. Some days, I get to call the shots and carry my vision; other days, I’m juggling unexpected obstacles and making tough decisions.

So I don’t think everyone necessarily wants to be a business owner, and honestly, not everyone should. There are so many other fulfilling paths out there. You could be the executive of a huge organisation, making major decisions, influencing change, and, let’s be real, probably earning more than many small or medium-sized business owners! If Johnson & Johnson came calling, asking me to be their Chief Legal Officer, I might even consider it (just kidding, I love JH LAW).

But my point being – success doesn’t only come from running your own business. You can have a massive impact as part of a larger organisation, with resources and reach that a smaller business could only dream of. What I think really matters is finding work and experiences that excite you, to trust your gut.

Today I see many of your generation facing some intense pressures – from studies to a rapidly changing world. I see you caring about what’s going on around you, your community, the world. It’s very mindful, very demure, very cutesy. 

Caring so much, will have a toll on mental well-being. I’d like to touch on mental well-being, as that can be an easy one to ignore, especially if people around you seem to be doing fine. Early on in my journey with JH LAW, I felt the pressures of running a business solo. I was often juggling expectations and felt like I had to downplay my experience – as if I hadn’t earned my place yet.

But a few years back, I met with the CEO of one of New Zealand’s biggest law firms. He agreed to have coffee with me, and I remember, I kept saying things like, “Oh, I’m only young”, or “I’ve only done a few things in law”. He looked at me and said, “Janey, you don’t need to do that. Just own what you’ve done, own what you’ve got.” That moment stuck with me. I realised that the doubt, my doubt, was just holding me back from being confident in what I’d achieved. He’s now a really good contact and mentor to me.

I now encourage people to have others around who can remind you of your strengths and help lift you up. Hopefully you have people like that around you too. For me, I find myself much more willing to help others when I can see that they’re genuinely passionate about something.

As you leave high school, social media will continue. So my advice there is, if you’re not doing so already, start positioning yourself on social media for future opportunities. Employers, organisations and networks are all online these days, so why not take this chance to showcase who you are? Show that you have fun and enjoy life – but you do it respectfully.

Employers like us notice whether you show a sense of responsibility, care about others, and how well you would fit within our existing teams. Social media is one of the easiest ways to set yourself up for opportunities that align with who you really are.

The world has changed, and there is much opportunity for you to make your own mark. Here’s to your future.