Inner Mongolia to Inner Harmony - Rachel Wu’s Journey

Rachel Wu's story begins in urban Inner Mongolia, far from the nomadic stereotypes many imagine. "Classmates would ask if I rode a horse to school—I'd say, 'No, I took the bus like everyone else!'" She laughs. Rachel carried her family's hopes as an only child, especially her mother and grandmother, who pushed her to seek opportunities beyond China's limits. "They showed me what women could lose when society boxes them in. I wanted more." This drive led her to Silicon Valley, where she built a successful tech career—until the burnout became overwhelming. "I was reacting to deadlines, not leading my life. I even hired someone to play with my son on weekends because I was too exhausted."  

The breaking point became a breakthrough. With her unwavering resilience, Rachel quit her stable job to launch a business, combining her eye for design and knowledge of the market. "In a corporate job, problems land on your desk. As an entrepreneur, you learn to anticipate fires before they start." The transition wasn't easy, mainly when global supply chain issues arose, but she adapted. "Panicking won't help. I remind myself: I'm not alone, and resilience is a muscle." Along the way, she rediscovered joy in simplicity: walking her dog twice daily, cooking meals for her son, and even planning her first trip to Coachella ("Lady Gaga's performance is my celebration before baby number two!").  

Rachel's journey in discovering harmony as her beat, 'Follow your heart. The worst case? You can always return to a job—but you'll never know unless you try.' From the grasslands of Inner Mongolia to the chaos of Silicon Valley and the freedom of entrepreneurship, her story resonates with anyone yearning to trade external validation for inner harmony. 'Success now means time with my family and creating something truly mine.'  

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Transcript

Taran Singh:  

Yeah. Welcome to The Mountain in Us, a podcast where the journey gets its voice. I am Taran Singh, your host. Here we greet the thrills, jolts, ascents, and descents of our uncharted adventures.  

Meet Rachel Wu—a tenacious entrepreneur, adventure explorer, loving mom, venture builder, and holistic nurturer. She can perceive beyond the visible horizon, and I’m curious how she balances it all. Let’s get inspired. Rachel, welcome!  

Rachel Wu:  

Thank you, Taran. It’s a great honor to be on your podcast, and I’m very excited to be part of this—connecting people with their true stories.  

Taran:  

Awesome, thank you for coming and making time for us. We’ll go right from Inner Mongolia to Inner Harmony. Let’s kick it off with Inner Mongolia. You grew up there and were born there. Share a little about your true beginnings.  

Rachel:  

Sure. I was born in Inner Mongolia, a small city in northern China. I was the only child in my family, so I carried all my parents’ hopes and support. They were very proud of me and did everything to help me succeed. I did well in school, and at one point, they even moved from our small city to the capital of Inner Mongolia just to give me better education opportunities. School wasn’t super hard for me, and eventually, I came to the U.S. for my master’s degree.  

Taran:  

Tell us about your hometown. Most of us don’t know where Inner Mongolia is—what did it look like? What was the landscape like? How was school? Did you walk there? What did you love most about your town?  

Rachel:  

To many people in China, Inner Mongolia feels like a faraway place. If you picture China as a rooster on a map, we’re at the very back—the far north. It’s famous for grasslands and nomadic culture, but I grew up in the city. It’s all city life! When I went to college, classmates from other provinces would ask, Did you ride a horse to school? Did you learn archery? I’d say, No, I had the same homework as you! I walked or took the bus—just regular city life.  

Taran:  

It’s funny—that’s my perception too! The nomadic culture is so strong there, but your experience was different. As an only child, how does raising two boys compare?  

Rachel:  

It’s different. I had my parents’ and grandparents’ full attention—no sharing resources or feeling jealous. Now, with two kids, the challenge is balancing their needs without favoritism. It’s a learning curve, but I love that they’ll have each other for lifelong support, which I didn’t have.  

Taran:  

Let’s fast-forward to your big move—coming to California. What motivated you to pursue higher education here and land in tech?  

Rachel:  

My mom and grandma encouraged me to seek bigger opportunities. My mom, a math major, faced career limits as a woman in China. She wanted me somewhere with fairness. My grandma, a teacher, lost her job due to societal norms. Their stories pushed me to explore beyond China.  

Taran:  

What was your family’s reaction when you left?  

Rachel:  

My mom was supportive but hesitant. In Chinese culture, children stay nearby to care for parents. The idea of me being oceans away scared her, but she eventually accepted it for my happiness.  

Taran:  

Post-COVID, you left your tech job to follow your “inner compass.” Why was that important? What pushed you?  

Rachel:  

It was a long journey. At first, I was thrilled to be a designer at a tech company—the “perfect path” for a girl from a small town. But over time, I felt stressed and trapped. Silicon Valley was fast-paced; I was reacting to deadlines, not leading my life. Even promotions didn’t help—I was so drained, I ordered takeout daily and hired someone to play with my son on weekends. That’s when I asked, Is this what I want?  

Taran:  

Talk about the decision-making process with your husband.  

Rachel:  

I listed pros and cons. Pros: control over my time, mental health, family moments. Cons: losing a salary and my parents’ approval—they valued stability. My husband was confident in me, and I realized the worst case was a gap year. I’d never taken one—why not try?  

Taran:  

Your venture into custom window treatments—was this a burning passion or a market opportunity?  

Rachel:  

Both! I’ve always loved design, but it wasn’t seen as practical in my culture. During home remodeling, I noticed how expensive and hard-to-find quality window treatments were. I combined that gap with my passion and tech skills, using AI tools for photography and marketing.  

Taran:  

What surprised you about running your business?  

Rachel:  

In a job, problems land on your desk. As an entrepreneur, you anticipate them—like supply chain issues. It’s a shift from reactive to proactive.  

Taran:  

How has your definition of joy changed?  

Rachel:  

Before, I chased what others valued. Now, I cherish simple moments—walking my dog twice a day, cooking for my son. These are mine. Challenges still come, but I tackle them with passion.  

Taran:  

With global trade tensions, how do you cope?  

Rachel:  

First, I remind myself I’m not alone. Short-term: adjust customer communications. Long-term: diversify suppliers and build brand loyalty. Panicking won’t help—adaptability will.  

Taran:  

You’re off to Coachella! Who are you excited to see?  

Rachel:  

Lady Gaga! Her artistry is incredible. Plus, three kid-free days with my best friend—a celebration before my second baby arrives.  

Taran:  

Any closing advice?  

Rachel:  

Follow your heart. For those from similar backgrounds, it’s scary—but try. The worst case? You can always return to a job. But without trying, you’ll never know.  

Taran:  

Thank you, Rachel! Enjoy Coachella, and we’ll have you back soon.  

Outro:  

Thanks for joining The Mountain in Us. If you enjoyed this, share your thoughts or reach out to be a guest. Until next time—keep climbing!