Lillian Zhang, a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Silicon Valley, is changing what it looks like to be financially thriving. She’s paving the way for a new generation in the digital era. As the only child of immigrant parents, she found her entrepreneurial roots in middle school. Since then, she’s used that desire to write compellingly about business to create several creative and profitable businesses. Zhang does pretty well, taking in $1.1 million a year through her photography business. In addition to that, she makes another $245,000 from her social media side hustle, demonstrating the power of Gen-Z entrepreneurship.
Zhang’s entrepreneurial spirit started at an early age. With her mom’s sewing machine, she began making plush animals and sold them at school and on the internet. By the time she was 12, she had tapped into her entrepreneurial side. She began to film her plushies on Youtube and share her artistic designs, motivation and invention with the world. That decision changed the path of her career, launching her into the exciting and challenging world of online marketing and growing e-commerce businesses.
During her time at the University of California, Berkeley, Zhang didn’t stray from her interest in business. She even ran a number of e-commerce businesses, buying products from AliExpress and reselling them on TikTok and Instagram. That first UX experience would be foundational for how she viewed digital marketing and customer engagement overall.
Clearly, Zhang’s hard work and passion have landed her an opportunity of a lifetime. Today, she boasts over 260,000 followers across various social media platforms where she shares insights on career development and personal finance. Her skills and track record as an influencer have helped her largely support herself with about $245,000 per year from brand partnerships and collaborations.
Zhang Zhang has created a successful social media-centric photography career in parallel to her advocacy work. This creative venture generates a staggering $1.1 million of earned revenue annually. This twin-track strategy is a testament to her multifaceted talents. It illustrates the opportunity for fiscal prosperity through multiple streams of income.
Zhang shows an admirable ability to work hard. She invests 60 to 70 hours a week, managing as possible her fulltime labor at a top technology firm with her entrepreneurial pursuits. She’s convinced small, repeated efforts add up in the long run, earning big dividends both in life and in business. It’s this philosophy that has seen her through Arnold’s darkest hours and their highest achievements.
As she continues to make strides in her career, Zhang is preparing to release a book titled “The New Money Rules: The Gen Z Guide to Personal Finance,” which is set to be published in November. In this book, she aims to offer practical advice tailored specifically for her generation, drawing from her own experiences as a young entrepreneur navigating financial landscapes.
Zhang’s story is an individual success story built on a common American narrative of hard work and perseverance. It highlights how members of Gen Z are proactively shaping their financial futures. Her story is transforming the lives of millions of young people. They are working towards economic freedom beyond their years, in a world that is constantly changing.