A Journey of Resilience, Vision, and Global Impact

“Winnie” is more than just a name—it represents a life I chose for myself. It marks the distinction between my life in Taiwan and my life in Canada. While my Taiwanese family and friends know me by my given name, Chia-Hsiu (嘉綉), my life in Canada was built as Winnie. This change of name signifies more than a geographic shift; it represents a transformation—a life forged from resilience, determination, and continual growth.

I grew up in Taiwan as the eldest of three daughters in a society where boys were still valued more than girls. My family background was a study in contrasts: my father’s side was affluent with a legacy in the medical field, while my mother came from a poorer farming family. Witnessing my mother’s struggles firsthand shaped my worldview early on. It drove a relentless internal need to prove that girls could achieve just as much, if not more, than boys. I threw myself into everything—seven years of private piano lessons, speech competitions, writing, art, and athletics. I refused to let societal expectations dictate my future.

But at age 20, the foundation cracked. My family’s financial situation collapsed. My parents divorced, our properties were sold, and my mother’s business went bankrupt. We went from being homeowners to renters burdened with significant debt. My dream of pursuing a master’s degree in England vanished overnight. While my cousins were sent abroad for their education, I was left to make it on my own.

A childhood friend suggested immigrating to Canada. At 22, fresh out of college, I decided to take the leap. I worked tirelessly for a year at an international architecture firm, putting in 14-hour days, seven days a week, just to build my résumé and save money. In 1998, I flew to Seattle for my immigration interview, barely able to afford the trip. By 2000, I arrived in Winnipeg with just $3,000 and two suitcases, with no financial support from my family.

My first job in Canada was in Vancouver, making $12 an hour at a landscape architecture firm. Eventually, family responsibilities called me back to Taiwan, where I pivoted from architecture to teaching English. I earned a TESOL diploma and opened my own language school. At its height, we had 13 teachers, three staff members, and corporate training contracts with major companies. I was driving over 200 kilometers daily. By 2007, after years of nonstop work, I suffered a nervous breakdown. I handed the business to a partner and returned to Montreal to recover from severe burnout.

Montreal was a fresh start, but a difficult one. I enrolled in a government-funded French language program, spending 14 months learning the language while struggling to pay my mortgage. In 2011, I attempted to enroll in a real estate program but failed because my French simply wasn’t strong enough yet. I was knocked down again, but I refused to give up.

By 2013, I enrolled in a CEGEP program for immigrant architects—an intense French-language course. Near the end of the program, I discovered I was pregnant. I took a managerial position to support my family while attending classes at night. My daughter was born in December 2014. During my maternity leave, I launched my third business venture, which successfully placed products in Costco across Canada.

In 2017, when my daughter was two and a half, my relationship ended. I became a single mother with full custody. With my back against the wall, I revisited my dream of real estate. Having previously failed, this time I passed with flying colors. As a single mother with no family support in Canada, I worked up to 19 hours a day, taking my daughter to open houses and client meetings because I couldn’t afford childcare. By 2020, I was ranked in the top 3% of brokers in Quebec.

The ascent from there was rapid. In 2022, I obtained my Agency Executive Officer (AEO) permit and opened my own real estate agency. That same year, I was accepted into Harvard Business School’s Real Estate Management program. In 2023, I completed Harvard’s AMDP in Real Estate, leading a team that won awards for a land development project in Toronto. In July 2024, I presented “Silver Wanderluxe Living” at Harvard, officially becoming a Harvard alumna. Two months later, I began my Executive MBA at McGill-HEC.

Why the EMBA? The desire traces back to my family’s financial crisis years earlier. I saw an MBA as a way to solve problems and advance my career, but I didn’t have the chance then. Now, it consolidates all my experiences and knowledge as I build a full-service international real estate advisory firm.

“The game is only over when you give up.” I firmly believe women are as capable as men, if not more so. I have frequently been the only woman at the negotiation table. Instead of acting like a man, I learned to use the unique advantages of being a woman and incorporate them into my leadership approach. I also believe that everyone deserves a chance—or a second chance—if they sincerely ask for it.

My hard work and accumulation of wealth stemmed from the challenges I faced when I had nothing. As I often say, “Money is not everything, but you can’t do anything without it.” Today, my focus is on helping others build and protect their wealth through strategic real estate investment, ensuring they have the freedom to live life on their own terms.