Introducing Irene Yu: Berliner, Business Coach, and Founder of Female Entrepreneur & Me
New series alert! As the pandemic carries on, once in awhile I’m going to be virtually sitting down with a small business owner in Berlin. I’m still toying with all the details, but I want to make an effort to give more local businesses support when and where I can, as well as give them a chance to talk about themselves and their connection to Berlin. Welcome to Introducing: Berliner.
To kick things off, I recently got a chance to talk with Irene Yu: founder of Female Entrepreneur & Me (FEM), Feminutes, online business coach, and all around knowledgeable and personable business woman. Her goal is to help purpose-driven female business owners turn their passions into an online business.
Originally from Taiwan, and now based in Berlin, where she’s been for the past decade or so, she uses her insight as an immigrant to especially focus on coaching women who are building businesses outside of their home countries. Much of her work with FEM started off as being geared towards Mandarin speaking people in order to focus most on helping people from her home country. In recent months she’s begun to focus more on English based content. Let’s get acquainted with the person behind Female Entrepreneur & Me.
“I think that my strongest clients value community and understand the importance of learning from others.”
Irene & Her Business
Could you give us a few sentences about who you are regarding what you represent and your business?
I am an entrepreneur turned online business coach. I help female entrepreneurs start and grow their online business, and I especially focus on helping expats. I know what it’s like to start a business, I know how much harder it can be when you’re in a foreign place, and I know I can help. I really feel like all of this is my purpose.
You are a very confident and self-motivated person with a number of successful businesses, although you are currently just focusing on FEM. Can you recommend any books or media to help those of us who want a little inspiration?
I really enjoy listening to podcasts, more so than reading these days. I think it’s a great way to consume content you’re interested in. Also if you’re interested in a book, but you’re not sure if it’s worth the read, you can oftentimes find video and podcast interviews of the author, and get a solid understanding of their message. I still enjoy reading, but if I want to get a quick introduction to a topic then that’s a great way to make it happen. There’s quite a few podcasts I recommend, I think Marie Forleo and Amy Porterfield are great to start off with.
You named your business: Female Entrepreneur & Me. What made you decide to niche down specifically to female entrepreneur expats?
When I originally started coaching I felt most connected to my female and expat clients. I knew that I could help the most people if I niched down to a group of people that I can relate to so much.
Since FEM is still so new, how do you define success with your clients? Or is that something you figure out more as time goes on?
Simply starting your business, developing a long term plan, and staying consistent makes up the roots of success in any business, online or not. Although success can only truly be defined by the business owner themselves, when my clients and I develop their business strategies I want to them to write out their short and middle term goals, along with their long term vision. These goals should be ambitious and challenging, but not overly difficult, and definitely not just something to simply be crossed off. I think that my strongest clients value community and understand the importance of learning from others.
“I originally came here to study and ended up just completely falling in love with the city.”
Irene & Berlin
What originally drew you to Berlin and why do you think being in Berlin makes sense for your type of work?
I knew I would find opportunity in Europe. I originally came here to study and ended up just completely falling in love with the city. I didn’t really know anything about Berlin back then, so it was a really big bet, but it ended up paying off. I left briefly to go to France for school, but returned again and have lived here ever since. This is a big freelancing city and a city that values creativity, and I think myself and my line of work do well here because of that.
Do you recommend any networking groups or organizations in Berlin for those looking to expand their contact circle?
I’m an admin for the Womxn Freelancers - Berlin Facebook group. I think it’s a great place to connect with like-minded women from the comfort of your home, and get advice on your Berlin specific queries. A lot of Berliners are also on LinkedIn and it’s of course a great place to network. There will ideally be more opportunities when the pandemic is under control also.
You’re not the biggest fan of stereotypical Berlin food like currywurst or döner, but do you have a favorite café or restaurant in the city?
Wow there’s so many. I love this Israeli place called Café Mugrabi, it’s so good. Hummus, bread, everything - you can’t go wrong. I also love this vegan ice cream place called Rosa Canina. As for my favorite café . . . that's really hard, Berlin has so many great places. Bob Murphy is probably my current favorite though.
Irene, Etc.
Whether you’re interested in a business coach or want to learn more about how Irene started three businesses in her 20’s in a foreign country, be sure to visit Irene’s pages and say hello! You can also subscribe to her podcast on places like Spotify and the Podcast App.
Irene’s content is split between Mandarin Chinese and English.
Website: https://www.femaleentrepreneur.me/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6c4siia7zbc7N8SdyAFrz9
https://wavve.link/femaleentrepreneurmeLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ireneyu/
Instagram: instagram.com/femaleentrepreneurme/
I also got the chance to be a guest on one of Irene’s recent podcast episodes. We talked about coaching, what being a writer in Berlin is like, and why I started this blog.
Irene’s Newest Venture: Feminutes
Update: February 2022 - Irene has recently co-founded the company Feminutes.
To put it in Irene’s words, “Our mission is to dramatically increase the quality of life of women by optimizing their time and health, therefore freeing up the mental space needed for women to focus on their careers and life. We believe by optimizing women’s time and health, we free up the mental space needed for women to focus on their careers, interests, and life.”
They’re working to do this through the form of a web app that helps women make choices guided by their body’s natural clock, cycle syncing, lifestyle, interests, and schedule. If you experience a menstrual cycle I encourage you to take some time and learn what Feminutes is all about. If you’re interested in signing up yourself you can do so here. I’ve also been a guest writer on their blog (I finally got to hone in on my background in gender and sexuality!) and you’re welcome to read my articles here.
