🔥 Talk about a glow up! 🚀🔥 What if losing your job and being isolated in the global pandemic became the best thing that ever happened to you?

In this episode of EQ U, co-hosts Robin Williams and Corrine Clement sit down with Mikey Kim, the visionary CEO & Founder of Hemlock Park, to uncover his incredible journey from a small apartment side hustle to North America’s #1 privately owned natural candle brand — selling 250,000+ hand-poured candles a year across the U.S., Europe, and Asia ... and with a team of only eight!

Mikey didn’t just build a thriving business—his candles are now in over 2,500 retail stores, and get this… Hemlock Park is the official candle maker for The White House! 🕯🏛

But Mikey’s story isn’t just about business. He’s a graduate of ChoiceCenter’s LV211 EQ Leadership program, and in this episode, we explore how emotional intelligence, resilience, and bold decision-making helped him scale his company, land a spot on Forbes' Next 1000 list, and create a life he loves.

🔹 How did he turn a $500 side hustle into a global brand? 🔹 What business strategies and EQ skills helped him succeed? 🔹 What’s it like designing for Nike and Aveda before launching his own company? 🔹 How was failure the greatest gift to his future success? 🔹 How does he balance creativity, leadership, and personal growth?

💡 Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative, or someone looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Hit play, subscribe, and get ready to elevate your mindset, business, and EQ!

📩 Love the episode? Share it with a friend and drop us a review! 🚀

At just seven years old, LV136's Phuong Huynh fled Vietnam in the middle of the night, escaping the communist regime by boat. She endured unimaginable challenges — running out of food & water, her mother being taken by pirates, surviving a year of refugee camps in Malaysia and the Philippines – to arrive in the U.S. with nothing but hope and determination.

In this powerful two-part episode of EQ U, Phuong shares her gripping story of survival, adaptation, and triumph. She opens up about her journey from refugee to corporate leader at VMware, how she overcame adversity, and the role emotional intelligence played in shaping her success.

In Part 1, we dove into her early years—her escape from Vietnam, the struggles of growing up in a foreign country, and the mindset that helped her push forward.

In this episode – Part 2 – we explore her rise in the tech industry, how ChoiceCenter Leadership University transformed her perspective and supported her to find her purpose, and the EQ tools she uses to navigate life and business.

This is a story of resilience, leadership, and transformation that you don’t want to miss!

🔹 Subscribe now and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode inspires you! 🔹 Follow us on social media for more insights on EQ and leadership development.

At just seven years old, LV136's Phuong Huynh fled Vietnam in the middle of the night, escaping the communist regime by boat. She endured unimaginable challenges — running out of food & water, her mother being taken by pirates, surviving a year of refugee camps in Malaysia and the Philippines – to arrive in the U.S. with nothing but hope and determination.

In this powerful two-part episode of EQ U, Phuong shares her gripping story of survival, adaptation, and triumph. She opens up about her journey from refugee to corporate leader at VMware, how she overcame adversity, and the role emotional intelligence played in shaping her success.

In Part 1, we dive into her early years—her escape from Vietnam, the struggles of growing up in a foreign country, and the mindset that helped her push forward.

In Part 2, we explore her rise in the tech industry, how ChoiceCenter Leadership University transformed her perspective and supported her to find her purpose, and the EQ tools she uses to navigate life and business.

This is a story of resilience, leadership, and transformation that you don’t want to miss!

🔹 Subscribe now and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if this episode inspires you! 🔹 Follow us on social media for more insights on EQ and leadership development.