Liuxuewd je inovativna platforma zasnovana na veštačkoj inteligenciji koja pomaže studentima da lakše i sigurnije navigiraju izazovima studiranja u inostranstvu. Osnivačica ove platforme, Madison Zhao, deli svoju inspiraciju, izazove i filozofiju liderstva koja stoji iza njenog uspeha.
Šta vas je inspirisalo da kreirate Liuxuewd i kako je vaše lično iskustvo oblikovalo misiju platforme?
Liuxuewd je nastao iz lične boli i obećanja. Kada sam prvi put došla u SAD kao međunarodni student, bila sam potpuno sama. Nije bilo sistema podrške, smernica ni zaštite od zamki u koje mnogi međunarodni studenti upadaju: dezinformacija, nepoštene agencije i životne greške. Gledala sam kako su kolege gubile studentske vize usred studija, trajno zabranjene ulaske u SAD samo zato što su verovale pogrešnim ljudima. Porodice su ulagale sve što imaju u lažna obećanja, da bi potom gledale uništene snove svoje dece. To mi je slomilo srce. Setila sam se da sam pomislila: “Da se to desilo meni, ne znam da li bih preživela.”
Tada sam znala da moram nešto da uradim. Čak i ako ne mogu da popravim sve, moram barem da pokušam da napravim razliku. Liuxuewd je počeo sa tom misijom. U početku, to sam bila samo ja i nekoliko drugih koji odgovaraju na pitanja non-stop. Ali brzo sam shvatila da to nije skalabilno. Tako sam uzela sve što sam naučila iz svog obrazovnog puta i iz pomaganja stotinama studenata, i izgradila bazu znanja zasnovanu na stvarnom iskustvu. Zatim smo integrisali veštačku inteligenciju kako bi to znanje bilo dostupno, tako da studenti mogu dobiti brze, pouzdane i zaista nepristrasne odgovore u bilo koje vreme, bilo gde.
Liuxuewd je sada sistem podrške koji je stvoren od strane nekog ko je prošao kroz istu borbu. Tu je da štiti studente pre nego što odu u inostranstvo i da ih podrži nakon što stignu. Bilo da se suočavaju sa viznim problemima, akademskim izazovima ili kulturnim šokom, više nisu sami. Naša misija je jednostavna: pružiti najtačniji, nepristrasan i ljudski vođen savet. Pomažemo roditeljima da izbegnu sumnjive agencije, donesu informisane odluke i osećaju se zaista podržani na svakom koraku, tako da nijedan student više ne mora da se oseća bespomoćno, pogrešno informisano ili napušteno.
Izgradila sam ovo zato što ne želim da nijedan student više oseća strah, zbunjenost ili slomljeno srce kao što sam ja i mnogi drugi doživeli. Ili da gledaju kako im snovi propadaju zbog nečijih neodgovornih postupaka. Ovo je više od platforme. To je sigurnosna mreža koju sam želela da imam.
Da li ste oduvek sebe videli kao preduzetnicu ili je to došlo vremenom?
Nikako. Nikada nisam sanjala da ću postati preduzetnica. Odrasla sam u tradicionalnoj porodici gde je put bio jasan: idi u školu, nađi stabilan posao, dobro se udaš i živiš predvidljivim životom. Preduzetništvo nije bilo nešto što je iko oko mene gajio, naročito ne u malom gradu iz kojeg dolazim. Čak i kada sam pokrenula svoju prvu firmu, to nije bilo deo nekog velikog poslovnog plana. Jednostavno sam videla problem koji sam želela da rešim. Prošla sam kroz iste borbe kao i mnogi međunarodni studenti, sama u stranoj zemlji, bez sistema podrške, i želela sam da pomognem drugima da izbegnu bol koju sam ja doživela. Istovremeno, trebala sam način da zaradim dodatni novac kako bih isplatila dug za fakultet i nastavila svoje obrazovanje. To je bilo to. Nikada nije trebalo da bude posao. Samo nešto što sam osećala da moram da uradim.
Ali uticaj je rastao brže nego što sam ikada mogla da zamislim. Pomogla sam jednom studentu, pa drugom, i uskoro su njihovi roditelji počeli da šire reč. Više studenata je dolazilo kod mene, i na kraju nisam imala izbora nego da svoju uslugu jednog lica pretvorim u pravu firmu kako bih mogla da pomognem više ljudi. Tada sam shvatila da zaista volim ono što radim. Mogla sam da budem budna celu noć, da radim bez prestanka i nikada se ne umorim. Često sam išla izvan svojih obaveza da pomognem, čak i kada to nije bilo deo paketa usluga, jer svako “hvala”, svaki ostvareni san, donosio mi je radost koju novac nikada nije mogao da pruži. Nikada nije bilo u pitanju profit, već svrha. Videti nekog kako izlazi iz noćne more ili ostvaruje san koji nije smatrao mogućim je ono što me guralo kroz te besane noći.
Da bih prešla sa solo usluge na pravu firmu, počela sam da zapošljavam, obučavam i gradim tim. A kada su mi bili potrebni resursi i finansijska sredstva, roditelji čijoj sam deci pomogla su stali iza mene. Verovali su u moju misiju jer su videli rezultate iz prve ruke. Uvek sam verovala da ono što se daje, to se i vraća: pomogla sam njihovoj deci da ostvare svoje snove, a zauzvrat su oni pomogli meni da ostvarim svoje. Iskreno, nikada nisam planirala da budem preduzetnica. Samo sam pratila svoju strast, i to se razvilo u nešto mnogo veće.
Nisam sigurna da li sam rođena sa poslovnim načinom razmišljanja, ali sam uvek znala da sam rođena sa dubokim osećajem odgovornosti. Previše mi je stalo da okrenem glavu. Nikada ne bih mogla da uzmem nečije poverenje i ne vratim ništa zauzvrat. Tako sam ja, devojka iz malog grada, bez plana ili veza, postala preduzetnica. Ne zato što sam to isplanirala, već zato što sam to živela. Nisam izabrala ovaj put. Osetila sam ga. I na kraju, postala sam to.
Kako izgleda vaš tipičan dan? Kako upravljate stresom i ravnotežom između posla i života?
Dan započinjem u 8 ujutro, ali nema fiksnog vremena kada se završava. Ponekad radim do 2 ujutro, ponekad do 5. Tokom intenzivnih perioda, kao što je Filmski festival u Kanu, spavala sam samo 3 sata noću tokom cele nedelje jer sam upravljala i svojim poslom i javnim nastupima. Radim, odgovaram na poruke i pratim ažuriranja tima od trenutka kada se probudim do trenutka kada zaspim. To je život koji sam izabrala, i iskreno, život koji volim.
Kao preduzetnica, naročito u ranim fazama, ne postoji ravnoteža između posla i života, postoje samo kompenzacije. Moj život je moj posao, a moj posao je moj život. I zato što mi je toliko stalo do onoga što radim, nikada ne osećam da je to teret. Zapravo, što duže radim, to se više energizujem. Ne brojim sate, brojim uticaj. Neki ljudi kažu da je ravnoteža ključ uspeha. Ali u dvadesetim godinama, verujem da ravnoteža više zadržava ljude nego što im pomaže. Ovo je vreme za naporan rad, za izgradnju, za prevazilaženje svojih granica. Inteligencija je važna, ali otpornost, sposobnost da se izdrži kada stvari postanu teške, je ono što gradi veličinu. To je mentalitet koji je izgradio moj prvi posao.
Ne kažem da nikada ne pravim pauze da se opustim. Naravno da pravim. Ali kada je u pitanju upravljanje stresom, pronašla sam načine da se napunim energijom bez usporavanja. Dozvoljavam sebi male pauze, kao što su masaža ili tretman lica, ali nikada se potpuno ne isključujem. Tokom tog vremena, slušam audioknjige ili zakazujem pozive, jer ne verujem u gubljenje ni sekunde. Za mene, najbolji način za ublažavanje stresa je znanje da i dalje napredujem. Odmaram, ali ne pauziram.
Nalazite se između kultura – kako je to što ste Kineskinja-Amerikanka oblikovalo vaš pristup obrazovanju i poslu?
Biti Kineskinja-Amerikanka znači da živim između dva sveta, i naučila sam da uzmem najbolje od oba. Iz mog kineskog odrastanja nasledila sam disciplinu, žrtvu, snažnu radnu etiku i duboko poštovanje prema obrazovanju. Odrasla sam verujući da ništa nije važnije od napornog rada i istrajnosti. Ali u Americi sam naučila koliko je važno preispitivati sistem i sanjati velike snove, čak i kada deluju nerealno. Amerika me je naučila da je sve moguće i da svako ima jednaku priliku da juri svoje snove — nešto što ne postoji u mojoj domovini, Kini.
Ta dualnost oblikovala je sve što radim. U obrazovanju spajam istočnjačku strogost sa zapadnjačkom kreativnošću. U biznisu se krećem brzinom i ambicijom Silicijumske doline, ali nikada ne zaboravljam na poniznost, strpljenje i intenzivnu radnu etiku u kojoj sam odrasla. Ne gradim samo zbog uspeha, već gradim sa svrhom. Nosim pritisak da učinim svoje roditelje ponosnim, dok istovremeno krojim život koji je potpuno moj. Kulturno gledano, duboko razumem i strah i nadu koje međunarodne porodice osećaju kada šalju svoju decu u inostranstvo. Ja sam to proživela. Zato se toliko borim da ih zaštitim. Ne gradim samo posao — gradim most koji sam i sama volela da imam kada sam prelazila u novi svet.
Koja je vaša lična filozofija liderstva, posebno kada vodite rast velikih razmera?
Moja filozofija liderstva je jednostavna: vodi vizijom, sprovodi disciplinovano i gradi sa srcem. Ne donosim odluke na osnovu emocija, već na osnovu onoga što je najbolje za celu kompaniju. Kada upravljaš rastom velikih razmera, ne radi se samo o brojkama. Radi se o širenju vrednosti, ljudi i kulture.
Jedna lekcija koju sam naučila na teži način: pogrešan tim će te koštati mnogo više nego što će pravi tim ikada koštati. Često kažem: „Talentovani se biraju, ne treniraju. Ako ne potrošiš 30 sati da izabereš pravog čoveka, potrošićeš 3.000 sati rešavajući posledice loših izbora.“ Taj način razmišljanja promenio je način na koji gradim timove. Tražim karakter, radnu etiku i usklađenost sa našom misijom – ne samo biografije. Veštine se mogu naučiti, ali ličnost se ne može promeniti. Najvažnije od svega – vodim srcem. Naš rast se ne meri samo u prihodima, već u stvarnom uticaju. Jer na kraju, brojke mogu da porastu preko noći, ali se nasleđe gradi s namerom.
Verujem da svaka kompanija ima dve linije rasta: vidljivu – prihodi i rezultati, i skrivenu – ljudi. Njihov rast, otpornost i razvoj. Ako gledaš samo brojke, već si u zaostatku. Zato jednako investiramo u to ko moj tim postaje, kao i u to šta proizvodi. Mnogo mi je stalo do izgradnje kulture koja raste sa snagom, integritetom i zajedničkom vizijom. Kada izgradiš prave ljude – rezultat sledi. Iznad svega, vodim ličnim primerom. Pridružujem se sastancima kasno noću. Odgovaram na pozive u svako doba. Pojavljujem se – jer ako ja to ne radim, zašto bi iko drugi? Na kraju, igram na duge staze. Ne razmišljam u kvartalima, već u decenijama. Stalno se pitam: hoće li mi buduće ja biti zahvalna za odluku koju danas donosim? To pitanje me drži fokusiranom na ono što je zaista važno.
Većina ljudi „pobedu“ definiše kao maksimizaciju ličnog ponosa i koristi. Dopuštaju impulsima da ih vode, trošeći vreme na osvetu samo da bi imali osećaj da su „pobedili“. Ali kada vodiš rast velikih razmera, prava pobeda znači da se povučeš korak unazad, proceniš situaciju trezveno i izabereš put koji donosi najveću dugoročnu vrednost – čak i ako to znači da progutaš ego u tom trenutku. Kao lider, uvek biram izvršenje ispred emocije, nasleđe ispred ega, i budućnost kompanije ispred lične koristi – svaki put.
Kako vidite da veštačka inteligencija (AI) transformiše međunarodno obrazovanje i kako je vaša platforma integriše?
Veštačka inteligencija već menja međunarodno obrazovanje — a tek smo na početku. Decenijama je studiranje u inostranstvu bilo ispunjeno nesigurnošću: od zbunjujućih prijemnih procedura do široko rasprostranjenih prevara i dezinformacija. AI to menja tako što donosi jasnoću, brzinu, transparentnost i personalizaciju. Na Liuxuewd platformi koristimo veštačku inteligenciju da čitavo iskustvo učinimo sigurnijim, pametnijim i transparentnijim. Naš sistem analizira podatke iz prijava u realnom vremenu, otkriva greške, proverava plagijarizam i čak predviđa verovatnoću prijema na osnovu istorijskih podataka. Time studentima dajemo jasnu, na činjenicama zasnovanu sliku o tome gde se trenutno nalaze i šta treba da unaprede — često odgovarajući na pitanja odmah, bez čekanja na ljudske savetnike sa univerziteta.
Osim prijava, naši AI alati pomažu studentima da planiraju raspored časova prema smeru, biraju profesore sa najboljim ocenama, prate akademski napredak, dobijaju podsetnike za rokove, pa čak i prevode nastavne materijale u realnom vremenu. Svaki korak osmišljen je da smanji stres i poveća samopouzdanje studenata. Takođe koristimo AI za identifikaciju i označavanje rizičnih agenata ili prevarantskih usluga — što je veliki problem u industriji studiranja u inostranstvu. Korišćenjem podataka za proveru verodostojnosti, pomažemo porodicama da izbegnu prevare i donesu sigurnije odluke. Za nas, AI nije samo funkcionalnost. To je način na koji gradimo poverenje, pružamo personalizovanu podršku u velikom obimu i stvaramo pametniji, sigurniji put za međunarodne studente širom sveta.
Neki kritičari kažu da kursevi preduzetništva mogu biti nejasni ili reciklirani — kako osiguravate da vaš sadržaj ostane vredan i jedinstven?
To je tačno — i sama sam pohađala neke od tih nejasnih i recikliranih kurseva. Upravo zato sam osnovala Madison Profit Academy na drugačiji način. To je neprofitna platforma, napravljena da pomogne drugima da uspeju — a ne da se profitira na njima. Ne predajem teoriju. Predajem iz ličnog iskustva. Svaka lekcija koju podelim potiče iz nečega što sam lično prošla — bilo da je to bilo rangiranje kompanije od 0 do 10 miliona dolara, gubitak svega u neuspešnom poduhvatu, ili prikupljanje miliona dolara od investitora. Sve sam to osetila. Bila sam bez para. Pravila greške i suočavala se sa izazovima koje većina preduzetnika u nekom trenutku iskusi. Ali sam naučila iz toga, i postala jača.
Moje znanje se razvija svakog meseca jer neprekidno učim od još uspešnijih ljudi i odmah primenjujem te uvide u praksi. Moji studenti ne dobijaju statičan sadržaj — dobijaju lekcije koje su proverene u stvarnim uslovima, relevantne i stalno se razvijaju. Pošto i dalje aktivno vodim kompanije, unosim najnovije strategije, alate i modele čim se pojave. Biznis se kreće brzo. AI još brže. Zato neprekidno osvežavamo sadržaj na osnovu povratnih informacija, promena na tržištu i rezultata naših studenata. Najvažnije: fokusiramo se na primenu, a ne samo na inspiraciju. Svaki modul je napravljen da bude praktičan. Mi nismo kao tradicionalne poslovne škole koje podučavaju zastarele teorije iz udžbenika. Mi učimo ono što se zaista dešava u današnjem poslovnom svetu — tako da su naši studenti uvek korak ispred. Ako student ne može odmah da primeni naučeno kako bi povećao prihod, poboljšao operacije ili rešio konkretan problem — taj sadržaj ne prolazi.
Koji savet biste dali sebi u mlađim danima ili nekome ko tek započinje svoj prvi biznis?
Ne čekaj da se osetiš spremno – jer nikada se nećeš tako osećati. Počni odmah. Uči usput. Ne treba ti savršen plan, treba ti zamah.
Sebi kao mlađoj bih rekla: prestani da previše razmišljaš. Rizikuj. Nemaš šta da izgubiš. Šta je najgore što može da se desi ako ne uspeš? Počinješ ispočetka. Ali ovaj put, ne počinješ iz nule – počinješ iz iskustva. Svaki neuspeh te nečemu nauči. To nisu porazi, to su lekcije koje si platila da naučiš. Najbolja investicija koju ćeš ikada napraviti nisu akcije niti kriptovalute – to si ti sama. Pokušaj. Pogreši. Nauči. Uradi to bolje sledeći put. Tako se stvara pravi napredak. Tvoj prvi biznis neće biti savršen – i to je u redu. Ono što je važno je tvoj način razmišljanja: preuzmi odgovornost, deluj brzo i nikad se ne oslanjaj na druge da te spasu. Ti si sama sebi plan B.
Pravićeš greške, i to velike. Izgubićeš novac, vreme, možda čak i samopouzdanje. Bićeš razočarana, možda čak i zgađena ljudima i svetom oko sebe. Pitaćeš se zašto ti se dešavaju stvari koje nisi zaslužila. Ali ako svaki pad posmatraš kao lekciju, a ne kao kraj – svaki put ćeš se vratiti jača. I najvažnije: gradi sa svrhom. Ne juri novac – juri smisao. Rešavaj stvarne probleme. Pomaži stvarnim ljudima. Novac će doći kao posledica.
Jedna stvar koju uvek govorim, naročito mladim preduzetnicima, je ovo: život nije stvaran. Kad bi znali moju prošlost, razumeli bi da moj život nikada nije trebalo da izgleda ovako. Trebalo je da ostanem zarobljena u kancelariji, u životu koji ne želim, u odustajanju. Ali ja sam izabrala drugi put, jer sam odbila da živim u lažnoj stvarnosti koju su svi drugi prihvatili. Kada pokrećeš svoj prvi biznis, ponašaj se kao da pravila ne važe za tebe. Ti si izuzetak – jer ako dovoljno dugo držiš svoju viziju, svet će se prilagoditi tebi. Tvoj život je tvoj film. Ti si reditelj, pisac i montažer. Ne čekaj dozvolu da napišeš novo poglavlje. Odvoji se od “realnosti”, i možeš postići sve što želiš.
English here:
What inspired you to create AI-powered platform Liuxuewd, and how did your own experience influence the platform’s mission?
Liuxuewd was born from personal pain and a promise. When I first came to the U.S. as an international student, I was completely on my own. There was no support system, no guidance, and no one to protect me from the traps that so many international students fall into: misinformation, dishonest agencies, and life-altering mistakes. I saw classmates get their student visas revoked halfway through their education, permanently banned from entering the U.S. simply because they trusted the wrong people.
I watched families pour their life savings into false promises, only to see their kids’ futures destroyed. It broke my heart. I remember thinking: If that had happened to me, I don’t know if I could’ve survived it. That’s when I knew I had to do something. Even if I couldn’t fix everything, I had to at least try to make a difference. Liuxuewd started with that mission. At first, it was just me and a few others answering questions around the clock. But I quickly realized that wasn’t scalable. So I took everything I had learned from my own educational journey and from helping hundreds of students, and built a knowledge base rooted in real experience. Then, we integrated AI to make that knowledge accessible so students could get fast, reliable, and truly unbiased answers anytime, anywhere.
Liuxuewd is now a full-time support system,created by someone who’s lived through the same struggle. It’s here to protect students before they go abroad and support them after they arrive. Whether they’re facing visa issues, academic challenges, or culture shock, they’re not alone anymore.Our mission is simple: to provide the most accurate, unbiased, and human-centered guidance possible. We help parents avoid shady agencies, make informed choices, and feel truly supported every step of the way,so no student ever has to feel helpless, misinformed, or abandoned again.
I built this because I never want another student to feel the fear, confusion, or heartbreak that I,and so many others,have experienced. Or to watch their dreams collapse because of someone else’s irresponsible actions. This is more than a platform. It’s the safety net I wish I had.
Did you always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur, or did it evolve over time?
Not at all. I never dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur. I grew up in a traditional household where the path was clear: go to school, get a stable job, marry well, and live a predictable life. Entrepreneurship wasn’t something anyone around me pursued, especially not in the small city I came from.Even when I started my first company, it wasn’t part of some grand business plan. I simply saw a problem I wanted to solve. I had gone through the same struggles as many international students, alone in a foreign country, with no support system, and I wanted to help others avoid the pain I had faced.
At the same time, I needed a way to make some extra money to pay off my college debt so I could continue my education. That was it. It was never meant to be a business. It was just something I felt I had to do. But the impact grew faster than I ever imagined. I helped one student, then another, and soon their parents started spreading the word. More students came to me, and eventually, I had no choice but to turn my one-person service into a real company so I could help more people.
That’s when I realized I genuinely loved what I was doing. I could pull all-nighters, work nonstop, and never feel tired. I often went out of my way to help, even if it wasn’t part of the service package, because every thank you, every dream realized, gave me a kind of joy that money never could.It was never about profit, it was about purpose. Seeing someone escape a nightmare or achieve a dream they never thought possible is what pushed me through those sleepless nights.
To grow from a solo service into a real business, I started hiring, training, and building a team. And when I needed resources and funding, the very parents whose kids I had helped stepped in to support me. They believed in my mission because they had seen the results firsthand. I’ve always believed what goes around comes around: I helped their children achieve their dreams, and in return, they helped me achieve mine.Honestly, I never set out to be an entrepreneur. I just followed my passion, and it evolved into something much bigger.
I wasn’t sure if I was born with a business mindset, but I’ve always known I was born with a deep sense of responsibility. I care too much to look the other way. I could never take someone’s trust and give them nothing in return. That’s how I, a girl from a small town, with no roadmap or connections, became an entrepreneur. Not because I planned it, but because I lived it. I didn’t choose this path. I felt it. And eventually,I became it.
What does a typical day look like for you? How do you manage stress and work-life balance?
I start my day at 8 a.m.,but there’s no set time for when it ends. Sometimes I work until 2 a.m., sometimes 5. During intense periods, like the Cannes Film Festival, I’ve slept as little as 3 hours a night for an entire week because I’m managing both my business and public appearances. I work, respond to messages, and stay on top of team updates from the moment I wake up until the moment I fall asleep. It’s the life I chose, and honestly, the life I love. As an entrepreneur, especially in the early stages, there is no such thing as work-life balance,only trade-offs. My life is my work, and my work is my life. And because I care so deeply about what I do, it never feels like a burden. In fact, the longer I work, the more energized I become. I don’t count hours, I count impact.
Some people say balance is the key to success. But in your 20s, I believe balance holds more people back than it helps. This is the time to hustle, to build, to stretch beyond your limits. Intelligence is important, but resilience, the ability to push through when things get hard, is what builds greatness. That mindset is what built my first business.
I’m not saying I never take breaks to relax. of course I do. But when it comes to managing stress, I’ve found ways to recharge without slowing down. I do allow myself small breaks, like a massage or facial, but I never fully disconnect. I’ll listen to an audiobook or schedule calls during that time, because I don’t believe in wasting a single second. To me, the best form of stress relief is knowing I’m still moving forward. I rest, but I don’t pause.
You’ve moved between cultures , how has being Chinese-American shaped your approach to education and business?
Being Chinese-American means I live between two worlds, and I’ve learned to take the best from both. From my Chinese upbringing, I inherited discipline, sacrifice, a strong work ethic, and a deep respect for education. I grew up believing that nothing mattered more than hard work and perseverance. But in America, I learned the value of questioning the system and dreaming big, even when the dream didn’t seem realistic. America taught me that anything is possible, and that everyone has an equal opportunity to chase their dreams, something that doesn’t exist back home in China.
That duality has shaped everything I do. In education, I combine Eastern rigor with Western creativity. In business, I move with the speed and ambition of Silicon Valley, but I never forget the humility, patience, and intense work ethic I was raised with. I don’t just build for success,I build with purpose. I carry the pressure of making my parents proud while forging a life that’s entirely my own. Culturally, it means I deeply understand the fear and hope that international families carry when they send their kids abroad. I’ve lived it. That’s why I fight so hard to protect them. I’m not just building a business, I’m building the kind of bridge I wish I had when I crossed over.
What’s your personal leadership philosophy, especially when managing large-scale growth?
My leadership philosophy is simple: lead with vision, execute with discipline, and build with heart. I don’t make decisions based on emotion, I make them based on what’s best for the company as a whole. When you’re managing large-scale growth, it’s not just about scaling numbers. It’s about scaling values, people, and culture.
One lesson I’ve learned the hard way: the wrong team will cost you far more than the right one ever will. As I often say: “Talents are chosen, not trained. If you don’t spend 30 hours picking the right talent, you’ll spend 3,000 hours dealing with the consequences of poor hiring decisions.” That mindset reshaped the way I build teams. I look for character, work ethic, and alignment with our mission, not just credentials. Skills can be taught, but personality can’t be changed.
Most importantly, I lead with heart. Our growth isn’t just about revenue,it’s about real impact. Because in the end, numbers can grow overnight, but legacies are built with intention. I believe every company has two growth curves: the visible – revenue and results, and the hidden: people. Their growth, resilience, and evolution. If you’re only watching the numbers, you’re already behind. That’s why I invest just as much in who my team is becoming as in what they’re producing. I care deeply about building a culture that scales with strength, integrity, and a shared vision. When you build the right people, the performance follows.
Above all, I lead from the front. I join late-night meetings. I answer calls at all hours. I show up, because if I don’t, why should anyone else? And finally, I play the long game. I don’t think in quarters,I think in decades. I constantly ask myself: Will my future self thank me for the decision I made today? That question keeps me focused on what truly matters. Most people define “winning” as maximizing their own pride and personal gain. They act on impulse, wasting time chasing revenge just to feel like they came out on top. But when you’re managing large-scale growth, real winning means stepping back, assessing the situation with clarity, and always choosing the path that brings the greatest long-term value,even if it means swallowing your ego in the moment. As a leader, I will always choose execution over emotion, legacy over ego, and the company’s future over my personal gain, every single time.
How do you see AI transforming international education, and how does your platform integrate it?
AI is already reshaping international education,and we’re just getting started. For decades, studying abroad has been filled with uncertainty: from confusing admissions processes to widespread fraud and misinformation. AI changes that by bringing clarity, speed, transparency, and personalization. At Liuxuewd, we use AI to make the entire experience safer, smarter, and more transparent. Our system reviews application data in real time, flags errors, checks for plagiarism, and even predicts potential admission outcomes based on historical data. This gives students a clear, fact-based understanding of where they stand and what they need to improve, often answering questions instantly, without having to wait for human advisors from schools.
Beyond applications, our AI tools help students plan class schedules based on major, select professors with the best ratings, track academic progress, receive deadline alerts, and even translate course materials in real time. Every step is designed to reduce friction and increase student confidence. We also use AI to identify and flag risky agents or fraudulent services,a major issue in the study abroad industry. By using data to verify credibility, we help families avoid scams and make safer choices. For us, AI isn’t just a feature. It’s how we build trust, deliver personalized support at scale, and create a smarter, safer pathway for international students around the world.
Some critics say entrepreneurship courses can be vague or recycled , how do you ensure your content remains valuable and unique?
That’s true,I’ve taken some of those vague, recycled courses myself. That’s exactly why I built Madison Profit Academy differently. It’s a nonprofit platform built to help others succeed, not to profit off them. I don’t teach theory. I teach from experience. Every lesson I share comes from something I’ve personally lived through,whether it was scaling a company from $0 to $10M, losing everything in a failed venture, or raising millions from investors. I’ve felt it all. I’ve been broke. I’ve made the mistakes and faced the struggles most entrepreneurs will encounter at some point. But I took the losses, learned from them, and came out stronger. My knowledge evolves every month because I keep learning from people who are even more successful, constantly adapting and applying those insights in real time. My students don’t just get static content; they get lessons that are battle-tested, relevant, and always evolving.
Because I’m still actively running companies, I bring in the latest strategies, tools, and frameworks as they happen. Business moves fast. AI moves faster. That’s why we continuously update our content based on real-time feedback, market shifts, and student outcomes. Most importantly, we focus on implementation, not just inspiration. Every module is built to be actionable. We’re not like traditional business schools teaching outdated theories from textbooks. We teach what’s actually happening in today’s business world,so our students are always one step ahead. If a student can’t walk away and apply it immediately to grow revenue, fix operations, or solve a real problem,then that content doesn’t make the cut.
What advice would you give your younger self,or someone just starting their first venture?
Don’t wait until you feel ready, because you never will. Start now. Learn as you go. You don’t need a perfect plan, you need momentum. To my younger self: stop overthinking. Take the risk. You’ve got nothing to lose. What’s the worst that can happen if you fail? You restart. But this time, you’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. Every setback teaches you something. They’re not failures, they’re lessons you paid to learn. The best investment you’ll ever make isn’t stocks or crypto, it’s yourself. Try. Fail. Learn. Do it better next time. That’s how real growth happens.
Your first business won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. What matters is your mindset: take responsibility, move fast, and never rely on anyone to save you. You are your own backup plan. You’ll make mistakes, big ones. You’ll lose money, time, and maybe even confidence. You’ll be disappointed, or even disgusted by people and the world around you. You’ll wonder why things happen to you that you didn’t deserve. But if you treat every setback as a lesson instead of a defeat, you’ll come back stronger every time. And most importantly: build with purpose. Don’t chase money, chase meaning. Solve real problems. Help real people. The money will follow.
One thing I always tell people, especially young entrepreneurs, is this: life isn’t real. If you knew my past, you’d understand that my life was never supposed to turn out this way. I was supposed to be stuck in an office, living a life I didn’t want, settling. But I chose a different path, because I refused to live in the fake reality everyone else accepted. When you’re starting your first venture, move through the world like the rules don’t apply to you. You are the exception, because if you hold onto your vision long enough, the world will adjust to you. Your life is your movie. You’re the director, the writer, and the editor. Don’t wait for permission to rewrite your story. Detach from “reality,” and you can achieve anything you want.
Team:
Photographer: Victor Telles @victorttelles
Make up: @mahassenkeskesjmel @diocoelhomua
Assistant: @blandineberthelotbeauty
Management & PR: @maisonpr
Designer: @ dorotagoldpoint_private @dorotagoldpointofficial
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