Meet Thao Yang

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Thao Yang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Thao, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

From an early age, I held onto the belief that “if there is a will, there is a way.” Growing up as the oldest son of first-generation parents who spoke little English, I was forced to mature quickly. I became my family’s translator, advocate, and confidant; balancing doctor’s appointments, daily tasks, and the other responsibility of making sure our family all got by. These experiences taught me that my determination couldn’t waver, because my success was tied directly to my family’s well-being. Over time, often without realizing it, I built up a deep resilience, a drive to want more for my family and to believe that any obstacle could be overcome.

Reflecting on my journey, I see that my resilience has many roots. My parents’ strength in the face of adversity laid the foundation for my own. Watching them push through hardship after hardship, and seeing them eventually succeed, inspired me to believe that I could do the same. Their triumphs showed me that setbacks are temporary, and that perseverance pays off.

Being the oldest son came with its own pressures. My parents set high expectations, sometimes insisting I become a doctor or that my future depended on marrying the right person. Instead of letting these pressures weigh me down, I used them as motivation. Each lesson, each expectation, became fuel for my ambition.

Looking back, I realize that it didn’t matter whether I always listened to my parents or followed their advice exactly. Like most young people, much of what they said went in one ear and out the other. Still, some of their words stuck, or I reshaped their advice into something that fit my own path. What mattered most wasn’t perfect obedience, but how their lessons eventually became part of who I am, guiding me in ways I didn’t always recognize at the time. Their wisdom, and the resilience I built along the way, continue to shape my journey forward.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m the founder and heart behind Hmong Network, a platform built to uplift and empower Hmong-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. My background as a web designer and SEO specialist has always been driven by a desire to close the digital divide that so many Hmong business owners face. For me, it’s about more than just technology; it’s about creating a space where our heritage and entrepreneurial spirit can grow together.

Hmong Network began as a simple passion project. My wife and I wanted a way to easily find and support Hmong-owned businesses wherever we traveled. I’ll never forget a trip to Minnesota, where we were amazed by the number of Hmong businesses, yet it was surprisingly hard to identify which ones were truly Hmong-owned. It wasn’t just about supporting our own; it was about celebrating the incredible progress our community has made in just 50 years in the US. Seeing other Hmong succeed made us feel like we could succeed, too.

When we returned home, I dove into building Hmong Network. What started as a directory quickly evolved. As I added businesses to the platform, I noticed a common thread: many Hmong entrepreneurs were struggling with their digital presence. Most didn’t have websites, relied on personal Gmail accounts for business, or used personal Facebook profiles instead of business pages. Even established stores often had only a basic, generic website and little to no SEO.

This raised some tough questions for me: How will these businesses stay relevant as technology moves forward? How can they compete with mainstream companies that I work with every day? After reaching out to a few Hmong-businesses, it became clear that Hmong Network needed to be more than just a directory.

Hmong Network is now a movement – a community dedicated to empowering Hmong entrepreneurs, celebrating our culture, and driving real economic growth. We offer a business directory and advertising platform to connect Hmong businesses with each other and the wider community. We also offer affordable, high-impact digital solutions, including web development, SEO, and digital marketing. But most of all, we offer education and support to help business owners understand and leverage modern technology, no matter their background or resources.

Hmong Network is still growing and evolving. We’re constantly adding new features and finding better ways to serve our community. My hope is that this platform will not only help today’s Hmong business owners, but also inspire and support the next generation of entrepreneurs. Together, we’re building something that honors our roots and paves the way for even greater success.

The Hmong Network website is currently live and accepting new accounts. Any Hmong-owned business can sign up and add their business. We are also offering free SEO service for their business listing on Hmong Network. We hope that by the end of this year or before, we will complete a new feature where Hmong businesses which are listed on Hmong Network can start selling their services directly from Hmong Network, making it a simple and efficient way to do business.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Resilience has been the cornerstone of my journey. My advice is to embrace challenges as learning opportunities rather than obstacles. We know that in our journey, there will be obstacles. We can either let these things stop us from reaching our goals or we can take the hit, reflect on the situation, learn from it and then move on. Most of all, practice self-compassion and patience. Resilience, business, and even life grows over time, not overnight.

Adaptability and lifelong learning is also very important for me. Most of the things that I learned in my life, most were learned where I continually sought out new knowledge. If no one was willing to teach it to me, I looked somewhere else. There will always be someone out there in the world that is ready to teach someone who is willing to learn. Stay curious and never stop asking questions or seeking new information. Invest in practical skills that are relevant to your goals and most of all, be open to feedback and willing to pivot when something isn’t working.

Last but not least, purpose-driven leadership. My journey was always about more than personal success. It was about uplifting my family and, later, my community. Founding Hmong Network was rooted in a desire to empower others, not just myself. Purpose-driven leadership means aligning your actions with a mission that’s bigger than you, and using your skills to create positive change. Clarify your “why” which will help you understand what motivates you beyond material success. Then lead by example. Show up for others and demonstrate the values you believe in. Stay grounded in your values even as you grow and evolve.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I can’t point to just one person who has been most helpful in helping me overcome challenges or develop the skills and qualities I have today. Every person I’ve interacted with, whether in my personal or professional life, has left an imprint that’s shaped who I am. Sometimes a lesson from a personal conversation has helped me in business, and other times, something I learned at work has guided me through personal situations.

There have certainly been pivotal moments when someone made a significant impact, but I truly believe that even the smallest interactions have contributed to my growth. My parents’ love and care, a high school friend’s support during tough break-up, a Walgreens store manager who gave me a second chance at an interview, a mentor who saw my potential and pushed me to improve, and the compassion I receive daily from my wife and kids – all of these people have played a part in my journey. I wouldn’t be who I am without each of them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hmong.network
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hmong.network/
• Other: https://www.thaoyang.com