Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruoyun Killian.
Hi Ruoyun, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a space of opposites, balancing two different cultures as an Asian American and eventually becoming a polyglot. As a Millennial (1992), I witnessed the birth of Google, YouTube, and Facebook, and navigated the business world as a bridge between analog and digital. I often introduce myself with a touch of humor when speaking at universities. I’m your “Social Media Grandma,” who has been marketing social media before some users were even born, starting before Facebook had business pages in 2010. The journey has been long and challenging, from the days when people asked, “What is Social Media?” to now, “How do I use social media for my brand.” Now, I have the privilege of advising companies on how to understand why their audience loves their brand, fostering a resilient fandom that can weather major changes in the algorithm or the economy.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has been an iterative upward spiral, but emotionally, felt like a roller coaster. As entrepreneurs, we’re constantly living outside our comfort zone, which is not for the faint of heart. I’ve gone through the most significant personal development journey, second to having children. After almost 10 years in business, what has kept me going is twofold: staying tethered to the why behind what I do and being willing to let it unfold as it should be. When you start as an entrepreneur, there is a fixer mentality because we are innovators and see potential change, but we believe it’s up to us to make the change. We need to do everything to make it happen and be the answer to all questions. It takes a group of unique humans to create massive business change. I was great at being a fixer and equally burnt out by it because it took way more energy than learning to let go as my business grew. When I let go of that badge of honor to be the person with all the answers, I finally let go of the survival shield I needed for many years. It’s when I realized that my worthiness is not based on being a fixer but on being able to give clarity and help clients fix the brain knots that keep them from doing their best.
We’ve been impressed with Ruoyun Xu Killian Consulting, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m a Human-Centered Marketing advisor, helping businesses build brands that can stand the test of time. To create such brands, we focus on the human relationship that brought their customers and employees to buy into their brand in the first place. No matter how the world and the brand evolve, I teach my clients to remain aligned with the why behind all that they do. What I find truly fulfilling is when companies can authentically showcase the why behind what they do and create a space where their team can thrive. It’s easy for the humans behind the brand to become collateral damage behind massive viral growth. Growth is positive, but it takes a massive amount of energy, and we, as humans, often forget to rest in between and balance. Most of my time is spent being the advisor to both the owner on how to let their team take over and the team members to be the best advocates for themselves. When I see a whole marketing team come together to evolve individually and as a team, I am confident they’ll grow with fewer growing pains.
Can you talk to us about the role of luck?
My timing in entering the Social Media industry was well-timed because it allowed me to be an innovator. Social media has always reflected human society, and I’m a nerd about how the human species continues to evolve. Over the years of challenges and change, I’ve found that what looks on the surface as bad luck is honestly the universe saying, “Now is not the right time, or that it wasn’t meant for you.” Life becomes easy when I align with what I am truly meant to be doing. It’s only when I stray away that life becomes challenging. Ultimately, it’s our choice to decide how difficult we want our life to be. Hard can’t be misunderstood as no effort. Plenty of energy is being used, but it’s about how optimized we use it. When we align, what may seem extremely hard to others is easy because it’s meant for us and vice versa. While we may not have control over what happens sometimes, we must decide how we respond.
Contact Info:
- Website: rxuconsulting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfectlyren/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rxuconsulting/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruoyunxu/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@imperfectlyren
- Other: https://subscribepage.io/TE26A0
Image Credits
Tyler Sandoval https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-sandoval/
