Hello! My name is Vienne Cheung, and I am the founder of VienneMilano, a luxury hosiery brand. VienneMilano is my baby, and as a proud mother, I am not shy to say that I launched a luxury fashion brand within 9-10 months.

So what exactly does that mean? To summarize my accomplishments, with zero budget for marketing, I:

• Traveled to Italy to design my first hosiery collection
• Developed a name, logo and brand for my company
• Took photos of our models (yes, with my background in fine arts and photography)
• Developed a unique product packaging to accommodate my unique brand
• Established a logistics and fulfillment operation that would allow my products to be shipped from Milan to Boston and then to our customers
• Launched an e-commerce boutique on time.
• Conducted 16 interviews with newspapers, bloggers, TV and radio for press coverage
• Threw a sold-out  fashion show launch party with 150+ attendees at the prestigious InterContinental Boston with sponsors such as San Pellegrino Bvlgari and Perugino, the Italian General Consul as keynote speaker and attracted movie star, James Hong (who was in town filming with Ryan Renolds) to attend

That was no cake walk.

The past 9 months == an emotional rollercoaster and even as I introspectively reflect on my journey, I get motion sickness.

So...how did it all began? To summarize the series of events:

• 12 months ago (Nov 2010) Resigned as Executive Director of ASPIRE (a non profit organization dedicated to mentoring Asian American women in career and leadership development), but continued at Akamai Technologies in Product Operations. 
   
• 11 months ago (Dec 2010) met my business partner/friend/investor - and in some ways & days, ma raison d'etre. This would not have been possible if it weren't for him!
   
• 10 months ago (Jan 2011) Realized that if I don't work on my childhood dream in starting a fashion brand, I would never have the opportunity again
   
• 9 months ago (Feb 2011) Established the brand positioning of VienneMilano (even though we didn't have a name for it at the time)
   
• 8 months ago (March 2011) Started conducting model casting calls to recruit models for the VienneMilano brand. We also started building a marketing portfolio in preparation to visit manufacturers in Italy
   
• 7 months ago (April 2011) Decided to leave corporate America to run "this thang" as a 30th birthday present to myself.
   
• 6 months ago (May 2011) Visited manufacturers in Italy to find "the right partner" - I felt like Goldie locks and the 3 bears. Some were too ____, some where not ____ enough, and only one was just right.
   
• 5 months ago (June 2011) Contracted with the "right one"
   
• 4 months ago (July 2011) Left Akamai Technologies on my 30th birthday
   
• 3 months ago (Aug 2011) Visited vendors who provided storage and fulfillment services - learned A LOT about custom clearance, logistics and other "fun" things that has to do with transporting goods from Italy to the US
   
• 2 months ago (Sept 2011) Revisited manufacturers in Italy to inspect products, established relationships with vendors in logistics, and to work with our main engineering person in Sicily
   
• 1 month ago (Oct 2011) - Received word that products would be late. Logistics company was a day late in the pick up. And discovered x% of inventory destroyed!
   
• More then 1 week ago - launched 11/1 (PINCH ME!) with 13 press write ups, 2 TV and 1 radio interview. I was also approached by a graduate student from Bentley University who intered for Louis Vuitton to work for me as an intern (who is AWESOME)
   
• 1 week ago - threw a fashion show launch party
   
• Today - I ask myself: Was it a dream? Did I really do all of these things in 9 months??

And then I realized... yes, I did. THIS IS THE REASON WHY I LEFT CORPORATE AMERICA! Despite the fact that, yes, I do feel trepidation, and perhaps one day, I may even return, for now, I really couldn't see myself sitting around and not being challenged. There's a saying in Chinese: You don't feel pain until it gets under your skin. This is why I chose to be an entrepreneur.

Fundamentally, I believe that life is about trying different things and experiences. No matter how bad, sad, and or glad, these are all things that build character - sorry, "Sara, plain, and tall", I don't want a bleh life - I want a colorful one, which includes a plethora of diverse friends & experiences. And if it doesn't work, well... we'll figure something out.

YES! I am nervous that VienneMilano may not succeed, and there are days when I feel tired and lonely. Sometimes, it doesn't feel like the act of resting is an option...but I have to give it my best shot.

The 3 things that I LOVE about VienneMilano is: 1) my product, I truely believe that my quality made thigh highs (in cashmere, microfiber, lace, microfishnets, etc.) are AWESOME 2) the ability to wear many many hats and play a variety of roles, particularly the creative ones: Lead designer, photographer, party organizer, marketer, public relationship person, etc. Although truth be told, I am not good at any of these things! 3) The chance to meet all of the amazing people who makes this world a beautiful one.

And last, but certainly not least, I am super grateful for all of the friends, family and even strangers who were willing to help a girl like me out. I really cannot thank you all enough as this could not have been possible without you!

Thank you for reading my reflection as a life of an entrepreneur.
Please visit www.viennemilano.com and support my journey!
(we make a good holiday gift) 

Grazie!