Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylie Vo.
Hi Kylie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
How much school do you like? Well, personally I have chosen to be “in school” forever, or at least until I retire.
I am currently a third-year Ph.D. candidate in Marketing with a focus in Consumer Behavior. I expect to get my doctorate degree in around a year. After that, I am planning on being a full-time professor and a lifelong learner who will devote at least 70% of my time into learning about consumer’s psychology. You know, us homo sapiens are pretty fascinating, especially when we look at how we connect with the world surrounding us. The ways we feel, think, and act have powerful meanings and implications in various ways. And I am so thrilled to embark on this journey to learn about humans and… change the world along the way.
My story has a very humble beginning, I grew up in a small coastal town in Vietnam to two very compassionate, driven, and loving parents, especially my mom. From a very young age, I was taught to be independent, proactive, and to dream big. I always had a dream of crossing oceans to new lands to test my endurance and ability. So, I did just that. I moved to the US and got my Master’s, then worked in corporate for around two years, and decided to go back to school for my Doctorate. At first, I also dealt with self-doubts, wondering if I could pursue something so time-demanding and stressful, but then I remembered how far I had gone from the little girl in Vietnam whose desire was to do big things that would help people. At this point, I would say I am glad I went for my Doctorate and cannot wait to be Dr. Vo soon.
Alongside being a full-time Ph.D. candidate, I make YouTube videos, host a podcast, and create content on Instagram. I am happy to share that my “Bloonies” family (how I call my followers) is the most supportive and wonderful group of people out there. They have been there with me through celebrations and griefs, growths, and pauses. And they truly have been the biggest gain from social media for me. Being an influencer also brings my Marketing knowledge to a tactical and applicable level, which is definitely a big plus!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wish I could say yes! But I am also glad that it has been challenging. The first struggle was rejection. There was a period of time I was constantly facing rejections in my career. That came from multiple reasons and some of them were reasons outside of my ability or capability. So, I decided to work on things that I could change and control. I made plans B, C, D, you know, the list went on. And that helped me stay focused and motivated. I knew my fate was in my own hands, and I should not take things personally.
Secondly, a typical Ph.D. program would take 5-6 years to complete but I am doing a 4-year program, which basically sets me up for a constantly big workload where I would find myself working for 10-12 hours a day, 6 days a week. So being able to juggle that with loss of motivation sometimes, maintaining a good connection with my supervisors, and having a life outside of my work is definitely not easy. But it has also been rewarding to see my hard work pay off with acceptance to present at conferences to share my ideas and good results in the topics I pursue.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Right now, since I am still in school and diligently working toward a lifelong career, so I would consider myself building the stepping stones to further short-term and long-term successes. At this point, I have had research in multiple topics, including AI and anthropomorphism, digital marketing, marketing for underserved consumers (the LGBTQ+ community to be specific), and right now, I am learning how different environmental cues change people’s motives and decisions. So far, I have had the chance to present my research at the three biggest conferences in my field and have got great turnouts.
With everything I work on, I do it with the desire to give the highest quality papers to the world that are also highly relatable and applicable, in such a competitive environment, having that in mind would also help setting me apart and push me forward.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Growing up, my parents were busy working seven days a week, so I hung out a lot with my three older sisters: playing house, making crafts, singing, dancing, pillow fighting, and so on. However, some of my fondest memories were from our annual family picnic on the beach when my parents took half a day off during a Vietnamese holiday.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/thegoodballoon
- Youtube: youtube.com/bongbaybeauty
- Other: Podcast: Em Tren 18 on all podcast platforms
- Website: kylievo.com
