In an age where networking can make or break a career, Growbie has emerged as a valuable resource for international students, particularly those from China, seeking to bridge cultural gaps and build professional networks in the United States.
The career development platform uses structured networking bootcamps and community support to help students looking to further their career. It offers a comprehensive approach to networking, focused on practice, learning and community engagement.
Jashin Lin, the founder and CEO of Growbie, brings a wealth of experience and personal insight into the challenges faced by international students. At 30 years old, Lin hails from Xiamen, China, and completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University. With a background that includes overcoming similar obstacles, Lin is deeply passionate about helping others navigate their professional journeys in a foreign culture.
“Our mission is to unlock career success for international students,” said Lin. “Right now, we are focusing on Chinese international students and young working professionals, predominantly in America.”
Growbie addresses a crucial need by teaching first-generation international students how to network effectively.
Lin explained, “We teach this group step-by-step through our signature networking bootcamp. It’s a month-long experience with three main components: practice, career-focused learning, and community.”
Growbie’s boot camp emphasizes hands-on training, including mock networking sessions with feedback, one-on-one elevator pitch sessions, and peer interactions.
“We are very strong on practice,” Lin noted. This practical approach is paired with a detailed career curriculum that looks to cover every aspect of networking, from goal-setting to professional relationship maintenance.
The third pillar of Growbie’s program is its vibrant community.
“We now have over two hundred people in our group, hosting both online and in-person events,” Lin shared. These events range from negotiation workshops to corporate panels and social networking gatherings, providing a supportive environment for students to hone their skills.
“This is a passion project of mine since my time back in college,” Lin recalled. Having attended Boston University, she observed the challenges faced by international students, particularly those from China.
“I saw a lot of international students but very few leaders among them,” she said. “Chinese students tend to stick with each other instead of mingling with locals or other international students.”
Lin identified a significant divide in social integration and networking skills, something that became apparent when she began seeking job opportunities.
“Networking with locals is extremely critical, especially in fields like investment banking,” she emphasized. “I realized there’s a big gap in socializing with locals, and I am passionate about solving that.”
This disconnect, Lin explained, stems from several factors, including differences in educational systems and cultural norms.
“In Chinese education, we are very focused on academics. But in America, there’s a comprehensive evaluation that includes extracurricular leadership,” she pointed out. Additionally, the networking culture in the U.S. is more open to strangers and informal interactions, unlike in China.
Lin hopes to address adjusting to these cultural differences in her work. “Most students realize the importance of networking when they come to the U.S., but they don’t know how to do it,” she said. “There’s no class or mentor to guide them through the specifics.”
The reason Lin hopes to be that guidance is because she has her own fair share of success and stumbles she made along the way.
“As a freshman, I once misspelled an alumnus’s name in an email, which ended our communication,” said Lin. “His name was Slava, but in my haste, I wrote ‘Slave.’ The autocorrect feature didn’t help either, turning my genuine effort into a grievous mistake. It was a painful lesson that taught me to double-check everything, especially names. It’s a small detail, but it can make a huge difference in how you are perceived. Now, I always ensure to triple-check names and other crucial details before hitting send.”
In drawing on these personal experiences, Lin developed the central demographic of her platform.
“We focus on international students because it’s a community I come from, and I want to prevent them from repeating my mistakes,” she said.
That said, Lin asserts that the networking skills they teach are universal. “Networking is essential for everyone,” she said. In fact, she notes that 80% of her students are Americans in her Boston University lectures.
For students, Lin shares three pieces of networking advice:
- Show Up: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. If you’re not there in the room, there’s no network to be built.”
- Take Initiative: “People are kinder than you think. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.”
- Come Prepared: “Do your research and come prepared. Show that you value the other person’s time.”
In addition to its core programs, Growbie recently collaborated with the Chinese Graduate Student Association (CGSA) at the University of Southern California. This partnership aims to open these networking services to CGSA members. The two also share common goals, with CGSA working across USC’s graduate schools, offering both social and professional opportunities for building a strong network and unifying the community.
This collaboration included an event hosted by the USC CGSA Career Development Department near USC on March 23. The Southern California Career Development and Networking Summit attracted over 20 distinguished guests from various fields, including technology, investment, media, and entrepreneurship.
Growbie was a significant part of this event, contributing to a panel that discussed the value of networking and career development. By leveraging USC’s platform, the summit aimed to establish the CGSA Career Development Department as the premier hub for young talent, social resources, and career and entrepreneurship exchanges in Southern California.
Lin invites international students, particularly those from East Asia, to explore Growbie’s resources. “We are very focused on developing social confidence for international students,” she said.
This article previously misidentified Jashin Lin’s hometown as Shanghai, China. This piece has since been updated with a correction.