3 Ways the Asian Wander Women Summit Shaped My Approach to Web Design (and Building a Location-Independent Business)
The Asian Wander Women Summit was the first of its kind. It was a long time coming for an event featuring diverse Asian women entrepreneurs from around the world sharing their experiences of how they achieved success and paved their own unconventional paths. As an Asian woman entrepreneur, I felt like I had found my missing piece.
When I first booked my ticket to the Asian Wander Women Travel Summit in Taiwan, I thought I was going simply to connect with other women who love travel as much as I do. What I didn't expect was how deeply the experience would reshape my view of my work, my business, and the kind of life I want to design.
As a web designer who built her business around the freedom to work from anywhere, this summit reminded me that freedom isn't just about movement. It's about intention, community, and creativity. Here are three key takeaways from the summit that continue to guide how I show up for my clients and myself.
Who is Asian Wander Women (AWW)?
Asian Wander Women (AWW) is a social community for Asian women in the diaspora. The community is full of creatives, entrepreneurs, and travel enthusiasts who are intentionally crafting lives that align with their values. Their meetups and summits create connections among Asian women "wandering on their own terms."
Founded by Emily Fang and Ivy Xu, AWW started as a Facebook group in 2020 to connect like-minded friends who were relocating, working remotely, and building cool projects. I discovered AWW through Emily's YouTube channel, The Fang Girl, where she shared her life as a Taiwanese-American travel creator in Singapore. The video showed me a life I had been dreaming of, and when I commented, Emily replied about her growing community.
About the AWW Taiwan Summit
The first-ever summit was held from March 28 to 31, 2024, in Taipei, Taiwan. For the first time in my life, I was in a room full of Asian women with positive, inspiring energy. It was insightful to see how each woman grew in their own path. There was this refreshing feeling that I didn't need to over-explain my choices. Mutual understanding existed because of our similar cultural backgrounds.
My 3 Key Takeaways from the Asian Wander Women Summit
1. Claim Your Voice and Commit To What You Believe In
The sessions weren't polished elevator pitches. They were real talk about businesses, struggles, and beliefs. What struck me wasn't credentials or achievements. It was how confidently the speakers used their own voices. They just sounded like themselves.
I needed to hear this. I've always doubted myself because I didn't come from a traditional 9-to-5 background. But here's what I realized: the right people will want to work with me because my offer suits them well. There's no need to convince anyone.
This shifted how I work with music educators. They often write copy that sounds like every other teacher: "professional, qualified, experienced, passionate about music." But what makes them special is how they think about teaching, the jokes they make in lessons, or their belief that mistakes are where the magic happens.
Treat your "About" page like a conversation at a coffee shop, not a resumé. When you sound like yourself, you attract students who want to learn from YOU specifically. That's how you end up with excited students, referrals from families, and fewer price conversations because they're not comparing you to everyone else.
2. Community Happens When You Show Who You're NOT For
No one else out there is doing exactly what you do with your experiences and skills. There is a community of people who need you as much as you need them, and you might not even know it right now. That's why it's important to put yourself out there.
I used to worry about being too specific with my business. What if I turned away potential clients? But learning that we each have a special connection to a community taught me that trying to appeal to everyone means connecting deeply with no one.
Now I'm clear: I work with creative entrepreneurs, especially music educators, who want authentic online presences. Some people read my website and think, "not for me." That's okay. The ones who stay are excited to work together.
I see music educators try to be for "all ages, all levels, all styles" because turning anyone away feels risky. But here's what happens: they attract misaligned students who drain their energy and leave after a few months.
When you make it clear who you're for by showing your teaching philosophy and personality and using language that appeals to YOUR people, everything shifts. You build a studio full of students who "get you." Less burnout. More genuine connections. Permission to charge what you're worth.
3. Confidence Comes From Alignment, Not Perfection
The AWW speakers were building businesses aligned with their actual lives and values: location-independent schedules, family-friendly models, collaborative communities rather than competitive hustle. They weren't chasing someone else's definition of success, and that gave them quiet confidence.
For a long time, I thought I needed the "perfect" setup before I could feel confident. But confidence didn't come from perfection. It came when I built my business around helping creative entrepreneurs without the "fake it till you make it" pressure I rejected in college.
Music educators struggle with this same trap. They build websites based on what they think they "should" say, then feel uncomfortable promoting themselves because it doesn't feel true. The shift happens when you lead with what you actually believe. Show your real process, not aspirational perfection. Be honest about your availability and boundaries. When your website reflects your real values, marketing becomes easier.
Design Your Own Version of Freedom
From a young age, my daydreams of traveling to waterfalls, flying over the ocean, and trekking through jungles always put a goofy smile on my face. When I found out the community was gathering for this first-ever event in Taiwan, I was ecstatic. It was my chance to meet courageous women who chose to build nontraditional lives. It's crucial that there is representation for Asian women, showing that we can also build and lead the things we strongly believe in.
I invite you to collaborate with me to achieve the life you desire through your business and online presence. As a web designer, I'll help you strategize and design a website so you can check off everything you've been putting off for your business.
Event Landing Page Website Design
An essential website for attendees to get all the event information, so they can quickly and easily book! Fewer emails and stress for you! YAY!
Want to attend the next AWW Summit or meet like-minded individuals in the Asian Wander Women community? Follow @asianwanderwomen on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to their newsletter at asianwanderwomen.com for updates and events inside the community.
