We recently connected with Cherry Gong and have shared our conversation below.

Cherry, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Is there a lesson you learned in school that’s stuck with you and has meaningfully impacted your journey?

One of the most important lessons I learned in college was how to balance multiple demanding parts of my life without letting any one of them fall apart. I was a full time student, working shifts at a Korean BBQ restaurant, involved in leadership roles on campus, and also modeling between Athens and Atlanta for shoots and jobs.

There was a point when everything overlapped at once, exams, work shifts, leadership responsibilities, and early morning modeling jobs. I remember constantly moving between commitments and feeling like I was switching roles just to keep up. That experience made me realize it wasn’t about doing everything perfectly at the same time, but about being intentional and fully present in whatever I was doing in that moment.

That shift changed how I approached everything, and it’s a lesson in discipline and adaptability that has stayed with me in both my finance and modeling career.

Cherry, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi everyone, my name is Cherry! I’m currently a financial consultant at Deloitte and a model signed with Forward the Agency. My path has really been shaped by learning how to balance both analytical and creative work at the same time.

I got into finance because I’ve always been drawn to problem solving and understanding how businesses work, which led me into financial analysis where I focus on turning data into clear, useful insights for decision making.

Around the same time, I started modeling in high school. What began as occasional opportunities turned into consistent work, and I often found myself traveling between Athens and Atlanta while also managing school, leadership roles, and a job. That period really taught me discipline and how to stay grounded when everything is happening at once.

What I’m most proud of is building both paths without waiting for the “perfect timing.” It’s shaped how I work and how I carry myself, and it’s taught me to be intentional and consistent no matter what I’m doing.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest things I had to unlearn early in my career was thinking that being quiet and just doing strong work was enough. I consistently received feedback that I lacked confidence in how I communicated, even though my work was solid.

Growing up as an Asian American, I was taught to stay humble and keep my head down, which served me well in school, but in the workplace I learned that communication and self advocacy matter just as much as execution. Since then, I’ve worked on being more intentional about how I speak up and trusting my perspective, making sure my voice matches the quality of my work.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots I made was redefining what success looked like for me. When I first started modeling, I had dreams of walking during Milan Fashion Week. As I learned more about the industry, I realized that path would likely require putting school on hold and pursuing modeling full time.

Instead, I chose to continue my education while building my modeling career alongside it. Looking back, that decision taught me that success doesn’t always look the way you originally imagined it. Sometimes the right path is the one that allows you to grow in multiple areas of your life rather than choosing just one.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xcherry4869/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xcherry4869/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qianru-gong-a47b85165

Image Credits

@s_ebass @brittneymullins @vasilisdarkroom @blysticproductions