We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful J-Min. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with J-Min below.

Alright, J-Min thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

I was born to Korean parents and grew up as a third culture kid in Kenya. Following high school graduation, I took a gap year teaching English as a Second Language in Seoul, South Korea. During this time, I also focused on developing my college entrance art portfolio before commencing my undergraduate studies in the United States.

I consider myself fortunate to have had access to quality education, and the security of a stable home environment, surrounded by supportive family and friends. However, while these basic needs were met, my family couldn’t afford luxuries like extensive travel or the pursuit of diverse hobbies and interests. Unlike many of my peers who vacationed abroad regularly during the summers, it wasn’t as easy for my family to vacation altogether.

Growing up to hearing my friends’ travel anecdotes, I developed a strong curiosity about the world beyond my immediate surroundings of home. This curiosity blossomed during my gap year in South Korea, where I taught English and earned my own income, enabling me to fulfill my dream of traveling. South Korea being relatively closely located to destinations of the world, I decided to take the opportunity to explore the world.

Due to also the high cost of tuition as an international student in the US, I was only able to attend my first semester in person and took the rest of my undergraduate classes online while working as an English teacher in Korea. Despite the demanding schedule, I seized every opportunity to travel. My most memorable experience was my backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, immersing myself in the diverse cultures of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. I also got to explore Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Peru, Mexico, Belize, and Hondorus.

Through my extensive travels and exposure to diverse cultures, I did not only make new life-long friends but, I cultivated a set of values and habits that have enriched my life and have instilled a more positive attitude towards life and challenges I face.

I feel that travel has fostered adaptability and resilience within me. Navigating unfamiliar environments, whether it’s deciphering a new language or navigating complex transportation systems, has honed my ability to adapt to change and overcome obstacles. It has taught me the importance of flexibility and being resourceful especially in challenging times.

Engaging with people from diverse backgrounds has also broadened my perspective and challenged my preconceptions. By immersing myself in different cultures, I’ve gained insight into the complexities of human experience and developed a greater sense of compassion and empathy towards humans. It’s made me realize that many of our problems and challenges that we face are the same. I now also place trust in strangers, longing to learn and listen to the stories of others and make deeper and more meaningful connections.

Traveling has also nurtured a spirit of adventure and spontaneity within me. Embracing the unknown and stepping outside of my comfort zone has empowered me to take risks, not be afraid of failures, embrace new experiences and seize opportunities for growth.

I have also been able to leverage my network, having connections all around the world which has allowed me to do what I do today and that is, where my story of serving my community begins.

Motivated by my own journey, I co-founded a 501(c)3 non-profit organization called Getaway Growth with like-minded friends. Recognizing the limited travel opportunities available to underserved students and those unaware of their potential, we established a fully-funded program since 2021 aimed at providing transformative travel experiences. With our program structured around three core pillars – intercultural competence, environmental stewardship, and ethical service learning – we firmly believe in equipping students with the nuanced understanding and skills required for meaningful engagement in today’s globalized world. Similar to our own transformative experiences, we are confident that our students will undergo significant personal growth and empowerment. Moreover, we believe that by participating in our program, underserved students will gain a renewed sense of possibility and potential within their own lives as well.

J-Min, 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?

As our world becomes increasingly interconnected and we experience an era of unprecedented world challenges, underserved communities need help overcoming steep barriers to enriching learning opportunities such as international educational travel. Getaway Growth was founded in 2021 as a 501(c)3 non-profit, providing resources to underserved youth. We dedicate our work to remove barriers and facilitate access to international travel for underserved youth by providing fully funded, well-balanced, and unique combinations of global experiences. We hope to not only provide life-changing experiences for students and foster a mindset of possibility but also, promote greater cultural understanding and diversity in the global community.

Our organization originated from the personal growth the founding members experienced during international travel. Collectively, our board has visited and lived in over 50 countries, participating in a variety of volunteer projects in communities abroad. Each member appreciates the personal development experienced through immersion in diverse communities and their cultural values.

The founding team recognized the gap in educational and personal growth accessible to underserved youth. Studies have shown that students from low income families are rarely given opportunities for study abroad programs, representing only 6.1% of Americans who participate. Unpaid programs, which make up 43% of all internships, are often not feasible due to financial constraints. Getaway Growth provides that help by fully covering costs for each cohort members’ expenses. Each summer, a cohort joins a two week educational program where they build skills, participate in cultural exchange, give back to local communities of the host country, and make long-lasting friendships. What makes Getaway Growth unique is that we also extend our work and aim to serve our host country. We achieve this by also sponsoring students in the host country. We maximize the experience of cross-cultural learning for our students and provide them with the opportunity to build life-long relationships that transcend borders.

Our ultimate goal is to build tomorrow’s leaders by promoting confidence, creativity and curiosity, and encouraging our students to continue reaching for their greatest and wildest dreams.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

If I were to reflect on a lesson I’ve had to unlearn, it would revolve more so around a particular mindset – thinking narrowly and limiting oneself. I’ve come to recognize that, like many others, I was initially conditioned or raised to adhere to conventional norms and confined within a restricted worldview. I feel that society often imparts a set of traditional rules and prescribed paths that are perceived as the only routes to success. However, as I’ve journeyed through life, I’ve come to realize that there are a multitude of ways to overcome challenges and find success in anything you do.

Furthermore, I feel that society often seems to fixate on our weaknesses. I want to share that a pivotal moment in my life occurred during my time as a personal trainer at Equinox Fitness Clubs. I was fortunate to have worked under one of the most inspiring managers. She instilled in me a transformative perspective that continues to shape my mindset today. Instead of dwelling on shortcomings, she emphasized the importance of amplifying my strengths. This shift in focus proved to be a game-changer for me. By prioritizing and building on my inherent talents and abilities, I gained a newfound confidence in my endeavors. This has also allowed me to set ambitious goals for myself. As the saying goes, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” By aiming for such big goals I’ve found that I can accomplish more than I initially imagined. Even if I fall short, the pursuit of these grand goals fuels puts me further in life and helps keep my motivation, propelling me forward.

Another valuable lesson I’ve gleaned is the tendency in society to encourage a separation from successful or inspirational figures. We’re often taught to feel hesitant or ashamed about seeking help or guidance from such individuals. However, another pivotal experience during my Master’s program at USC challenged this notion. One of our initial assignments involved reaching out to entrepreneurs whom we admired and respected, seeking their advice. This was as an eye-opener for me, as I discovered that successful individuals are often more than willing to lend a helping hand. Contrary to the belief that they might be unapproachable or indifferent to others’ success, I learned firsthand that they are genuinely invested in seeing others thrive and are eager to offer support and guidance.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Having created a non-profit centered around travel comes with its own set of challenges, primarily the high costs associated with travel itself. Particularly being a younger non-profit organization, we always face the obstacle of garnering financial support. Securing initial capital proved to be one of our most significant challenges. To overcome this hurdle, we implemented various fundraising initiatives, organizing numerous community events to generate funds for our cause. In just our first year of operation we had to organize 5 events, we also ran virtual campaigns, and ask our personal connections to get the necessary resources to launch and sustain our organization.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.getawaygrowth.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getawaygrowth
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetawayGrowth/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getaway-growth/