Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sharon Kim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sharon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

Most people in my industry will tell you not to quit your 9-to-5 job until your dream takes off. I think that’s some of the worst advice you can give someone on their entrepreneurial journey.

The common argument is, “Passion doesn’t pay the bills.” But that mindset is flawed. When you hold on to a 9-to-5, you’re spending at least 40 hours a week feeding someone else’s dream, while giving your own dream scraps of time—maybe 10-12 hours on weekends. Time is currency when you’re building something for yourself, and the more of it you invest in your dream, the faster it can grow.

As an entrepreneur, you also cannot be afraid to go down to zero. Fear of running out of money signals to the universe that you don’t trust your ability to earn more. And honestly—so what if your bills are due? Every challenge can be managed with a conversation and a shift in perspective. There’s a solution to every problem—you just have to humble yourself enough to find it.

When you make your dream your Plan A, you’re forced to channel all your energy, resourcefulness, and focus into making it happen. It’s not about being reckless; it’s about unwavering belief in your ability to create something out of nothing.

When I started Revive Fashion Week, I was couch surfing and eventually ended up back at my parents’ house. My dad told me to “get a job and save up” to fund my dream. He even questioned whether I had what it took to run a business. But I knew splitting my time would mean splitting my focus. I said no—not out of rebellion, but out of faith in my ability to turn nothing into something.

Six months later, I launched my first New York Fashion Week event with over 10 brands and 300 VIP guests. Two years later, Revive Fashion Week operates in over 10 cities worldwide.

Now imagine if I got a job.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My journey into fashion started way before I launched Revive Fashion Week. To take it back a little, when I was 18, I got a full ride to Syracuse University. Like a lot of college freshmen, I got caught up in the excitement of campus life and spent way more time partying than studying. By the end of that semester, reality hit hard and I lost my scholarship and had to transfer schools.

I ended up at LIM College, a fashion school in NYC, which honestly wasn’t my top choice. But I figured, if I was going to be in New York, surrounded by the fashion industry, I might as well make the most of it. That mindset led me to volunteering at my first New York Fashion Week event, and that one opportunity changed everything for me.

It’s funny looking back now because the volunteer role I was so excited about back then is the same kind of opportunity I now offer to others through Revive Fashion Week—but on my terms and in my way. I always tell people that I’m living proof these opportunities work if you’re willing to show up, work hard, and figure it out as you go.

That’s really the heart of what Revive Fashion Week is all about. We create spaces for independent designers, models, and creatives to showcase their work on a platform that’s inclusive and innovative. It’s more than just runway shows—we provide the tools, resources, and visibility to help them build sustainable careers in the fashion industry.

What sets us apart is our commitment to showcasing talent that’s often overlooked and pushing for real representation in fashion. I’m proud of how far Revive Fashion Week has come in such a short period of time—from a concept to a global platform. I never imagined we’d have this much impact so quickly, and that’s something I’m really proud of. I want people to know that Revive Fashion Week is about more than just events—it’s about creating opportunities for people to turn their passion into something real.

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

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that there’s a “right” way to do things, especially when it comes to success. This mindset was deeply embedded in me, not just from my upbringing but also from the way our education system and pop culture frame success. We’re taught from a young age that the path to success looks a certain way: you get a degree, follow the corporate ladder, and everything will fall into place. This rigid system assumes everyone has the same background, the same opportunities, and the same goals—but that’s not the reality for many people, including myself.

Growing up, I bought into the idea that there was only one route to a fulfilling career. I thought I had to follow a strict timeline—finish college, land a job in the industry, and steadily climb up. The truth is, that system isn’t built for people like me, and it certainly isn’t built for many of the creatives, designers, and entrepreneurs I choose to work with today.

The traditional system overlooks the fact that not everyone has the same resources, support, or even the same dreams. Many of us are meant to forge our own paths, and we have to unlearn the belief that if we don’t fit into the standard mold, we’re somehow behind or not “doing it right.”

Here’s the thing that really clicked for me: If God gives you the idea, He’s also going to provide the clients and the resources you need to make it successful. But it’s not going to come without its own set of lessons. You have to be willing to learn, grow, and most importantly, live the life you were meant to live, not the one you feel you should be living.

When I started Revive Fashion Week, I realized that my success wouldn’t come from following a prescribed path—it would come from challenging the system, being bold enough to step into my own purpose, and creating something that reflects my values and the values of the people I serve. The system teaches us that we should follow someone else’s vision of success, but what I’ve learned is that true success is about creating your own vision and having the courage to pursue it, even when the path isn’t clearly laid out.

This shift in mindset has been pivotal in my personal and professional growth. I want to pass this lesson on to the creatives I work with, especially those who come from underrepresented backgrounds. The traditional system wasn’t designed for us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t build the future we envision for ourselves.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One of the most influential resources that shaped my entrepreneurial mindset is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. In the book, Kiyosaki talks about the importance of making money work for you instead of working for money. He says, “The poor and middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them.” This idea completely shifted my perspective on wealth-building and success. For most of my life, like many others, I had been conditioned to believe that success was about working hard for a paycheck. But Rich Dad Poor Dad taught me that true wealth is built by learning to leverage money, resources, and opportunities—rather than simply trading your time for a salary.

A principle that I frequently reference in my life, and that Kiyosaki emphasizes in the book, is the shift from thinking “I can’t afford this” to asking “How can I afford this?” This simple shift in mindset is something I actively apply to my goals and decisions, both personally and professionally. Instead of limiting myself by what seems impossible, I focus on finding creative solutions and new opportunities. It’s a mindset that encourages you to see possibilities rather than barriers, and I carry it with me in everything I do.

The message in Rich Dad Poor Dad became even more powerful when I realized how financial literacy is not something that is often instilled in us, especially within our education system. From a young age, we’re taught that success is about getting good grades, going to college, and finding a stable job. But the reality is that the system doesn’t teach us how to manage money or build wealth—it focuses on preparing us to be employees, not entrepreneurs. When financial literacy is missing from the equation, many of us are systematically put at a disadvantage. We’re never given the tools to understand how to grow our own wealth or manage resources effectively.

I talk about this with my partner and our family often, because we’ve learned firsthand how important it is to shift our relationship with money. As entrepreneurs, we have a responsibility to break the cycle of financial illiteracy, not only for ourselves but also for those we lead and inspire. It’s about understanding that money isn’t just a means to survive; it’s a tool to create opportunities, build wealth, and impact the lives of others. This shift in mindset has been essential as I’ve built Revive Fashion Week, my marketing agency, and as I expand my real estate investment portfolio. Each of these ventures has taught me that understanding how to make money work for you, not the other way around, is the key to long-term success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://revivefashionweek.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/itssharonkim & https://instagram.com/revivefashionweek
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-kim-258a4917b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Other: https://beacons.ai/itssharonkim