My story begins with a suitcase full of hope and a family chasing the American dream. I was very young when we immigrated from China to the United States, and like many first-generation immigrants, I grew up believing that success had to be earned—through hard work, achievement, and proving my worth. I carried that mindset into every part of my life, striving to be the best in school, in my career, and even in my faith.
But everything began to shift when I came to faith as a student at NYU. I encountered the life-changing truth that salvation isn’t earned—it’s received by grace. That revelation planted a seed that would grow into a deeper understanding of what it means to live generously and purposefully.
From Corporate Success to Kingdom Significance
For over a decade, I led high-growth marketing teams at Walmart, Amazon, and L’Oréal. I loved the challenge and the pace, but in 2020, my husband and I began to feel a stirring. We asked ourselves a question that changed everything:
“What might God have for me beyond climbing the corporate ladder?”
We set a financial finish line and started exploring what generosity looked like—not just in our finances, but in our time, our talents, and our everyday decisions. That was the beginning of a new chapter—one marked by surrender, purpose, and a holistic view of generosity.
Whole-Life Generosity
I’ve come to understand that generosity isn’t just about giving money—it’s about giving your whole life to God. If He owns everything—my possessions, my time, my treasure—then I need to ask what He wants me to do with it all.
“If God owns my whole life… I need to understand what that means in terms of what I have to give.”
This shift in mindset has completely redefined success for me. It’s no longer about accumulation—it’s about alignment with God’s purposes.
“Understanding biblical stewardship and generosity has given me a shift in mindset and values where success no longer looks like more.”
Purposeful Work and Missional Leadership
Today, I’m the founder of My Strategy Mentor, a consulting firm that equips faith-driven leaders to grow their organizations with confidence and clarity. I get to work with ministries and businesses that are building the Kingdom—and it’s deeply fulfilling.
I also serve on the board of Women Doing Well, where I’ve found a community of women who are discovering their purpose and living generously. It’s an honor to help shape this movement.
“We think of generosity as partnering with God to serve His Kingdom and make an outward impact.”
Generosity in the Everyday
Generosity isn’t just something I practice professionally—it’s something I try to live out at home. My husband and I are intentional about encouraging our children to live generously, modeling a life of surrender and trust. The more we surrender, the more we see the goodness and the faithfulness of God, and that allows us to then take more risks. There are days when generosity feels hard. But I’ve learned to lean into God’s grace and remind myself that it’s not about performance—it’s about obedience.
I don’t really view myself as a generous person… I’m learning to listen and trust in Him more.
Generosity isn’t a destination—it’s a daily decision to live open-handedly, trusting God with every part of our lives. If you’re wondering what God might have for you beyond what you’ve planned, I encourage you to ask Him. You might be surprised by the joy and purpose waiting on the other side of surrender.
*This blog post was adapted from Helen Schmid’s interview on The Finish Line podcast. In it, Helen shares how her journey from performance-driven success to whole-life generosity was shaped by her immigrant roots, corporate experience, and deepening faith. You can listen to the full podcast interview here.
