Julia Xu is the Founder & CEO of Multitasky, a marketplace for fun & multi-functional products that empower female go-getters. Multitasky also serves as a female collective, bridging the gap between female communities and product merchandise. As a true multitasker, aside from Multitasky and startup consulting, Julia is fractional CFO of many female-empowering communities and DTC eCommerce brands, including Society Gal, Modern Picnic, and Intimately.co.
FWM: You have spent your life building business strategies and financial models for Fortune 500 companies. Where did this passion for entrepreneurship begin?
Even at a young age, I always had a lot of energy and excitement to try new things and push against the status quo. As a teenager, I founded the Organization of Public Speaking in Beijing High Schools and in college I started a Tink Knit, nonprofit aimed at helping young mothers and families through knitwear. I never shied away from a challenge and was always talented at solving problems to create a new normal for my peers and community. After college, I worked for a global management consulting firm, followed by building the financial model for Disney+, and then moving into a Chief of Staff role for Alibaba North America. I really loved my positions and learned a lot, but over time I realized that I had so much more to give to the world. Looking back, I think I always embodied the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ through all my experiences and jobs, eventually feeling empowered to start my own consultancy business, and now Multitasky. I never thought I’d actually be in this position, but I wouldn’t change a thing! Now I’m able to manage the things I’m good at while also positively impacting the community and empowering other female entrepreneurs to be their best, both professionally and personally. It’s a dream come true.
FWM: What did you learn from these Fortune 500?
Many would say that being in the Chief of Staff position at a Fortune 500 company at the age of 24 is quite an accomplishment. Even though I was considered successful by societal standards, the most important lesson I learned is that the amount of money or prestige you gain from a position still may not fulfill you or your purpose. I am incredibly lucky to have gained an in-depth knowledge of financial models and what makes businesses successful – I think a main part about my success and confidence level to go my own route is largely due to that.
FWM: Tell us about your company, Multitasky.
Multitasky is a female collective aimed to provide home and office goods to enhance well-being and promote work-life-integration. Nowadays, we are all trying to find the best way to integrate our work-life-balance in a way that allows us to feel balanced at home and also hustle effectively at anything else we want to accomplish. Multitasky has a wide range of products ranging from technology to diffusers to help you do just that. My goal is for our customer to achieve success by setting their own rules and living a life they’re proud of. And we certainly do that by helping make their space more beautiful. We’re now expanding our brand partnership to include a diverse group of female empowerment organizations and brands to expand our reach and positively impact more entrepreneurs.
FWM: What are some of the empowering products on your site? How do you choose the products?
My favorite products are our humidifier lamps. We have a variety of humidifiers that have empowering messages like “Flawsome” and “Glow-Getter.” Not only are they perfect for any work environment, but they can go anywhere in the home as well.
We’re super intentional about the products we promote on the site. Our main priority is to ensure that our products are functional in any environment, so we have a variety of tech, office and home products. Our second priority is that our products bring value to our customer’s environment, which means that all products have to look cute and make it better. We also test everything to make sure our team is happy before we launch anything.
FWM: Tell us about the Manifestation Kit. What inspires you about this kit?
I’m super excited about the Manifestation Kit! This was Multitasky’s first brand partnership and we couldn’t be more happy to have partnered with SocietyGal, who is already incredibly well-respected in the female business community. The kit is dedicated to female dreamers and includes a diffuser, candle, journal, vision board set, essential oils and crystals – everything you’d need to enhance your space. The kit came about through conversations with the SocietyGal kit and feeling inspired by the little spark that we all feel when we know we can do more.
FWM: You are intricate in female-empowering communities and DTC eCommerce brands, including Society Gal, Modern Picnic, and Intimately.co. Tell us more.
You know you’re on the right track when you start to work with brands and people who are aligned with your vision. In working with other female-empowering communities and DTC eCommerce brands, we found that we could help each other and leverage our skill-sets to expand product offerings and expand our reach to more female entrepreneurs. We have a few other partnerships and ideas planned to launch later this year. I can’t wait to tell you more!
FWM: As a Start-up consultant, share your successes. What inspires you? How can we work with you?
I am inspired to work with companies and thought leaders who are passionate about making the world a better place, whether it’s through entertainment, technology or other products. My biggest success is completing over 100 projects in under eight months – all of which I found through extensive networking and believing in myself.
FWM: What is your best advice for women entrepreneurs who want to launch a company in 2021?
You just have to start and learn as you go. No amount of shadowing, education, and training can actually teach you how to start a company.
Instagram: @julialxu / @multitasky
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shopmultitasky
Website: www.juliaxuconsulting.com / www.multitasky.com
