Our Founder’s Story
It began several decades ago, when a young couple, Chiu Wing and Mon Ner Chu, immigrated from China to the United States with little to their name. They barely spoke English, lived in a distressed neighborhood, and did not know where to get help. They came to the United States with 2 small children, and one on the way. Through relentless tenacity and perseverance, they built their first company within 7 years and created dozens of jobs for Americans and immigrants.
The young couple is our founder’s parents. Millie Chu, founder of Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab, was 4 years old when she came to the United States. Her parents recognized Millie's unusual interest in philosophy by the age of two, and throughout her childhood, was tuned to being emotionally aware and mindful. Millie witnessed her parents work endlessly, often multiple jobs at a time to make ends meet and save money to pursue the American dream. She never heard them gripe about working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. On many occasions, she would not see her father for days as he traveled from one labor job to the next while he slept in any vehicle or corner to rest, while her mother sewed garments for pennies till her fingers were sore.
As new citizens, they did not have access to funding to launch their dream. They weren't able to attend English lessons due to working long hours at laborious jobs to care for 3 children. Despite financial and language challenges, her parents became founders of 2 successful self-made companies in Michigan, USA, creating many jobs for Americans and immigrants. Millie was eleven years old when they opened their first small business and supported her family as a child translator at business meetings and helped launch and manage the family business. Millie and her family wished organizations existed decades ago who could’ve provided guidance to families like hers, who believed in diversity, equity, and inclusion for minorities, immigrants and the underrepresented.
Since 2007 our founder dedicated her career journey to education, economic development, inclusion programs, and building infrastructures to mobilize equity and equality for minorities. In 2019, Millie was featured in Forbes as an immigrant leader who helps and inspires other immigrants to become entrepreneurs. Collectively, these experiences led to the birth of Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab.
When Millie's father passed away in October 2020, it ignited her spirit even greater than before to scale and continue building inclusive communities in memory of her fathers courage and determination to create the life he envisioned for the people he loved.
An organization like Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab was once a hope and dream, but it is now forged as a reality dedicated to helping underrepresented entrepreneurs who began like the Chu family.
Are you inspired by our founder's story?
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