Intro
Cheryl Lau is a podcaster, entrepreneur, and business coach who helps creators build businesses rooted in authenticity and thought leadership. Once a straight-A law student on track for a corporate career, Cheryl made the radical choice to withdraw from law school — not once, but twice — to follow her own path.
In this episode, we talk about how Cheryl rebuilt her identity after quitting graduate school, how she found her voice online, and why she believes sharing your story can change someone else’s life. We also discuss imposter syndrome, redefining success, and the evolution of her award-winning podcast as she launches its next chapter, Edit History.
Story Highlights
- The courage to quit law school — twice — and start over
- How she turned her “quarter-life crisis” into a creative business
- Overcoming guilt, self-doubt, and parental expectations
- Building an audience through vulnerability and consistency
- Redefining success beyond titles, degrees, and numbers
Quote
“Something felt so off and I couldn’t explain it. But I knew that continuing down as a lawyer and actually finishing this law degree and becoming a qualified practicing lawyer, it didn’t sit well with me. So I, after one year, I submitted the withdrawal form on the website.”
About Cheryl Lau
Cheryl Lau is a Hong Kong–born entrepreneur and content creator now based in Singapore. She is the founder of Cheryl Theory, where she coaches creators on building authentic personal brands and online businesses. A two-time graduate-school quitter turned full-time coach, Cheryl hosts Edit History, a podcast where entrepreneurs and creators revisit their early, “cringy” content to explore how they’ve grown. Her work focuses on helping people show up truthfully online while balancing purpose and sustainability.
Why This Conversation Matters
Cheryl’s story is about trusting your instincts — even when logic says otherwise. Her journey from traditional success to creative independence challenges what achievement looks like in Asian culture. Through her honesty about fear, failure, and family, she shows that reinvention isn’t reckless — it’s courageous.
Turning Points
Leaving law school was Cheryl’s first act of self-definition. Despite family disappointment and uncertainty, she took small steps to rebuild — from tutoring and research to content creation. Later, during her PhD, COVID-19 forced her to reassess again, leading her to move to Singapore and run her business full-time. Each pivot taught her that fulfillment isn’t found in external validation but in doing work that feels aligned.
Key Lessons
- Trust your intuition. If something feels wrong, listen — even when you can’t explain it yet.
- Redefine success. Fulfillment isn’t about credentials, it’s about alignment.
- Share your story. You never know who it might help.
- Ego limits growth. Letting go of how you “should” look opens new possibilities.
- Balance ambition with peace. Sustainable success comes from gratitude and grace.
If You Enjoyed This Episode
You might also like:
- Jingjin Liu on Leadership, Womanhood, and Redefining Power — navigating ambition and authenticity.
- Vivian Lim on Building Communities and Continuous Growth — finding purpose through connection.