Dr. Jenny Woo, founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, launched her Amazon-based business in 2018, selling card games designed to develop emotional intelligence skills. Balancing two part-time jobs, a full-time master’s degree at Harvard, and raising three children, Woo began her side hustle with little experience but great determination.
Her business quickly grew, reaching over $1.7 million in annual sales. However, shifting market conditions, increased competition, and changing consumer habits tested her resilience. Rather than giving up, Woo adapted by diversifying into five income streams and embracing ongoing reinvention.
Woo emphasizes that entrepreneurial success depends not only on starting strong but also on staying agile and resilient through uncertainty. She credits five key books for helping her navigate decision-making, long-term thinking, ego management, and change:
The Algebra of Wealth by Scott Galloway — offering a framework for financial security based on discipline, stoicism, time, and diversification.
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke — teaching probabilistic decision-making amid incomplete information.
Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charles Munger — promoting multidisciplinary, rational thinking and problem inversion.
Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday — highlighting the dangers of unchecked ego in business.
The Next Day by Melinda French Gates — guiding readers through transitions with clarity and resilience.
Dr. Woo, a Harvard-trained educator and investor, has created award-winning educational card games used in over 50 countries. Her work aims to equip both children and adults with critical human skills in the evolving age of AI.
