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Starting out as an intern, and now having her own Nasdaq show. Poppy Shen, who completed our Journalism, Photo and Video Internship & Mentoring Program at RGNN Academy all the way back in 2017, has quite the dream career. Born and raised in China, Poppy’s career has been marked by her origins, and making her way in the media industry in the U.S. has not always been easy. But persistence is key, and after working at AOL and CNN, she went on to develop and produce Yahoo’s In the Know award-winning original series, expanding the brand’s social footprint to 1M TikTok followers and 7M+ Facebook followers.
But that’s not all – Poppy then moved on to Nasdaq, where she now hosts her own show, “The Winning Formula,” – the company’s top-performing franchise, gaining millions of views per episode across platforms and featuring high-profile guests like Alex Honnold, Toto Wolff, and Jimmy Butler. In an exclusive interview, Poppy looks back on her time at RGNN, what it takes to make it in the media industry today, and how you, too, can aspire to host your own show one day. Read on to find out!
What did you learn at RGNN that is still with you today?
The importance of curiosity and keeping an open mind. I have continued to carry these values throughout my career — leading with curiosity, embracing different perspectives, and approaching every story and opportunity with an open mind.
You were born and raised in China, what has it been like navigating and building a career in the media industry in the US?
Building a career in the U.S. as an immigrant, especially in the media industry, has been quite challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. Managing a career far away from home and navigating the uncertainty of visas and work authorization has certainly added a layer of pressure in an already competitive job market.
Those experiences have definitely pushed me to be more intentional and resilient. I had to think about what truly differentiated me from other qualified candidates, and how I can turn my background into a competitive edge and create value wherever I went. That mindset ultimately shaped the way I approach storytelling and career decisions.
How has your heritage shaped your career in journalism?
I grew up in China and moved to the U.S. when I was 15. Having lived in different communities and interacted with people from many cultures, I developed a deep passion for storytelling, which I believe is one of the most powerful ways to connect people, build empathy and make sense of the world around us.
That background has also given a unique perspective and lens on how I approach storytelling and creative thinking. It naturally pushes me to think differently, often outside the box, and to approach every story with nuance and sensitivity. Having that cultural awareness has helped me and the brands and newsrooms I work with connect with global audiences in a much more meaningful and authentic way, and I see it as an advantage that continues to shape my work.
Your Nasdaq show, “The Winning Formula,” is the company’s top-performing franchise, gaining millions of views per episode across platforms and featuring high-profile guests like Alex Honnold, Toto Wolff, and Jimmy Butler. In today’s world, in which everyone is vying for attention, how do you make sure to get consistently high views?
“The Winning Formula” is a series that explores the lessons and parallels at the intersection of business and sports. Beyond featuring high-profile talent that naturally attract a wide range of audience, I take an audience-first approach and am very intentional about choosing topics that resonate with our target viewers.
For instance, the themes we focus on — resilience and leadership, athlete entrepreneurship, the business of sports — align closely with the sports and business audience we’re speaking to. Beyond content, we intentionally developed an intimate one-on-one interview format that allows for more authentic conversations around complex topics in a dynamic and accessible way. This approach broke away from the traditional straight-to-camera formats often used for business content and offers a fresher, and much more engaging viewing experience. I’m also very intentional about how the show is distributed across different platforms. Every full-length episode is repurposed in unique ways for different social channels to meet audiences where they are.
What advice do you have for those who would like to one day host and produce their own show?
Leverage the power of social media and build your own personal brand. You can start building your own voice, style and audience on your own platform.
Using social media as a creative playground allows you to experiment, tell stories in your own way and form a fan base, which will definitely lead to bigger opportunities.
You also built Yahoo’s Snapchat series “Tried It,” which averaged 500K views per episode, and expanded Yahoo’s In The Know brand’s social footprint to 1M TikTok followers and 7M+ Facebook followers. What advice do you have for aspiring media professionals who would also like to work in social media at a media outlet?
Social media evolves quickly, and unfortunately, there’s no right formula to success. What I believe consistently works is being intentional about why a piece of content exists and who it’s designed for. Being able to understand what resonates with the audience and how to connect with them effectively is crucial. So the most practical advice I would give is to immerse yourself in social media, understand the trends, experiment with creating your own content and building your own following.
If you were still in college or just starting out as a video producer or journalist today, what are three things you would do to get ahead in your career?
1. Network: Building professional relationships is probably one of the most effective ways for career development. Not only are you able to learn about the industry and the companies you’re interested in working in, having someone’s referral during job applications would help get your resume in front of the right people, which is extremely important in a competitive job market like today.
2. Get an internship at a reputable brand or organization: This is the best way to gain hands-on experience and learn about the industry. Being in a professional environment can teach you the standards, structure and how great teams operate. And having internship experiences will set you apart from other candidates and help you tremendously during job applications.
3. Build your personal brand or following: Having your own platform allows you to experiment creatively, build credibility, and showcase your work. That visibility can open doors and accelerate growth in ways traditional paths alone often cannot.
What is next for Poppy Shen?
Right now, I’m focused on continuing to grow “The Winning Formula” as a platform — expanding the range of voices and conversations such as including more female athletes and focusing on the growth and business aspects of women’s sports. I’m excited about evolving the series and finding ways to convene notable athletes and executives in more meaningful settings such as in-person summits and events.
Longer term, I’m interested in developing more original and innovative media projects that sit at the intersection of storytelling, media, and innovation. I want to keep creating work that connects people and spark meaningful cultural conversations.
Follow Poppy Shen on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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