The Flight Home: A Journey of Identity, Resilience, and Reinvention

The Flight Home, by Veronica Llorca-Smith (Earnshaw Books, 2024)

In this insightful interview, Tony Huang sits down with Veronica Llorca-Smith, author of the compelling memoir The Flight Home. Veronica shares her extraordinary journey of navigating frequent relocations across continents, reclaiming identity beyond borders, and finding resilience amid the challenges of the global pandemic. Together, they explore themes of home, language, personal growth, and the transformative power of storytelling. From her multilingual upbringing to her transition from a corporate career to becoming a writer, coach, and speaker, Veronica offers inspiring reflections on embracing change, connecting with community, and living with purpose in an unpredictable world.

Tony Huang: Hi Veronica, so nice to see you.

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Yes, thank you so much. I'm very excited to meet you. Thank you so much for reaching out.

Tony Huang: Thank you so much for agreeing to have this interview.

Veronica Llorca-Smith: I wonder how did you find out about my book?

Tony Huang: Well, last month, I asked Madeline Traynor from Earnshaw Books, who has been sending me books for reviews all this time, if she could help me find some writers from Earnshaw Books who happen to be in Hong Kong for an interview. She recommended some books and their authors. I went through the books, and I was completely impressed by your memoir. And I said, “Well, I need to talk with Veronica.” I think your memoir speaks to a lot of people because we all share the memory.

I was affected a lot by the pandemic as well. So, it really impressed me because you actually survived that and you did pretty well. You’re a mom bringing two kids with you in yoru adventure. And—that’s quite something. I also recommended the book to my wife and she’s right now reading your book. We were amazed to find that the book, The Flight Home, is not only about the impact of the pandemic; you actually move on through a recollection of your life so far. So the book traces a life that is constantly on the move. So, how did frequent relocation in your childhood, and probably your adulthood, finally shape your sense of identity? And what does “home” mean to you now? I know that at the end of the memoir, you come back to Hong Kong. I’m not sure—are you currently living in Hong Kong or not?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Yes. So after the pandemic, after all these crazy stories of being locked abroad in Australia and all of that, we ended up going back to Hong Kong.

And so about identity—it’s very interesting because we’ve been taught that identity has a lot to do with where you’re born, and where you grow up, and where your family is, and where you go to school. But I didn’t have that. We never owned a home. The maximum that I stayed in one place growing up was four years, and every four years we had to do what I call a cultural reset: new country, new language, new school, new friends.

So my sense of identity was more of a foundation. It stopped being so much about a place or a country. It became more grounded on values and even on specific people. For me, my identity today—I’m originally from Spain, but the longest I’ve ever lived is in Hong Kong. And so that’s a big part of my identity. My daughters, when you ask them where they’re from, they will say they are from Hong Kong.

So I kind of shifted this concept of what identity is, and I kind of created my own ingredients of what home is and what identity is. And it’s a beautiful thing to think that home is not necessarily one specific place or something, but it’s something that you can take with you.

As to the challenges, what I would say about moving countries is that it is always very hard before it becomes easy. It was never easy as a child, it was never easy as a teenager, and it wasn’t easy as an adult, but everything that is challenging at some point ends up becoming an opportunity.

And today I can say that I speak many languages. I have friends from different countries. I’ve been able to grow as a person, for example. At heart, I’m an introvert. But because I had to go through all these experiences, I’m very flexible and very comfortable now when it comes to speaking on podcasts, speaking in public, or doing things that are traditionally not what you would think of an introvert. So yes, things are hard before they get easy, but it ends up making you stronger.

Tony Huang: That’s quite an amazing experience. You just mentioned that you can speak many different languages. How many different languages can you speak, and which language do you feel more at home with when you’re actually using the language?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: I speak six languages, and just to take you a little bit through how and what they are, very briefly: I’m originally from Spain, so Spanish is obviously my mother tongue. But when I was five, we moved to France. And I never learned to read or write in Spanish, so I just learned by myself. So French really became more my academic language. Then, when I was 11 years old, we moved to Brazil, and so I learned Portuguese, which is my third language. English only came into the picture afterwards when we moved to the Netherlands because I went to an international school, so English was number four. Then I lived in Italy for my studies, and Italian was number five. In my early twenties, I moved to Taiwan to learn Chinese, and then I lived in Shanghai. Now I live in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, I don’t speak Cantonese, so I can’t count Cantonese in my list.

One thing that’s interesting about languages is that for me, each language has its place. For example, Spanish is the language that I speak with my family. It’s a language that conversationally I feel very comfortable with, but English is definitely my business language. If I had to pick a language to do anything related to business, it would be English. But then, for example, with my sister, we speak French because we were used to speaking French at school, so depending on the context and depending on the environment and the situation, every language has its own place.

Tony Huang: Well, that’s surprisingly wonderful. It’s probably beyond my imagination, because I only speak Mandarin, Amoi, the kind of language that people use in Taiwan as well, and, of course, English. But these are basically all the things that I have, and I just can’t imagine how six languages work in the same brain at the same time. That’s amazing.

In your memoir, you detail a range of compelling events and experiences, addressing themes of freedom as well as moments of deep fear, particularly during the pandemic—a time that posed significant challenges globally. Could you elaborate on how writing about these varied experiences contributed to your personal reflection and processing of this period in your life?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Coming from the corporate world, I had been working for 15 years for big companies like Apple and Estée Lauder, and I always felt that I was running at 100 miles an hour. And so I never really had the time to meditate, to process, to think about what was happening because you were always planning the next thing, the next call, the next step, the next meeting.

When the pandemic happened, and I found myself unemployed, all of a sudden I had a lot of free time which I had never had during my career. I had never had even a month between jobs. And that’s when I started writing. Initially, it felt more like writing just to put down some ideas. But what I realized is that it was almost therapy, because for once in my life I was able to really reflect and think about not only what was going on, but how I felt about it, and how it was impacting me, and how I was digesting everything that was happening with the world.

So for me, that period was incredible, because I was already in my forties. I had never really written before in that context, and I found this incredible tool that I think is very underrated and underused, which is the power of connecting with yourself. And I think that’s writing. What writing gave me is this ability to look in the mirror and have to face everything that you talked about: your fears, your insecurities, but also your gratitude. So it was looking in the mirror and facing the good and the bad, and everything in between.

And for me that was also the beginning of my new career as a writer, as a public speaker, as a coach for writers, because I realized how powerful writing can be for ourselves but also—

Tony Huang: Yeah, that’s very interesting. I know that when you were a little kid, you mentioned in your memoir that you wrote a poem which won a significant prize at school. So it seems the writing talent was there early on. But when did you actually start to sit down seriously to write a memoir or a book?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: There are two pivotal moments that set me on this path. The first was about writing in general, and the second was about writing the memoir itself — so I’ll talk about both. The initial moment about writing in general happened on a beautiful sunny day when I was on the Gold Coast in Australia with my daughters. We went to the beach; the girls were very little and playing, and I didn’t have a job at that time.

I realized I was often in the victim’s mindset. I would say things like, “I can’t find a job because I’m a foreigner. I don’t have a network here.” But that day, I decided to take control and asked myself, “What story do I want to tell my daughters when they grow up?” I didn’t want to tell them, “I was a victim. I couldn’t find a job. It was very difficult.” I wanted to change that story. That day was when I started writing in general, and also when I posted my first post on LinkedIn. From there, I began writing almost every day. That was the triggering moment.

At that time, I wasn’t thinking about writing books or having a big plan. I was simply focused on doing something different, taking the next step, writing the first page of something, even though I didn’t know what that something looked like.

Then, a couple of months later, once I was writing articles and creating content on a platform called Medium, which is for writers, I was having coffee with my mother-in-law. She said, “Veronica, you should write a book.” I almost choked and said, “What do you mean? I should write a book?” She replied, “Look, you’ve started writing, you seem to enjoy it. You’re talented, and you have a story worth sharing.”

My initial reaction was, “No, I’m not famous. I haven’t done anything incredible. I don’t have anything worth writing about.” But that conversation planted a seed. What I realized is that actually, all of us have a story worth sharing. You don’t have to be the best at anything. You don’t have to be famous or have done something remarkable to share your story, because every one of us has our uniqueness and our own stories worth sharing.

That moment of someone outside saying, “Hey, you have a story worth sharing,” was a true eye-opener for me. So, to the audience, I’d love to pass the baton and say that you, too, have a story worth sharing. It doesn’t matter what it is or how you share it. It could be an article, a podcast like I’m doing today, or a book. The moment you give yourself permission to say, “I have something worth sharing, something that could help someone else—a story or lived experience that could positively impact others,” you open up new possibilities you never knew existed.

Tony Huang: Yeah, that’s quite true. I’m so happy that your mother-in-law was able to point this out, and that you shared this valuable suggestion. It really is a very amazing book—truly inspiring—and I think it has touched many people. As I mentioned a moment ago, my wife and I were having lunch and reflecting on those pandemic years. It seems that many of us intentionally try to forget or push that time behind us because it was so dark. But during our lunch, we talked about your memoir and the life we’ve all been through—the many interrupted plans and lost programs due to quarantine and other challenges. We realized that your story actually brings back something important: hope and the profound strength of family. It’s quite amazing.

Also, your book captures so many sudden and unexpected changes throughout those years. I know you originally planned only a short trip outside of Hong Kong, which then turned into almost an exile before finally returning home. Given such upheavals, what advice would you offer to others who might face similar unexpected life changes?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: So, first, in terms of challenges—in my case, as you described—it was almost this exile of all of a sudden being locked abroad. We were separated from my husband, from our house, from our dog, from the life that we knew. So it was quite radical, and it wasn’t expected.

And those challenges can take very different shapes. It could be finding yourself suddenly unemployed, or it could be facing a personal issue, perhaps a separation from your partner, or whatever that is. And the one thing that helped me, and I think it would help anyone in any challenging situation, is how you decide to look at it.

Because what I realized when I did this exercise of self-reflection is that very often, by default, we tend to put ourselves in the passive seat or in the victim’s shoes. In my case, as I said, I used to tell myself the story that comforted me, and that story was, “I’m in this situation. I’m in a new country. I’m a foreigner. English is my second language, and so it’s very difficult for me to find a job, and people are not giving me opportunities.”

And so we tend to put ourselves in that narrative of being the victim because it’s comforting. And it’s the easiest thing to do, and that way it’s almost like “poor me” and “pity me,” and we feel good in a way about it.

But what really helps is at one point I think we have to go through this mourning period. We have to. If we have to be sad, if we have to be disappointed, we go through all of that. But at one point, we do have to step in the driver’s seat because no one is going to do that for us. If we’re waiting for someone to give us a job, for someone to put us in a podcast like today, then we’re going to be waiting for a very long time.

And this really helped me to say, “Okay, what can I do to revert the situation? What can I do to be in the driver’s seat?” If I can’t find a job in my case, then I have to create it myself. If people are not coming to you, then how are you going to go to people? If others are not seeing your value, then it’s up to you to go out there and showcase your value.

And I think this change in mindset, this change in perspective, really helped me a lot, because it was very empowering. Instead of complaining about what I didn’t have, I started to focus on what I can create; and instead of complaining about what people were not doing, I started focusing on what I can do to get to the results that I want. And so this shift in perspective for me was incredible.

Let me give you a very specific example. I used to complain about having all this free time during the day because my kids used to go to kindergarten and then school, and I didn’t have a job, and it was like, “Oh, I have all this free time and I don’t know what to do with it,” because I felt very frustrated.

I didn’t have a job. And then I turned things around. And I said, “This is amazing. I’ve never had 4 hours of free time to focus on things that can add value to me.” So I started studying. I started taking courses on LinkedIn Learning. I started to speak in podcasts. I started to write.

It was the same situation: an unemployed woman who wasn’t able to find a job. But my perspective and my approach to it was radically different. And so very often, for the same situation, you can have two stories that are completely different. And I encourage everyone to challenge yourself and say, “Okay, what is the story that is really going to help me grow?” That was a real game changer for me.

Tony Huang: I think this message is very important today, and many people will benefit from learning it. During your exile, traveling through various countries, you brought your two children with you. Remarkably, they adapted quickly, especially when it came to language.

I recall you mentioning that when you returned to Spain, your children picked up Spanish almost effortlessly and spoke it naturally. Do their experiences somewhat mirror your own childhood experiences, or are they quite different?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: It was a bit of both. Watching my children live through that experience made me realize just how resilient kids are. For them, having to go to a new school, make new friends, or learn a new language was just something they dealt with day by day. I learned a lot from them—how they adapted so naturally and how incredibly resilient these little people are. That really brings me back to my own childhood. One thing that must have been especially hard for your kids was the lack of stability—yes, their dad and their dog. Their identity was tied to the life they knew in Hong Kong. I remember, for me personally, it was heartbreaking when my little one would ask me at night after her goodnight kiss, “When are we going to see Daddy?” The hardest thing to say was honestly, “I don’t know. I hope it will be soon.” But the truth was, I didn’t know how long that separation would last. Not being able to provide the stability they needed was a big challenge, yet despite that, they absorbed everything like little sponges. They learned the language quickly and settled well into the new schools—first in Spain, then in Australia. There were many similarities in their experience.

What struck me as very different from my own childhood—reflective of how the world has changed—is that when I was a child moving between countries, I was often the only foreigner, the only one who spoke a foreign language, the only one who felt out of place. Especially when we moved to Australia, everyone around me came from a variety of backgrounds. We lived on the Gold Coast, where at the time there was a significant influx of foreigners from many parts of Australia. For my children, being different wasn’t really different because they had friends from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the US. That made me realize how much diversity has increased and how much more inclusive the world has become compared to when I was a kid.

Tony Huang: It’s quite amazing how kids are naturally experts at adapting to new environments. I have a 10-year-old son, and we recently relocated from northern China to Hong Kong and Xiamen. He seems to be adjusting much faster than anyone else in the family, and it’s been truly remarkable to see.

That said, moving to a new place can sometimes make one feel like an outsider, especially when language barriers come into play. For example, I’m not proficient in Cantonese in Hong Kong, so English often becomes my fallback language. This can be challenging and can lead to cultural feelings of being an outsider. How did you manage such challenges during your time in Australia? And how long did it take for you to feel comfortable surrounded by diverse communities?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: One thing that has always helped me throughout my life is connecting with people based not so much on where they come from or the language they speak, but on shared values and what matters to us. In my book, I talk about sports as a great equalizer for me. When I was a kid, I did figure skating; then when we moved to Brazil, I joined a volleyball team; and later, living in Hong Kong, I joined a Triathlon club.

I realized that sports enable us to speak the same language regardless of whether you’re a CEO, a secretary, a man or a woman, or from any country. In Australia, joining sports clubs gave me great comfort and a sense of belonging—I joined triathlon, running, and swim clubs. These activities became a meaningful way to meet people and connect through what matters to me: sports, fitness, and the mindset of resilience and overcoming challenges.

This approach worked very well for me, and I encourage everyone to find something they are passionate about and use it as a bridge to build relationships with others.

Tony Huang: Yeah. So talking about sports, I was amazed to find that you really participate in triathlon competitions. Would you like to say one or two words about that?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Yes, absolutely. Not everyone is familiar with triathlon, so just to explain: a triathlon consists of three sports done in this order—swimming, cycling, and then running. There are various distances, but the longest one, which I completed over 10 years ago in Australia, is called an Ironman. It’s incredibly demanding—almost a 3.8-kilometer swim, followed by a 180-kilometer bike ride, and then a full marathon of 42 kilometers.

That’s the biggest challenge I’ve ever undertaken. Interestingly, when I started, I could barely swim and wasn’t a very good runner. I didn’t even own a proper bike; my old bike probably had a basket on it and was more of a leisure bike. I began one step at a time—first joining a club, then signing up for my first triathlon, which was a short sprint. I surrounded myself with people who had similar interests and goals—those who wanted to improve, challenge themselves, and push their limits physically and mentally. Triathlon has become a big part of my life, and through it, I’ve met many of my best friends. I also met my husband through the Triathlon Club, so it’s been more than just a sport—it’s truly been a significant part of my life.

Tony Huang: That’s quite amazing. Do you think that participating in sports, especially triathlon and becoming an Ironman, relates to the resilience in your personality? How has that experience helped shape the person you are today?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: So I think triathlon is an endurance sport, right? And when you think about endurance, I feel that physical endurance helps you with the mental endurance. For example, when you are running for hours and you want to give up, but you keep going because you have a reason to do so. It’s a life goal. You want to prove to yourself that you can do it. You keep pushing yourself. That builds mental resilience that you can use for other things.

Very often when I find myself in a challenging situation—whether at work, with a project, or feeling disappointed—I think back to my experiences with Ironman. I remember how tough it was, but also how crucial it was to keep going. Many of the lessons I apply in both my personal and professional life come from sports more broadly, not just triathlon. For example, we often feel that a small step doesn’t make much difference. We ask ourselves, “Why bother? This won’t change anything. Why write one page? Who will even read it?” But in sports, every single step counts. If you want to run a marathon, every step is one step closer to the finish.

I like to say that a marathon isn’t 42 kilometers all at once; it’s 42 one-kilometer segments. Breaking things into small, manageable pieces applies just as well to life. One page a day may not seem like much, but after a year, you have 365 pages—that’s a book. I apply this philosophy a lot in my life. Another phrase I often use, though it’s not mine, is “Your race, your pace.” So often, we compare ourselves to others in our careers, personal lives, achievements, or possessions. But the truth is, this is your race, your pace, and the only person you should compare yourself with is who you were a few months or a year ago. This perspective helps me focus on my own journey instead of getting distracted by others’ progress. Looking back to when I published my memoir almost two years ago, so much has changed. Yes, some people may move faster or find more success, but comparing myself today to who I was then feels like comparing two very different worlds. That gratitude and focus on my own path is what keeps me grounded.

Tony Huang: I really appreciate the valuable philosophy you’ve gained from sports. I know you’ve also worked for prominent global companies like Apple and a major cosmetics firm. When leading teams there, do you think that experience has influenced and shaped your life as well?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Yes, absolutely. My professional and personal lives have always influenced each other. Throughout my career, I have worked in very multicultural teams—from European companies in China to American companies like Apple and Estée Lauder in New York. These teams were extremely diverse, which presented unique challenges. Different languages, cultures, and business practices meant that communication and collaboration were often more complex.

However, my personal experiences navigating cultural differences from a young age proved invaluable. Growing up, I often couldn’t speak the local language and had to become an attentive listener—not just to words but to nonverbal cues. This ability to understand and adapt helped me greatly in the professional environment. It enabled me to work effectively with colleagues from various backgrounds and to forge strong partnerships.

Today, I’ve left the corporate world behind following the pandemic and have started my own company built on three pillars: writing, coaching, and public speaking. I write extensively, coach writers and creators to build their audiences and publish books, and speak publicly on topics such as cultural agility, inclusion, and leading multicultural teams. My previous career laid the foundation for this new phase of life, helping me build both a personal and professional path that I find deeply fulfilling.

Tony Huang: That’s amazing—to see how previous experiences continue to influence and support your current profession. In our lives, there are often important people—relatives or family members—whose advice or suggestions become crucial during times of change. Reflecting on your own journey, is there a particular piece of advice or insight that has been especially central and pivotal in shaping the person you are today?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Sure. The most basic and essential element when it comes to the people you surround yourself with is having strong support from your close circle—relatives, partners, and close friends. That foundation is crucial for any personal or professional journey. What I’ve found especially powerful in my experience is what I call the idea of social gravity.

Social gravity is the concept that the group of people around you will either lift you up or pull you down. I experienced this firsthand when I was training to become a triathlete and an Ironman. I intentionally surrounded myself with people who shared the same goals, a similar identity, and who were all moving in the same direction. It was incredibly motivating because we pushed each other to constantly raise the bar. Today, the same is true in my career as an author. The writers I connect and collaborate with inspire me, especially those who are a few steps ahead—some who have published multiple books or earned recognition in the field.

Returning to the idea of social gravity, I strongly recommend that everyone, regardless of your goals, find people who share your vision and ambitions. Doing so provides inspiration, opportunities for collaboration, and meaningful role models—and importantly, you become a role model for others as well. This is incredibly powerful because, often, we feel isolated, locked into our individual goals. But when we open ourselves up and adopt a broader perspective, we discover that by joining forces with others, we can achieve far more together. So, remember the concept of social gravity.

Tony Huang:  When I was reading your memoir, I was really impressed by how openly you address tough topics like class and race—especially your observations from Rio and your friendship with Denzilton. You also spoke at a women’s forum in Singapore about women’s independence. Often, writers shy away from these sensitive issues, but you seem confident discussing them. Could you share more about your thoughts on privilege and inclusion, and why you feel comfortable addressing such important but challenging topics?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Throughout my book, I address a range of important topics, including racial justice—a subject that deeply impacted me during my time living in Brazil. There, issues of race and class were impossible to ignore, and they made me realize how privileged I am in many aspects of my life. As a child, I assumed that all kids went to school, but by the time I was 11 or 12, I came to understand that many children from the favelas didn’t have that opportunity. This early exposure opened my eyes to the stark inequalities around me and made me aware that not everyone has the same opportunities.

This awareness instilled in me both gratitude and a sense of responsibility. I became deeply thankful for the basic necessities I had—such as a house, electricity, and water—that many others lacked. That seed of gratitude stayed with me as I grew up and began my career, initially working for different companies while trying to find my path. It wasn’t until I created my own business, with a blank slate to build something meaningful, that I was able to fully reconnect with my core values—especially those related to justice and equality.

I also explore the complexities of privilege through the lens of gender. As the only woman in many professional settings, I faced the challenge of breaking through multiple ceilings. This experience fueled my passion to empower women, particularly younger women from less privileged backgrounds, to succeed and find their voice in male-dominated industries and environments where they are underrepresented. The lessons from my personal awakening as a child have profoundly shaped my career and mission. Today, a significant part of my work focuses on championing women’s empowerment, cultural inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion—truly connecting the dots between my early experiences and my ongoing efforts to drive positive change.

Tony Huang: I really appreciate your efforts to put things in the right place and help women gain more empowered positions. When I was reading your memoir, I could feel some of the pain you experienced while writing it, especially when you wrote about your struggles with miscarriage, moments of intense frustration, and feeling like an invisible mom. How did you find the strength to keep moving forward, and what advice would you offer to others facing similar experiences?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: It took me a long time to be able to talk openly about loss, miscarriage, and grief. For many women, these experiences are incredibly difficult because they come unexpectedly and can feel deeply isolating. I struggled a lot during that period, but finding strength in small moments of joy helped me keep going. I sought support from other women who had faced similar challenges, but even then, it remained a very lonely experience. I didn’t have all the answers, and that’s part of why I chose to write about it in my book—I realized that many people go through this pain quietly, feeling like they have no one to talk to because it’s still such a taboo subject.

By bringing this topic into the open, my intention was to give others permission to speak about it without shame or secrecy. Talking about it helps us connect, because often we hold that sadness inside. In a way, my book became an open door to let women know—they are not alone. I know it’s hard, and what they’re going through is deeply difficult, but they don’t have to suffer in silence. The idea of the “invisible mom” is especially important to me because it describes that strange, painful feeling of expecting to be a mother but not having it recognized. My hope is that even if just one woman reads my book, she will feel comforted and understood.

Tony Huang: When I was reading your memoir, I really admired your courage in openly sharing such painful experiences. For many writers, it’s not easy to confront and write about difficult moments like these; sometimes they are only hinted at or skipped altogether. That vulnerability is powerful, and it shines through your writing, becoming a major theme in your memoir. You also mentioned your post on LinkedIn earlier, and I’m curious—how has your engagement with LinkedIn, podcasts, and public speaking helped you build a sense of community and achieve greater self-acceptance?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: The post you mentioned was actually my very first post on LinkedIn. At that time, I didn’t have a job, and I felt somewhat embarrassed to share that with the world. In fact, I had been searching for a job for months without success. In that post, I explained how my life had been shaken upside down, and that I was trying to find my way. I admitted I didn’t have the answers yet, nor did I have any big successes or a thriving business to show off. But I wanted to open a door—to let others know it’s okay to ask for help, and it’s okay to admit when you’re not okay. It was incredible to receive so much support and engagement, especially since I had never published anything before. Many people related to my honesty.

Social media often presents a polished façade—people showing shiny successes and impressive metrics. But many of us don’t have it all together. We’re all trying to figure things out. Sometimes we feel ahead and focused; other times, lost. This reality resonated with many, and it gave me the confidence to share openly about my journey. I realized I didn’t need huge success to connect with others, and that encouraged me to keep building my presence publicly. I started writing more and speaking on podcasts—my first podcast was terrifying since I had no prior experience—but gradually, I found my voice. Over time, I began collaborating with others and eventually launched my newsletter, The Lamentary Mindset, which started small but has since grown to 10,000 subscribers.

I also facilitate webinars, masterminds, and group coaching sessions. Opening that door to vulnerability has allowed me to explore opportunities I never imagined. Linking back to what you said earlier, this process helped me build a community—people who share a passion for creation, building new paths, and connecting through writing and storytelling. It’s much more than a LinkedIn post; it’s the belief that everyone has a story worth sharing. But sharing it takes courage and vulnerability, especially when sometimes no one seems to listen or respond. The more you show up authentically for yourself, the more others will show up to support you.

Tony Huang: Exactly. There’s another thing I’m very curious about, and I think it will help many writers who read our interview. How has your experience with writing—such as posting and promoting your work online—related to the process of sitting down to write a book that eventually gets published? How do you see the relationship between these two aspects, and how does one support the other?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: It’s so important, especially if you’re an author or an aspiring author, to understand that you must find your readers before you publish a book. You can’t just write a book and expect people to discover it on their own—it doesn’t work that way. You need to build your brand, connect with your audience, and cultivate readers so that when you launch your memoir, novel, or any publication, there are already people interested in what you have to say.

The problem is, many writers love writing but don’t enjoy marketing. They often sit quietly, hoping publishers will do the promotion or that readers will magically find them. But no one comes to discover you—you have to put yourself out there. I often say that a manuscript becomes a book only when you treat it like a product, and that means you become a businessperson. You have to pitch yourself, seek out opportunities, and actively promote your work. I’ve been doing exactly that since publishing my memoir almost two years ago—appearing on podcasts, attending book fairs, and engaging with the literary community. Writing and marketing are an ecosystem: you aren’t just selling a book, you’re selling yourself as an author. Being your own best ambassador is critical to growth and success.

Tony Huang: I think that is an important message you’re sharing with our readers. At the end of your memoir, you write about the plane taking you back to Hong Kong, effectively closing the loop of your story. So my question is: what is the biggest lesson you hope your readers will take away about finding belonging or meaning in such an unpredictable world? Especially now, given how unpredictable life feels—considering how much has changed since 2019, through the pandemic, and with political upheavals around the globe. What message would you give your readers about navigating this uncertainty in life?

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Initially, my memoir was simply about telling the story of my life and how things unfolded. But at a certain point, I realized I didn’t want it to be just my story—I wanted it to be something universal, something that could inspire others to write their own stories. What became clear to me, and only after finishing the book, was that it wasn’t just a memoir; it was really a story about values. When I completed that final “closing the loop” moment you mentioned, I saw that the answers I was seeking were within me, rooted deeply in my values. Reflecting on all the moments of my life—both joyful and challenging—I recognized they all connected to my core values.

When I linked those values to the unpredictable changes happening in the world, my identity, and what truly mattered to me, I finally found clarity. Often, we look externally for answers and become frustrated when we come up empty. But when we practice introspection and focus on our values and what truly matters, new opportunities appear. For example, I never imagined I would own my own business. I was set on climbing the corporate ladder, believing that was my path. Yet in hindsight, reflecting on what truly mattered to me—issues like inclusion, racial justice, freedom, and creativity—I discovered a new path I could create for myself.

That realization came from a moment of vulnerability, a time when I looked in the mirror and said, “Perhaps I want to try something new. I want to take a risk. I don’t know where it will lead, but I’m ready to learn.” My message is that while it’s important to look outside for guidance and support, it’s equally, if not more, important to look inside. Think deeply about the values and the story you want to share with your children, and the legacy you want to leave behind.

Tony Huang: That’s such an important message. To the very end of our interview today, I would like you to tell us a bit about this new business you just started. I know this is related to writing. Please elaborate a little bit on the business and how it’s going to help the writers’ community in Hong Kong and beyond.

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Absolutely. The foundation of my entire business is community. Whether you want to be a writer or a coach, having a supportive community is essential. For me, my work is built on three main pillars. The first is writing. I began by self-publishing two books and then wrote my memoir, The Flight Home, which we are discussing today. After that, I published a book with Penguin Random House, the world’s largest publisher. It was a journey to get there, and I followed this path diligently as an author.

As I continued growing as an author, I realized I needed to do more than just publish books. I started writing online, becoming what is now called a creator. I launched my community through my newsletter, The Lamentary Mindset, where I publish two to three posts each week, engage with readers through community chats, and host webinars. That’s where coaching came in—many people reached out saying they wanted to do what I was doing: write, publish, and create content online. This inspired the second pillar of my business. Through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and masterminds, I support those looking to build creative businesses or transition from corporate roles.

The third pillar is public speaking. I recognized that my leadership experience in the corporate world held great value, and I didn’t want to leave that behind. Now, I help organizations by sharing what I’ve learned about inclusive leadership and high-performance management. My advice to the audience is that you don’t need to do everything at once. I started with writing, then added coaching. You can build step-by-step, like building blocks—start where you are, maybe with writing or speaking, and gradually open new doors as you grow.

Tony Huang: I think this is really helpful. Your new business represents a fascinating exploration in this field. Thank you so much for this wonderful hour where we discussed many topics I was curious about in your memoir.

Veronica Llorca-Smith: Thank you so much, Tony. I really appreciate it. It was a pleasure to be your guest today.

Veronica Llorca-Smith is a public speaker and author. After two decades in senior leadership positions leading large teams in Asia Pacific for world brands such as Apple and Estée Lauder, she founded her own business. Originally from Spain, Veronica has lived in nine countries across Europe, South America, Asia, and the Pacific and speaks six languages fluently, including Chinese. She's also an amateur triathlete and has completed over 100 races, including the World Championships of Half Ironman in Vegas and an Ironman in Western Australia. Veronica uses her professional experience leading and motivating multicultural teams, as well as her passion for cultures, travelling, and sports, to empower others to unlock their potential in life. Her writing and public speaking gravitate around a growth mindset, self-improvement, and personal development, and her positivity shines through all her work. 

Tony Huang, PhD, is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Hong Kong Review. He is also the founder of Metacircle Fellowship, Metacircle (Hong Kong) Culture and Education Co., Ltd. and Metaeducation. He works as a guest-editor for SmokeLong Quarterly. His poems and translations have appeared in Mad Swirl, The Hong Kong Review, The Best Small Fictions Anthology Selections 2020, Tianjin Daily, Binhai Times, SmokeLong Quarterly, Nankai Journal, Large Ocean Poetry Quarterly, Yangcheng Evening News and other places.

Copy editor: Nancy He