Jane quit a corporate job to chase her dream. It makes $100 million in sales a year

Thursday, 27 November 2025 05:25

Now she says that failing at the start of her career taught her more than a degree ever could.

Exclusive: In this nine.com.au series, we'll be talking to some of Australia's smartest and sharpest entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs to find out what makes them tick - and what advice they'd have for anyone starting out.

In 2010, Jane Lu left her corporate accounting job to start an online fashion brand; today Showpo does more than $100 million in sales a year.

She was drowning in debt from a failed business when she began the humble start-up from her garage.

Now it's a global e-commerce business and one of the most popular online fashion retailers in Australia.

These are her secrets to success.

How do you start the day to set yourself up for success?

I live by my calendar - if it's not in there, it's not happening.

It's the only way to stay on top of a busy day and make sure I'm spending time on what actually matters, not just what's loudest.

What are three daily habits you always stick to?

If I'm being honest, I don't have the best habits - I don't get nearly enough sleep, I hate reading books and my screen time is out of control.

But I've learned not to beat myself up over it.

What I do stick to is staying adaptable, doing what works for me, and remembering that productivity isn't about being busy - it's about being effective.

Jane quit a corporate job to chase her dream. It made $100 million.

Lots of Aussies are looking for a career change — what small action can help them get ahead of other candidates?

Bring ideas, not just answers.

Anyone can tell you what they'd do in theory - stand out by showing you've thought about the specific company or role.

Ask sharp, curious questions that show you've done your homework and that you genuinely care about adding value.

Energy and curiosity go a long way.

What financial myth do you wish you never bought into?

That owning a home is the ultimate marker of success.

Business owners need to value the importance of liquidity.

Prioritising liquidity over owning a home early on gave me the freedom and flexibility to take risks and move quickly when opportunities came up.

What do you wish you could tell your 20-year-old self?

Don't be afraid to fail - your first business probably will. Mine did.

But that "failure" taught me more than any business degree ever could.

Every setback is just data - take the lesson, not the loss.

Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at mleach@nine.com.au

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