Meet Jasmine
Three years ago, in 2021, Jasmine landed her dream job. Just a few months later, she left her career in Big Tech to take her brand and web design side hustle full time. Fast forward to March 2024, at 30, Jasmine moved from London to Paris. In her search to connect with new people, she launched Koterie, a supper club designed to bring people together over food and wine in one of the world’s best cities: Paris (I’m biased sorry!).
Throughout Jasmine’s life there’s a reoccurring theme of her taking a different path, or being open to a new experience - I feel that’s what’s led to her success today.
So often we’re told to stick to one career path, or a way of thinking and doing things, but Jasmine shows how being bold and taking a different route, even if it means going it alone, can open doors you never expected.
P.S. If you’d like to attend an event visit the website: Koterie supper club
“Feel the fear and do it anyway. If something scares you, it’s probably a sign you should be going for it. Most decisions can be undone.”
Jasmine, founder of Koterie (Credit: Bonnie Photography)
Jasmine’s Food Profile
Go-to comfort food? Biang Biang Noodles
If you could be a fruit or vegetable, what would it be and why? A lychee. I feel when people first meet me I have a bit of a hard shell. I’m not one to open up quickly, but when they get to know me I’m sweeter and softer.
What’s a food item that reminds you of your childhood? Shell-on prawns. When I was younger, my mum and I would get a bag of prawns, peel them and eat them together.
Restaurant you’re currently loving? Bouche (Paris). A modern European in Paris’ 11th arrondissement.
Restaurant you want to visit next? Reyna (Paris). A Filipino restaurant I’ve heard good things about, so it’s at the top of my list!
Credit: Bonnie Photography
The Interview
What inspired you to launch your supper club Koterie? I started my career in corporate and Big Tech, eventually landing my dream role. But shortly after, I quit to take my branding side hustle full time. I then moved from London to Paris last year, and the idea for Koterie actually came to me while I was still in London. When I arrived in Paris, I was looking to make new connections. I tried apps like Bumble BFF and Facebook groups, it was actually someone I connected with on Bumble BFF who encouraged me to start the supper club when I shared the idea with them, saying it was something that was missing. I wanted to find a new way to meet people and form genuine connections. In the past, I’d been to networking events, but they always felt a bit stale. I preferred the idea of bringing people together over dinner, and being intentional about how that happens and who you invite. For example, after each event, we’ve developed a way to help people stay connected afterwards.
Out of interest, what inspired the name Koterie? The name is inspired by the French word ‘coterie’, meaning a small group of people with shared interests. I just swapped out the C for a K to put my spin on it! That’s exactly what my events are about: connecting people through genuine mutual interests. So far, we’ve hosted six dinners (five in Paris and one in London), and the goal has always been simple: to meet new friends. The latest dinner I hosted took this a step further, with a focus on connecting female founders.
Tell me about an unexpected event or turning point that led you to where you are now in life? It was a collection of different moments and events in my life. The common thread in all of them was that I had to take those steps independently, without relying on anyone else. For example, I took a gap year as a teenager, which gave me the space to figure things out without external pressure. It meant I was less influenced by what others were doing and more confident in choosing my own path, even when most of my peers were heading straight to university. Later, when I was at university, I moved to Hong Kong for a year abroad programme. I didn’t know anyone there, I was completely on my own, but it shaped so much of who I am today. That experience gave me the confidence to keep building, which eventually led me to leave a corporate job and run my own business.
What challenges have you faced on your entrepreneurial journey and how are you navigating it? One challenge was feeling confident in the decisions I was making without relying on external validation. In the grand scheme of things, I’ve always had a sense that I’m meant to be successful long term, so when it comes to life choices, I trust myself to just make them. That self-belief helps me move forward, even when things feel uncertain.
How do you define success, has it changed or stayed the same for you? Before I would've said success is being like Anna Wintour, the most successful person in their field and public adoration. There’s nothing wrong with public adoration! But for me success is mainly now freedom, having control over my daily life and how I want my day to be, and being in a position where I can dictate where I live.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned from rebuilding your life in another country? I’d say: feel the fear and do it anyway. If something scares you, it’s probably a sign you should be going for it. Most decisions can be undone. You can move somewhere, and (in most cases) if it doesn’t work out you can always move back again. I really believe in the idea of failing fast. Even if an idea isn’t perfect, still do it and grow from it. If it fails, it fails, one failure doesn’t define the trajectory of your life.
What’s your advice for people who want to leave their 9 to 5 and start their entrepreneurial journey? Honestly, just do it! A lot of people don’t even get as far as trying to launch their own business, so the fact you’re thinking about it and taking the steps to make it happen is already an achievement. That said, don’t rush the move from a corporate job to running a business. It might seem glamorous, but it’s a lot of work, and you won’t have a steady income or benefits, so financial security is crucial. I’d advise you to make sure you have savings to cover at least six months. Understand how your business will operate, from healthcare to your pension, and don’t be afraid if you need to return to a job temporarily to support yourself. Being flexible is key, there’s no shame in going back into employment while building your business.
Credit: Bonnie Photography