This Power of the Ask podcast episode features Jo Franco, CEO of JoClub, a journaling company that fosters clarity, connection, and community. Jo's journey is marked by resilience and determination, from her early years in Brazil to her current success as an entrepreneur and content creator. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Jo moved to the USA at age six, learning English and navigating challenges as an undocumented immigrant. Despite these obstacles, Jo excelled academically and professionally.

Her entrepreneurial spirit blossomed during college in Manhattan, where she rejected corporate roles to launch a YouTube channel. Overcoming financial struggles and visa uncertainties, Jo's breakthrough came with a major deal in 2015, leading to her hosting a Netflix travel show and founding a successful journaling company during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jo credits her mother's fierce independence and resilience throughout her journey as guiding forces. Her upbringing taught her the value of hard work, financial responsibility, and seizing opportunities. Jo's story reflects a blend of ambition, adaptability, and a deep-rooted desire to create a global impact through her ventures and personal growth.

On this episode of the The Power of the Ask podcast, Jo Franco:

💠 Shares her passion for building relationships by making other people feel seen and heard.

💠 Explains the role of preparation, research, asking questions, and actively listening in moving forward.

💠 Discusses the importance of finding common ground and maintaining relationships.

Jo advises listeners to invest in themselves, their skills, and their knowledge through research and conversations with people from all walks of life. For her, the long game is the bottom line.

“Power and progress come the earlier we can get our hands on the books, have these conversations, take action, and look at investing or saving,” she said. “There should be a sense of urgency. You can start seeing how it moves -- if you're in the money world, time is your greatest asset, and that’s the bottom line. You need to get into the game and also invest in yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask anyone, ‘How can I help?’ This is the number one question that opened doors for me.” Sharing the story of creating a cycle of empowerment makes this Power of the Ask a great listen.

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Jo Franco is the CEO and creator of JoClub, a journaling company fostering clarity, connection & community. A world traveler, TV and podcast host, writer, polyglot, and global soul, Jo moved to the United States from Brazil at age six with her mother and siblings and uses her life story to teach others to invest in themselves, their skills, and their knowledge. A gifted content creator, writer, on-camera host, and brand enhancer, Jo finds energy and enlightenment in connecting with strangers and firmly believes in making moves.

Jo also hosts the Not Your Average Jo podcast, designed to amplify perspectives from all over the globe. Jo and her co-adventurers cover topics ranging from travel hacks to financing the lifestyle of a digital nomad, language learning, finance, love, culture, fitness, and anything that will help grow our perspectives and minds. Each episode has a global filter. At the end of every episode, Jo shares tangible takeaways that will inspire all her listeners to make daily life feel a little less average — at home or on the road.

Jo earned a BBA in Marketing and Communications from Pace University. Her impressive resume includes being a speaker at the SXSW Interactive Conference on Innovation in Digital Media.