Echo
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Echo, [Yang Volla,] was born and raised in China by a single mother. Echo learned early that independence, resilience, and determination were not simply virtues, but necessities. As a Chinese immigrant pursuing a creative life in America, her journey has been anything but conventional. From the struggles of a starving artist trying to make ends meet to becoming a successful entrepreneur, performer, mentor, and creative visionary, Echo has built her life around the belief that passion, persistence, and hard work can turn even the most unlikely dreams into reality. A classically trained soprano with a Master of Fine Arts degree and an associate degree in Animation, she has never believed that an artist should be confined to one discipline or one definition of success.
Today, she is the founder and artistic director of Velvet Whip Arts & Social Club, an independent, woman-owned performance venue in Philadelphia, and the founder of Eraserhood Fest, a nonprofit arts festival celebrating independent artists, unconventional creativity, and the city's vibrant artistic community. Her path hasn't always been easy, but every setback has taught her something about perseverance, leadership, and the importance of creating opportunities where none existed before.
Having lived through the uncertainties of being a struggling artist and the challenges of building a business from the ground up, Echo understands both sides of the creative world—the dreams of the artist and the realities of the entrepreneur. That perspective has inspired her newest vision, PACE (Philadelphia Artistic Creative Ecosystem), a nonprofit initiative designed to connect emerging artists with established professionals through mentorship, workshops, scholarships, and career-building opportunities.
To Echo, being successful isn't simply about personal recognition or financial achievement; it's about having the ability to open doors for others. She believes deeply in personal accountability, generosity, and the power of communities that support one another. Her guiding philosophy is simple: "In a society where everyone gives, no one has to take; in a society where everyone only takes, no one receives." From starving artist to entrepreneur, performer, and mentor, Echo continues to reinvent herself while remaining true to the same dream that brought her to the arts in the first place: to create something meaningful, bring people together, and leave behind a world with more opportunities than the one she found.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- How Echo transformed from a 19-year-old Chinese immigrant into a professional opera singer and entrepreneur.
- Why brutal honesty and honoring her word build trust with artists seeking exposure and self-branding.
- How she built Velvet Whip Arts & Social Club into an independent woman-owned performance venue in Philadelphia.
- Why she founded Eraserhood Fest to celebrate independent artists and unconventional creativity across Philadelphia.
- How she helps emerging artists gain exposure, platforming opportunities, and commercial success through mentorship.
- That life is unfair but people are fair, so work hard, work smart, and never quit because of others.
- How to become a wave creator instead of a follower in your industry and creative career.
- Why personal accountability and generosity create communities where everyone gives and no one has to take.
- How her PACE initiative connects emerging artists with established professionals through mentorship, workshops, and scholarships.
- How she balances the dreams of an artist with the realities of entrepreneurship to create sustainable creative careers.
about the show
Women In Power is an entrepreneur TV series featuring female entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders, and industry leaders who are building companies, leading teams, and creating impact in their industries.
Each episode gives viewers a closer look at the real stories behind these women’s success, including the challenges they faced, the decisions that shaped them, and the leadership lessons they learned along the way. The series highlights women who have built businesses, broken barriers, grown brands, and created opportunities for others through their work.
Women In Power was created to spotlight female business leaders whose stories deserve to be seen and heard. From early setbacks to major breakthroughs, each episode shows the journey behind the title, the business, and the public success.
For viewers, the show offers inspiration, practical insight, and a deeper look at what it takes for women to lead, grow, and succeed in today’s business world. For featured guests, it provides a platform to share their story, build authority, and inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs and leaders.
