Sun Yi is an entrepreneur, storyteller, and TEDx speaker. He is the founder of Night Owls, an award-winning digital agency in New York City. In 2022, he started Night Owl Nation, a global community of entrepreneurs and creators who practice storytelling together.

What is your “why”?

I don’t have one. I wasted 10 years of my life looking for my why and just ended up confused and miserable.

Once I stopped looking for my why, I became happier and realized everything good in my life happened by accident.

Here’s my life philosophy: I do whatever task is in front of me with 100% focus, care and love. I don’t worry about tomorrow. The universe will show me the next steps.

Why did you start Night Owl Nation?

I have a terrible poker face. I wear my heart on my sleeves.

In college, I got a job selling laptops where I was told it was same as a Toshiba laptop for half the price. On my first day, I sold 7, the most they’ve ever sold in one day. After a few months I found out the laptop was garbage. I couldn’t sell with a straight face after that. I felt like I was betraying myself. My sales numbers went to zero.

When I started my own agency, I noticed that I had no problem selling. I had conviction because I was selling myself and I believed in the product. People loved how honest I was during sales meetings. Then when I started making content, people loved how honest I was also.

I realized that my “bad poker face” wasn’t a weakness. It was my biggest strength.

That’s why when I was creating an online course, I kept getting that same “betraying myself” feeling. I knew from data and previous clients that most students don’t finish online courses. I know it’s not the course’s fault, but I still didn’t feel right saying it because I knew it wouldn’t work for most of them.

I felt like my entire career was a lie. I stopped making content, went into a hole, and disappeared for a year. I wanted to create something where people can continue to practice, get feedback, and make it scalable.

It started out messy, but eventually it became a real community.

Marketers have hijacked online education with phrases like “6-figure launch” and “passive income”. I was one of them. Now my mission is to help fix it.

How much money do you make?

People often ask me, “Why only charge $30/month?” or “Why not offer high-ticket products?” My favorite is, “If they don’t pay a lot, they won’t pay attention.”

While I appreciate the advice, the truth is, this type of language is what ruined online education in the first place. We’re more focused obsessed with “selling” than with truly “teaching”.

I’m not doing this to get rich. I started Night Owl Nation to fix online education. I make money from my agency and other ventures.  Put the focus back where it belongs: on helping people learn and grow.

Where did you work before?

This ain’t my first rodeo. While I’m new to teaching and creating content (grew my Instagram to 50k followers in first 6 months.), I bring over 20 years of experience working in design, branding and marketing.

In 2010, I founded Night Owls, an award-winning digital agency based in New York City. Over the years, I’ve helped generate over a billion dollars in revenue for some of the biggest brands in the world.

In 2020, I became an official member of the Forbes Agency Council.

In 2021, I launched my course on Domestika: The Art of Storytelling for Freelancers and Creators. which now has over 28,000 students and a 99.99% positive review rating.

In April 2022, I founded Night Owl Nation, where I teach storytelling through weekly practice sessions to a global community of entrepreneurs and creators.

and July 2023, launched my first-ever VIP mentorship program, spots are extremely limited – join my waitlist by emailing my team.

I also host the “Authentic As F*ck” Podcast, where I interview entrepreneurs and creators, diving deep into their journeys and expertise to inspire our audience. Past guests include Ryan Serhant, Neil Patel, Brock Johnson, Eric Siu, Steven Pressfield, Tamsen Fadal, James Altucher, Joanne Lee Molinaro, Baron Baptiste, Laura Belgray, Jay Clouse, Vinh Quang Giang, David Meltzer, Chris Do, and many others.

Lastly, great marketers know other great marketers. Are there any other marketing leaders you’d recommend being a guest on the Authentic As F*ck Podcast?, feel free to email my team.

I also have the privilege of serving as a juror for AIVA (The Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts), overseeing the Communicator Award, Davey Awards, and W3 Awards. Additionally, I’m a member of IADAS (The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.)  involved in presenting the Webby Awards, Lovie Awards, and Anthem Awards. Recently recognized and won THE award specifically meant for visionary creators on Instagram for the 2024 most community-focused creator!

There’s so much more about me, and I’d love to share it with you!

Who have you worked with?

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with some of the world’s most iconic brands, including:

American Red Cross / Columbia University / Contently / NYU / Real Networks / Seiko / Spotify / S’well Bottle / and many more… 

Lately, we’ve also had the honor of working with a powerhouse lineup of speakers, authors, and influencers who are shaping the world today:

Marc Randolph / Mel Robbins / Jay Shetty  / Gabby Bernstein / Baron Baptiste / Colette Baron-Reid / Nicole Lapin / Dhar Mann / Naomi Whittel / Sonia Choquette / – and many more trailblazers.

Here are some organizations that invited me to speak:

Here are some awards we've won over the years:

Where can I find your content?

Here:

Where can I see your press mentions?

Here are some video interviews I've done:

Here are some press that's mentioned me:

Where can I listen to your interviews?

Here are some podcasts that I've been on:

Why should I trust you?

You shouldn't trust me.

You should read what others say about me behind my back. Here are few things people have said about my speaking:

Sun Yi is a prodigy at social media, storytelling, and teaching both.

-Laura Belgray, Shrimp Club

We got so many good reviews from hosting this event with Sun

-James Cullen, California Association of Realtors Young Professional Network

Sun has a way of connecting authentically with the audience

-Mario Quezada, Mindset Reboot

Circle is lucky to have him!

-Alexis Teichmiller, Circle

And here's what my clients have said about my agency:

Helped tackle a major business challenge.

-Courtney Junkin, American Red Cross

A fantastic group to work with!

-Lanna Apisukh, Real Networks

A rare combination of passion, execution, dedication, and illustrious team

Young & Leya, Dog City

Passionate, honest, and trustworthy.

-Frank Bonura, Seiko

Exceeded all our expectations.

-John Lee, Disc Disease Solutions

An important and incredible partner.

-Chris Hansen, AJW

Innovative and one-of-a-kind team.

-Brad Beckerman, Esense

Creative, responsive and flexible team

Laura Lilyquist, Badgeville

Can I hire you to speak at my event?

Check out my speaker sizzle reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6v7bhxaT1A

Watch my full speaker reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpE36WsHxGQ

Let’s face it —most events are forgettable. I’ve attended countless conferences and seminars that felt like little more than an excuse to travel, socialize, and grab free drinks.

But every now and then, there’s that ONE speaker who delivers something so powerful, so unexpected, that it shifts your entire perspective.

That’s what I strive for every time I step on stage. My goal is simple: to blow people’s minds and make them think, “Wow, I’ve never looked at it that way before.”  “

With extensive expertise in personal branding, design, marketing, storytelling, leadership, entrepreneurship, social media, and more, I bring immense value to conferences. My substantial influence includes over 350,000 followers and 50,000+ views per Instagram post.

Having shared stages with luminaries like Gary Vaynerchuk, I’ve captivated audiences of over 30,000 with my engaging insights. Recent feedback highlights my unique ability to provide both inspiration and actionable strategies.

If you want a speaker who will make a lasting impression, reach out to my team to discuss booking details. I look forward to contributing to your event’s success!

How can I work with you?

While my agency, Night Owls, isn’t accepting new clients at the moment, I am available for a quick 1:1 coaching call if you have questions or need advice. This is your best opportunity to book me for a personal consultation or coaching session.

If you’re ready to dive deep into storytelling and want ongoing mentorship, the best way to connect is by joining Night Owl Nation Membership. Our vibrant global community is built around Small Groups, where entrepreneurs and content creators grow together with support, feedback, and accountability.

Looking for something more exclusive? Join the waitlist for my next VIP Mentorship Program—spots are extremely limited, and I highly recommend reaching out to my team to secure your place right now. If you’re serious about taking your business or career to the next level, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

For speaking, press, or collaboration inquiries, don’t hesitate to email my team .

Looking forward to helping you achieve your goals and see you succeed!

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