Annie Cheng is active in the Seattle chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)’s Accelerator programme, which empowers entrepreneurs with the tools, community and accountability necessary to aggressively grow their businesses.

We asked Cheng, founder of The Table Less Traveled, which organizes boutique, small-group international culinary tours, how she made a significant pivot to save her business. Her pivot was recently listed in New York Magazine among industry favorites including Gordon Ramsay and Sur La Table. Here’s what she shared.

What made you start your company? 

It was an evolution of experiences. Many of my relatives were small business owners. From a young age, I was exposed to the value of creating something, and the hard work and challenges it took to succeed. After multiple career changes, I came to a point where I felt that others could derive value from what had shaped my life: meaningful interactions and building relationships while traveling. I wanted to share those relationships and experiences with others. 

Why did you join EO Accelerator?

I had experienced through others, and then for myself, how lonely entrepreneurship can be. Not only did I want resources that mimic a “real-life business school” to help me learn where and how I could improve as a leader and business owner, but also I wanted a peer group who could empathize with my struggles and challenge me to grow daily.