Five years prior, Zoe, aged 21 at the time, sought an outlet. A fresh UCLA alumna, she was employed as an accountant for stability, despite being a creatively inclined individual who dreaded becoming a “starving artist.” The pandemic erased her LA commute, leading her to start creating YouTube videos during her leisure hours. “It was simply a space for me to breathe,” she shared with Mashable, mentioning her lack of experience in video creation.

This space transformed into a full-time profession for the now 26-year-old, whose channel, ZoeUnlimited, has 3.42 million subscribers. Her content evolved from lifestyle themes to marketing analyses on personalities like Billie Eilish and companies like Glossier.

At VidCon 2025, Zoe discussed her shift from corporate life to a creative career. She remembered her initial faith in her potential for success, even with only 100-200 views, wishing to hit 500K subscribers by year-end, although she ultimately reached 100K. Appreciative of every new subscriber, she maintained a YouTube journal to keep track of her development.

Looking back at old journal entries assists her during challenging times. She made the switch from corporate employment to full-time content creation after three years, navigating both realms. Burnout arose from a loss of purpose rather than workload, and she felt a disconnect despite her channel’s accomplishments. She needed to face her ego and reestablish her creative drive.

Zoe’s content transformation is influenced by curiosity, as she shares her growth journey with a community of ambitious Gen Z and millennial women. She strives to make business subjects more approachable and less daunting for her predominantly female audience.

Hiring posed a significant learning opportunity, as she operated solo for two and a half years. Surrendering creative control was difficult, yet she discovered the importance of collaboration and mentoring others.

For creators looking for management, Zoe advises against committing too quickly and underscores the necessity of verifying credentials. She highlights the significance of having a financial safety net before leaving a job, recommending that creators should truly enjoy content creation, irrespective of financial rewards.

Zoe finds inspiration in creators such as her closest friend Alivia D’Andrea, Emma Chamberlain, and BestDressed. Alivia’s exceptional taste and storytelling motivate her, and their friendship, which began on Instagram, is a wellspring of gratitude and encouragement.

Alivia’s upcoming series, “The Dating Diaries,” follows her renowned “Glow Up Diaries,” which ignited the Glow Up movement on YouTube.