Aona was born and raised in Shanghai, China and moved to the United States when she was fourteen. Having lived in different cultures provides her with a strong sense of global awareness. She spent only two years to complete her undergraduate studies at University of California Santa Cruz with a major in Language Studies (concentration in Chinese) and a minor in East Asian Studies. She taught AP Chinese at a private high school during her second year in college and was designated as the bilingual TA by her professor. Aona operates her own consulting company targeting Chinese international students and provides marketing consultation to those who want to expand their businesses in China. Aona loves to explore and try new restaurants and she firmly believes in shopping therapy.