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Becky laughs as she relaxes in a lounge chair at West Hollywood’s One Hotel while her friend Meghan, a creative beauty consultant, captures her on camera. For the last ten years, Becky has applied her expertise in marketing growth in behind-the-scenes roles, shaping and growing some of New York’s most notable fashion startups. Now, she is stepping into the spotlight as the founder of TERA, a modern gifting platform that embodies her forward-thinking nature.
“TERA is not just about gifting; it’s about fostering understanding and celebrating everyone’s uniqueness. I used to always google 'best gifts for guys' or 'best gifts for mom' but they never made any sense to me. Who is ‘this guy’ and who is ‘that mom’? Why do we generalize people when it comes to gifting? I want TERA to embrace what makes us who we are,” she explains. At its core, TERA is about inspiring deeper awareness of our nuances, reshaping how we live and connect. In its first phase, TERA will highlight Culture Shifters, a curated group of people redefining societal norms with purpose and authenticity.
Dressed in a cardigan adorned with jeweled buttons and a tailored pencil skirt, one might expect her to be sipping a glass of wine. Instead, Becky takes a long sip from her Lucky Dog sake juice box—a fun item she often gifts to her friends. “When I gift, I make a lot of mental notes about everyone throughout the year.” Unsurprisingly, before the photoshoot is even done, Becky already knows what thank-you gift to buy for Meghan.
“Over the years, I feel that we have lost the understanding of how to be present, whether it’s in a work meeting, in our relationships or even in moments of self-reflection. Being thoughtful - like remembering a little detail from a conversation means a lot. By acknowledging each other’s distinctiveness, we create a more compassionate world - that’s the essence of TERA.”
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photography by Meghan Nguy
1.
Esther Kim (Older Sister) TERA is a uniquely modern way of gifting. TERA seems like more than gifting platform. What do you hope people will take away from TERA that they can apply outside of giving gifts?
Becky Kim: To be more present.
There are some days I’m very tempted to go back to using my old Nokia phone from when I was 14 – limited text messaging, no email.
I started TERA to educate people about how gifting can be like a game. But to play the game, you must be present. Over the years, I feel that we have lost the understanding of how to exist without being distracted. Whether it’s in a work meeting, in our relationships, or even in moments of self-reflection. Our minds are very occupied these days. But I believe that being present and practicing thoughtfulness are deeply interconnected. When you’re truly present, you start to notice the small details about people that you might otherwise overlook when you’re not paying attention. These details are the cornerstone of gifting.
Kolfok Wines (Natural wines from Austria)
A24 for the friend that loves films
2.
EK: What have you discovered about yourself through building TERA as a platform and brand?
BK: There’s no playbook when you start from scratch, which is both challenging and beautiful in its own way. Contrary to my 9-5 job that is revenue and data-driven, I love how TERA has challenged me to new levels of creative thinking and has allowed me to draw from other mediums as inspiration like A24 films and niche art galleries! I’m just at the beginning of laying down the foundation and love how there are endless ways to evolve it.
3.
EK: What grounds you in life?
BK: Realizing that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed but rather a luxury has really changed my outlook on life. I’ve had a few close calls—like a blood clot at 21, getting hit by a car at 24, and then by a bike at 29—and losing a very close friend of mine in 2022 to a ski accident. (Kevin 🕊️) We always think “Oh, that could never happen to me”, but life always has its own agenda - both good and bad. Having perspective may feel uncomfortable, but it’s necessary when we live in a dynamically evolving world.
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4.
EK: What’s your gift giving process?
BK: I could spend hours searching for the perfect card for someone. I love getting people cards (pop culture references like Broad City, the election, Beyoncé-themed, etc) that make them feel like I really understand them.
I like to think about the recipients’ yearly ‘theme’, what they value (e.g. experiences, time, products, etc), and then gift around that. This past year a lot of my friends are new moms, so I wanted to celebrate a new chapter of their lives and found this pregnancy journal that follows their journey. They may not have the time to self-care, so more natural products like Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask or Vinter’s Daughter Serum are my go-tos. For their little ones, I have lately been into these custom “This Many” t-shirts from Sweet Olive Street where a child’s name and age are embroidered onto the shirt.
Current obsessions: For spirits, the curation at Flask & Finn in downtown LA has not let me down, these chopstick holders from Mogutable are incredibly adorable, a not-too-loud Dior silk scarf for the classic friend.
Becky's Gift Recommendations
HOME COOKED MEAL
Taking the time to make someone's childhood staple. Dinner that feels like home.
$price varies
Tip: You can use this visual encyclopedia of recipes
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5.
EK: If you could give an experience what would it be?
BK: This is probably an unpopular opinion but I think going through sh*t with someone and coming out of it is an incredible experience – my move to New York from San Francisco with you was memorable, adventurous, and chaotic. We drove cross-country from LA for 10 days, outdrove a tornado in Kansas, and arrived in New York during a torrential downpour close to sunset. The rain created massive Midtown traffic congestion, compounded by a crane that had collapsed into the streets a few hours earlier. We struggled to find the main entrance to the Ed Koch Queensbooro Bridge on 59th street, and somehow ended up on the southern outer lane (which is literally outside the main road for the bridge), and is one of the narrowest roads with very few guardrails. By this time, it was dark, and as we were driving across the bridge, we thought we had made a mistake. To our left were the inner driving lanes we were supposed to be on, and to our right was just a body of water. I genuinely thought we were going to fly off the bridge. Major kudos to you for driving over that bridge cool and collected in the rain with a stunned passenger (me).
6.
EK: What’s the most memorable gift you’ve received?
BK: I think there can be a lot of pressure around gifting, especially when sometimes people can equate a higher monetary value or the grandiose of a gift as a way to calibrate, but I find that over the years the gifts that have meant the most to me are the most intimate and heartfelt. They reflect more about the relationship between me and that person.
I have a box of cards I’ve received since I was 16. I also reject calls on my birthday (sorry) but it’s to send people to voicemail (I’ve also saved these digitally for a while). I also love receiving personal artwork or just going to dinner … Jungsik in New York is a favorite. Our parents surprising us with a Disney World trip the day before we were leaving blew my little 10-year-old mind. Even someone’s time itself is a gift.
During the height of Asian Hate, my friend gifted me the book Crying in H-Mart for us to read together. It was a thoughtful way to connect with me during a challenging time.
TERA's
CULTURE SHIFTERS
A curation of intentional people who are uniquely redefining societal norms through their lifestyles.
