Tell me about yourself, and what you do:Prior to going to business, I did public accounting, but wanted to go to graduate school in order to go into a more customer facing, product focused role, which I knew I needed an MBA for. I picked my current job because it allowed me to put a data driven, "voice of the customer" approach in a very industry, where product was previously pushed to the marked based on the people putting it on the market lines. I really enjoy how the industry has switched to a more customer based industry.
Why did you choose to work in this field?:
Was there a particular incident that ended up confirming your choice in career?:I have been a generally analytical person in the past, and I enjoy the creative aspect that I have today. My general attitude towards certain sets of data intrigued me and pushed me to be able to choose what I do today. With the clothing industry, I know that I find it very important that thee is a set style for me, as it represents who I am. Similarly, I love how recently, people have been dressing in order to represent themselves, which is a huge change I want to be a part of by working in a clothing company. I love how customers are now able to drive the way a product is represented based on the way they dress.
How do you think that this career has affected your connection to the idea of being “Asian”, and what does that mean to you?:I wasn't very aware of my ethnicity until I went to business school. I grew up with a very Asian community in California, and went to college with many peers who were Asian as well. When I went to business school. most of the people I was surrounded by were white, or non-hyphenated Asians like myself. They did not really have the same awareness and experiences I had as an Asian-American woman. I think that going to business school really gave me an idea of what I was going to be surrounded by once I entered the real world and went to work. This really affected my work, and the way I thought about the marketing strategies at GAP. Although we focus on gender fluidity, it is very rare that I will find a person of color at the front of the store, or a larger woman modeling for the company. I believe that it is important to have those types of diversities in the industry, and I feel like my identity, being an Asian woman in a very white industry, opened my eyes to that more.
Who is someone who has inspired you through your journey?:I don't think I had a single person who inspired me to go into business. I took a few marketing classes during my undergraduate years, which interested me. The ability to create a spin in a business function interest me. I think there are so many women that inspire me who aren't in business. Eva Chen, for example, works at Instagram and she has had several roles within the fashion space, which transitioned into instagram. She also has books that work to empower minority women, which touch me as well. I recently heard her speak, and it was very empowering. The way she takes about her family, and jobs really inspired me to do more as well.
What is some advice you can offer to young girls who are hoping to be where you are right now?:I believe that multiple people allow their families and society to push them into a certain field, which I am guilty of myself. I think it is important to have conversations and think about doing something that you are willing to do every day, and something you want to do every day, and are excited to do every day, which is how I found my current field. I believe you should be curious, and ask as many questions as you can to as many people you can approach.