FLY BY JING: POWER IN IDENTITY
“I think some of the most important skills are perseverance, being nimble, the ability to find creative solutions within your constraints, and a deep curiosity for all aspects of the industry you’re working in. ” - Jing Gao
Jing Gao, the founder and CEO of Fly By Jing is a chef, entrepreneur and a renowned expert on Chinese cuisine on a mission to bring uncensored Chinese flavors to the table. She was born in Chengdu, but grew up everywhere, and uses her experience as a chef to share meaningful flavors that open people up to new ideas and conversations. She was the founder of an award-winning modern-Chinese fast casual restaurant in Shanghai and her work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Fortune, and more.
You spent the first part of your career working in strategy for business development and software & services, and I was wondering – what, from that professional experience, inspired you to create Baoism and then Fly By Jing? What inspired you to transition into the food industry?
I really dove into Sichuan food when I returned to China for a tech job in my early 20s (I’d spent much of my youth moving around Europe and Canada). I found that the more I learned about Sichuan food, the more connected I felt to my own identity, my family, and my personal history. I also just found it fascinating that the world knew so little about this complex, multifaceted cuisine with thousands of years of history. I wanted to showcase all of its incredible flavors, so I first studied with master chefs, then launched the restaurant Baoism, then started the Fly By Jing pop-up, where I cooked dinners around the world and was able to introduce even more people to what makes Sichuan cuisine so special.
I love that you are heavily focused on adding a personal touch to your brand — such as in the name! Can you tell me more about that messaging and what it means to you?
Our tagline is “not traditional, but personal.” I’m sharing my vision of Sichuan food with the world in the hopes that our customers will, in turn, use our products and the ingredients we stock in ways that they find delicious, no matter how seemingly “wild” they might be. In a larger sense, Fly By Jing also helped me to find power in my own identity, which I had been shrinking away from for years in an attempt to “fit in.” In 2020, I changed my name from Jenny back to my birth name, Jing, as a way to own my truth and tell my story.
I know that you recently received funding from Prelude Growth Partners. Founding and fundraising for any startup is challenging, but data shows that it’s particularly challenging for women of color. Could you tell us what it was like raising funding and any advice you have for women embarking on that journey themselves?
It was really, really important to us to find an investor that “got” what we were doing. Not only is Prelude founded by two incredibly smart women, they’ve also worked with and elevated brands we admire, like Banza and Summer Fridays. Fundraising is always a challenge, but I would say to seek out investors who really understand your vision and what you’re trying to accomplish.
What skills are vital to starting a business, particularly in the food industry?
I think some of the most important skills are perseverance, being nimble, the ability to find creative solutions within your constraints, and a deep curiosity for all aspects of the industry you’re working in.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
Two days are never the same! One day I might be focused on new product development, the next I might be shooting a video, and the following I might be working on retail strategy with the team.
What advice do you have for college-aged women interested in entrepreneurship?
Talk to as many people as you can who have walked down that path before you and get their advice, because almost every problem has been encountered before. Don’t spend time reinventing the wheel when you don’t need to and really use that insight from others.
Quick Take One: What are some books, podcasts, newsletters, or blogs that you’ve enjoyed and would recommend to our readers?
Podcasts: How I Built This, Unfinished Biz (Robin and Wayne), Brandbuilder, and Masters of Scale.
Books: Radical Focus, Venture Deals, Ramping Your Brand (James Richardson), Radical Candor (Kim Scott).
Quick Take Two: Who is a woman you look up to?
Rihanna, for all the obvious reasons. What she has built with Fenty is incredible.
Quick Take Three: If you had to choose one, what is your go-to Fly By Jing product?
It’s so hard to choose just one, but I’ve been really into our new Fire Hot Pot soup base lately. Not only is hot pot a perfect dinner as the weather starts to cool off, it’s also a great excuse to invite a few friends over to dinner.