my good sides — or, the more interesting works.
I go by either Emily or Emu, preferably not Emi.
Previously, I was in the consulting (McKinsey) and finance (Goldman Sachs) industries but learned within 3 years that I was spiraling doing what I thought wouldn’t be a “waste” of my education and talents. Truth be told, I’m an artist at heart...but the “starving artist” mantra I was raised on in the Silicon Valley meant that choosing art would never be as “successful.” I’ve always been most fulfilled when I can show something for this creativity, but it never mattered in the shadows.
Life is too short to optimize success but never too short to redefine. Now, I’m blessed to be able to come up with fun + creative new ideas and then motivate teams to bring them to life with me.
- Started my own brand karepango.com and poured sweat into pop-up markets. I use apparel as my medium to spread self-expression and the messages I want to spread around my universal dining table: sharing food and meeting new friends from different identities and communities.
- Joined and still actively growing alongside the forefront of how artists use AI in their workflows. Creating organically.
- Shipped a Chrome Extension that calculates how much your meeting costs so we can all stop useless meetings. Elon thought it was a great idea.
- Built and opened a new restaurant concept (literally from the ground up) in Williamsburg. Managed the very lovely team there, broke records, got some cool press, and decided to leave to protect my health.
- Learned from some really smart people at Techstars ‘21 alongside my co-founders to build a consumer tech platform in a space I care about.
- Talked so much on LinkedIn that conferences and companies actually hired me to talk about mental health in the workplace.
- Also published a book about my experiences and learnings from mental health challenges. This is the legacy I want to leave behind.
- My artwork was recognized by the UN during the COVID-19 pandemic. Had to turn down the offer to work with them because college was in the way, probably shouldn’t have.
- Served in the front-of-house team of ~10 restaurants since I was 16. I don’t intend on ever stopping. I prefer fine-dining Japanese cuisine or Michelin-star restaurants but have done my fair share of hole-in-the-wall hustles.
- Prior to leaving McKinsey, I started the firm’s E-sports/Digital Gaming practice through leading the first proposals, white papers, research artifacts, and conference events.
- Magic happens when you bring together creators from different fields to enjoy good food together. I host dinner parties where invitees come for the meal, but stay for the electrifying brainstorms. A friend lovingly called it a “creative salad” and the name is here to stick.
- My favorite way of staying involved with my AAPI roots is through the creative buzz around them. I help to lead the NYC Asian Creative Network primarily through organizing events, connecting the community, and elevating our shared identities.
- Performed as a live street artist for the opening art exhibition for Chicago’s 2021 annual “Sundays on State Street” fair. Drew whales in front of the Chicago Theater.
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Paid my way through college by serving at restaurants at the same time + creating my own design agency. Began as 400+ cold emails a day (as a self-taught, scrappy Econ student), finished with 40+ clients. I still accept payment in product.
- Branding and packaging projects for:
Field & Farmer,
Rethink Ice Cream,
Teonan,
Urban Leaf,
Pillars,
Over Easy
- Social media design and management for:
Martha Stewart Wine Co.,
Wine Insiders,
Kitchfix,
GEM,
Sweety
- Collaborations with:
Sunwink,
Cleveland Kitchen,
Eclipse,
Mammoth Creameries,
Iconic Protein,
Shaka
- Pro-bono work for:
Recess,
Mad Dumplings
- I didn’t have many people I could look up to when I was growing up and navigating my career, so I now coach/mentor students and professionals. It does not take up much time in my life but is some of my most impactful work.
- On top of the pro-bono design work I did during the pandemic for local AAPI businesses, I modeled with Chicago Chinatown organizations to create promotional marketing materials.
More to come.
view my latest professional resume