Coral Chung | Prestige Online
Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Southern California, did my undergraduate degree at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and got my MBA from Stanford University. My first job after college was actually working for Bain & Company in Hong Kong. I’ve got lots of fond memories of those days.
What’s one thing not a lot of people know about you?
Most people don’t know that I’m an introvert and actually pretty shy. Being an entrepreneur has made me a lot more outspoken, but by nature, I’m very reserved. Some people find me intimidating when I’m quiet, but actually it’s because I’m more of a thinker than someone who talks out loud.
Did you always want to be a designer?
I wanted to start a luxury brand when I was in my teens, after I got my first Prada bag as a birthday present from my father. It was a dream come true for me to launch Senreve four years ago.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
Working in many male-dominated fields has always been something that I’ve had to grapple with. Whether it was being the only woman in my associate-consultant cohort of 10 at Bain & Company, or one of the few female entrepreneurs to have raised significant venture-capital funding, I’ve found overcoming these challenges to break the glass ceiling highly motivating.
Whom do you look up to and why?
I love leaders and women who’ve paved the way for other women. I was saddened by the recent death of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was so inspirational for not only charting her own course and breaking so many barriers, but also constantly fighting for equality for women throughout her life.
What are you most proud of?
I’m really proud of bringing to life the vision I had for Senreve just four years ago. We’ve become a global brand, with an elegant and strong community of women — tens of thousands of women — using our products daily.
What advice would you offer aspiring designers?
If you have an idea or a burst of inspiration, it’s important to not talk yourself out of it with little voices of self-doubt. Instead, look at some of the key factors that will determine success, like the overall size and growth of the market. It’s always a balance of art and science, and don’t let any negative self-talk get in the way.
How have the past months been for you?
2020 has been a turbulent year. Covid-19 hit a lot of regions very hard, including Italy, where our factory is. It closed for two-and-a-half months, and I was anxious about whether it would reopen. Fortunately, we’ve overcome many of these challenges and are still growing 100 percent year-on-year, which really speaks to our brand’s resilience.
What’s next for you?
Senreve is expanding globally, with a big focus on Asia; Hong Kong continues to be a major global hub for us. We’ll likely have one or two more pop-ups, after the successful opening of our first at Pacific Place in the summer. I hope I’ll also be able to travel again soon, as I miss being in Hong Kong and Asia, as well as Italy, very much!
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