Name: Karin Sun
College/Major: History and Science/Harvard College, Harvard Business School/MBA
Job Title and Description: Founder of Crane & Canopy
Website: www.craneandcanopy.com
Twitter Handle: @craneandcanopy
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Karin Sun: Starting my own business has been one of the most exhilarating and exciting experiences. Every day brings a new surprise, which has taught me to be flexible and wear several hats. I still remember the time when we filmed a video on how to put on a duvet cover, met with designers about our newest bedding collection and picked up a shipment from customs, all within an hour. To this day, I am still surprised by how the only predictable thing is unpredictability – and I love it!
What is the best part of your job?
KS: The best part of my job at Crane & Canopy is building a business with a mission of helping others rebuild their lives. Crane & Canopy’s partnership with the largest domestic violence agencies in the US provides shelters or women leaving shelters with new bedding. I know that this is only the beginning of our involvement in the community.
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
KS: Right out of college, I went to work for Procter & Gamble in brand management. My decision to choose a career in brand management came after I realized that I wasn’t interested in the more traditional career paths my college offered of management consulting or investment banking. I knew that I wanted run my own company and business and that choosing a career managing a household brand was the best way for me to learn how to grow a business.
To achieve this goal, I networked a lot my junior year in college, chatting with upperclassmen and business school students who had worked at large consumer product companies. After taking multiple assessments and getting past multiple rounds of behavioral interviews, I received an internship at Procter & Gamble my junior year. During my internship, I loved the strategic, analytical and creative work. Impressed by the rigorous training and the caliber of the people at Procter & Gamble, I accepted their full-time offer after completing the internship.
What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
KS: In the beginning, establishing factories that delivered products at the quality we expected was a challenge. It was easy to find factories that made bedding, but quite difficult to find ones that operated at the scale and the quality we wanted. Even though we had some history in the textile manufacturing space, it still took over a year of visits and relationship building to secure the same factories used by high end department stores.
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
KS: I have two, which I follow in both work and life:
“Follow your heart, whether it be in love, career or life.” – My mother
“Pick your battles. You only have so much emotional capital.” – My first boss
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
KS: Starting any job or new venture is hard. Sometimes, it’s important to learn to be patient. When you are in too much of a hurry, you can make decisions that are wrong for yourself, your customers and the business.
What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?
KS: The day we launched Crane & Canopy was the most surreal moment of my career. That day represented over a year of the collaboration, teamwork and problem solving. When we launched our site and received our first order, I could not have been more proud or excited.
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
KS: Three things: The ability to “make it happen,” a drive for individual and team success and a positive attitude.
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
KS: Always ask why. In work and in life, you will face many complex situations with perplexing decisions and outcomes. Often, the path of least resistance is to not rock the boat and just push forward. However, it’s important to take a step back, analyze the situation and come up with a solution. Sometimes, the best ideas will come from the process.