Taking the Leap: Starting a New Career Path

March 2024

Written by Tina Yau - 

Fast forward to March—I left my corporate job.

This was a HUGE step for me, as I’m sure it would be for anyone. After 25+ years in retail eCommerce, growing successful businesses in an industry I loved, I could have easily stayed on that path. But for the past few years, something had been tugging at me.

The retail landscape had shifted, and I found myself yearning for something more meaningful—something where I could create real impact, not just in business but in the community and provide product that would be truly beneficial to the customers that I will serve. I wanted to build products that truly supported women juggling work, family, travel, and everything in between—just like me.

Throughout my career, I witnessed firsthand the joy and confidence that a truly well-made product can bring to customers. Being in a retail career, I fell in love with quality products and its journey—the creativity, the details, the way the right item can make life more pleasant and easier. That joy fueled my passion all these years. While I’m not a designer by trade, my experience in retail strategy, merchandising and listening to customers gave me deep insight into how quality and innovation serve real customer needs.

So, I took the leap.

On Monday, March 4, 2024, at 9:05 AM, I hit the ground running (literally, the weekend after I left my job). I started with reaching out to an incredible group of 50+ women in my network—dynamic women from different industries, at all career levels, living full and active lifestyles.

Their responses? Unanimous.

Everyone wanted the same core features in a bag:

✔ Lightweight (because who wants extra weight on their shoulders?)

✔ Water-resistant (for unpredictable commutes and travel mishaps)

✔ Functional yet stylish (because we shouldn’t have to choose between the two!)

A few quotes from the survey:

This feedback pushed me to dig even deeper—not just into the bag industry, but into travel trends, commuter needs, and modern work-life balance. I knew how to build a business plan, but now I faced the bigger question:

Where do I start with the product?

And that’s where the real journey began. 🚀