When it comes to numbers, Sherry Jiang keeps it

Specifically, she’s

• learned to hustle from 100 hr work weeks at Goldman Sachs 

• put 100% effort into customer-obsession at Amazon 

• helped grow Google Pay from 0 to 100 million users in just three years in India

But today, as the founder and CEO of Bluejay Finance and Peek, Sherry builds personal finance products and helps 100+ people manage their network on her AI-powered platform.

10 years ago, she founded Code For Community to connect nonprofits with leading software engineers to provide pro-bono services.

But just last month, she learnt how to code in less than 3 weeks to place 3rd in Singapore’s Build Club AI Hackathon

Need to know how she does it all?

Then take a peek at my Q&A with Sherry below

Q&A

How have your experiences at Goldman Sachs, Amazon and Google helped you as a founder? How has your lifestyle and impact differed from corporate to entrepreneurship?

Goldman Sachs, my first internship in finance, ironically sparked my interest in the tech space. While in San Francisco, I was exposed to the TMT (Tech, Media, and Telecom) group and was shocked by the tremendous growth potential of tech companies, as evidenced by their high P/E ratios. Additionally, Goldman Sachs instilled in me a strong work ethic and the ability to hustle and grind, with investment banking interns regularly working 80-100 hours per week. 

At Amazon, I learned the importance of customer obsession. It was one of the most customer-centric companies I’ve worked for, with even executives taking support calls. This experience has made me prioritize customer service at Peek, even though we are primarily a product-driven company.

Google provided me with invaluable training in building great products and executing effective growth marketing. 

Transitioning from the corporate world to entrepreneurship has impacted my lifestyle and the way I create impact. As a founder, my company is constantly on my mind, leaving me with less disposable time for hobbies and travel. Additionally, living frugally becomes a necessity due to lower earnings compared to my previous roles. However, the happiness and fulfillment I derive from building a company far outweigh these sacrifices.

I admire that across your career and platform, you commonly back the underdog – groups who haven’t received the recognition or support that they deserve. Where did your passion for these initiatives start?

My passion for supporting underrepresented groups and underdogs stems from my own family’s humble beginnings and my deep-rooted belief in fairness and innovation.

It was a church community in Philadelphia that welcomed them with open arms and provided the support they needed. This experience instilled in me a strong sense of gratitude and a desire to help others whenever I find myself in a position of privilege.

In an unfair world largely driven by money and resources, I recognize that systemic change is difficult. However, I am committed to using the power and influence I have to support initiatives that I believe can make a significant impact. This commitment led me to establish Code for Community, an NGO that connects software engineers from major tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook with coding projects for non-profit organizations.

Finally, I am deeply passionate about innovation. I believe that great ideas and transformative changes often originate from individuals, companies, and products that have yet to gain mainstream recognition or power. These underdogs have the flexibility to innovate, adapt, and envision a better future, often more effectively than established players in their respective fields.

What’s a dream you had as a child that has stayed with you to this day?

I have always dreamed of being a performer. I had some hopes of becoming a musician, actress, etc. I think as I got older, I became a bit more practical with those dreams – I’m not a full-time musician – but it’s a hobby that I’ve been able to keep alive. 

What were early barriers to pursuing your biggest dreams, internal or external? What mindsets, habits and strategies helped you overcome them?

One of the most significant early barriers I faced when pursuing my biggest dreams was a severe case of imposter syndrome. As a first-time founder with no prior experience in starting a company, I often felt out of my depth and underqualified for the challenges I was undertaking. This internal struggle is a common experience for many entrepreneurs starting out on their journey.

For instance, if I found myself thinking, “I don’t think I can fundraise,” I would challenge that belief by saying, “Okay, let me prove out whether or not that is true.” This shift in perspective encouraged me to take action and gather data points that would either confirm or refute my initial doubts.

By adopting this experimental mindset and consistently putting my limiting beliefs to the test, I gradually built confidence in my abilities as a founder. This approach not only helped me overcome imposter syndrome but also fostered a growth-oriented attitude that has been invaluable in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.

How has the experience of founding the pro-bono consultancy, Code for Community, helped you in building Bluejay Finance and Peek? What would you like to tell readers about Peek?  

Founding Code for Community, a pro-bono consultancy, has been really important in my journey as an entrepreneur, particularly in building Bluejay Finance and Peek. 

Running my own NGO taught me valuable skills such as recruiting volunteers, sourcing clients, and delivering projects, all of which are directly transferable to running a company.

Peek is a company that was born out of recognizing a need in the market and a secular trend that we firmly believe in. Managing finances in Singapore is currently a frustrating experience, with a lack of solutions that efficiently combine all of your financial information into a single view, enabling informed decision-making. Our primary goal is to simplify this process, allowing users to gain a comprehensive view of their finances in just 30 seconds, rather than 30 minutes.

However, Peek’s vision extends beyond simplifying financial management. We recognize that the wealth industry is on the cusp of a significant shift in the next 20 years. The traditional approach to wealth management, built on financial advisors and private bankers, is becoming increasingly out of touch with the new generation of wealth. Our parents’ generation had a different relationship with wealth management, often outsourcing decisions to human advisors and prioritizing personal relationships over objective recommendations.

In contrast, the new generation of wealth seeks to be more self-sufficient. Having grown up with the internet, they want to be empowered to make informed decisions when equipped with the right information. They are data-driven and prefer to fact-check recommendations rather than blindly following advisors’ suggestions. Additionally, the next generation desires more options and innovative investment opportunities, such as cryptocurrencies, which most traditional wealth managers are not well-equipped to advise on. Furthermore, this generation values peer-to-peer learning from individuals who are similar to them or slightly ahead in their financial journey, rather than relying solely on “purported” experts.

Peek aims to cater to this new generation of wealth by providing a platform that helps users make informed, data-driven decisions for personal finances on their own.

If you could capture the attention of every single person for thirty seconds, what would you say?

It’s important to start today, build good habits, before the irreversible problems come tomorrow. There is no “get rich quick” solution for money. Instead, it’s the compounding effect of consistent, positive decisions over time that will enable you to achieve your financial goals and, ultimately, the freedom to live life on your own terms.

Thanks for reading my Q&A with Sherry.

You can connect with Sherry here: 

• Sherry on LinkedIn

• Sherry on X

You can check out Peek and Bluejay Finance here:

• Peek.money

• bluejay.finance

And as always,

Keep dreamaking.