Community Spotlight

Elenor Mak

Founder & CEO, Jilly Bing

When you joined this past March’s Ascend NorCal Inspiring Across Generations (IAG) Conference, we talked about Ascend’s mission to develop and empower Asian and Pacific Islander leaders to become catalysts for change throughout their career lifecycle. Like our mission, you’ve played a part in elevating rising entrepreneurs (Target’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Madison Reed). What leads you to give back?

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In mid 20’s, I joined Avon Products out of business school as a District Sales Manager with no sales experience.  I wanted to work in the field alongside the sales representatives and be a part of the heartbeat of that organization. I cold emailed the CEO, Andrea Jung, a long and personal email making my case.  And she responded! I subsequently met her at an event, introduced myself, and she literally put my resume through the Avon channel. I came into Avon as a sales manager right out of business school, because Andrea Jung took the time and gave me a chance.  

I share that story because Andrea Jung’s been a very visible Asian role model and Fortune 500 business leader. The fact that she took the time to help me in my journey always stayed with me and influenced what I can do to help other entrepreneurs and young people on their journey. I will always try to answer an email because it could be the little bit that helps. Even now as an entrepreneur in my 40’s, I still feel that flutter of excitement when someone generously says yes or answers my email.

It reminds me of my parents’ U.S. immigration story. They were lucky to have other established immigrants help them. That’s how we arrived as a community, helping each other. I view it as a privilege to be asked for help by other entrepreneurs and those early in their profession. I like to pay it forward.

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As the Founder and CEO of Jilly Bing, you’ve really demonstrated how necessity is the mother of invention. How is your whole team motivated by your mission to bring more diversity and Asian representation to the toy doll market?

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At first, I was angry and shocked that I could not find a doll in 2022 that looked like Jillian, my then 2.5 year-old daughter. Today, my team and I are excited that we to get make this vision a reality, where children, like my daughter, can see themselves reflected in their dolls and toys.

Jilly Bing’s team is made up of all Asian American parents across different fields, from toy design to creative design. Even across different generations, from grandparent to daughter to granddaughter. We are all bound by this desire to create something we never had for ourselves as kids.

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What’s been the greatest challenge you’ve experienced so far?

I think what’s been most challenging is my family has become the face of the brand. The personal origin story of me looking for a doll for my daughter Jillian and not finding one wasn't something we had planned, but we realized that's what was needed. Exposing myself and my family requires a vulnerability and a decision my husband and I have made to showcase our story and pictures on social media.

When I have bad work days, I can’t come home from the job and sulk. I don’t have that luxury and, as a mother, there are hours in the day that need to belong to my children and not the business.

It's been a learning process. I haven't found the perfect balance, but like so many working parents, we are committed to figuring it out - on a daily, weekly, monthly basis.