Dawoon also shared a dating tip that no app can teach you.
Im originally from Korea, where I grew up in an entrepreneurial family.
Sometimes there was disappointment, self-doubt, and anxiety, too.
But they were so resilient.
They wanted to leave a legacy.
In 2012 my twin sister graduated from business school.
I was working at JP Morgan.
It felt like perfect timing for us to start something.
Dating was one of the many ideas we considered.
It just kept coming up among our friends.
Its a very interesting problem, a meaningful problem.
We looked into the industry, and we found some interesting dynamics.
When you start using dating apps, you get confused.
The experience can be seedy, it can be overwhelming.
Every single platform we used, I had the same experience.
[Straight] dating apps have always had a huge imbalance in gender ratio.
There are a lot more guys than women using dating apps, theyre almost twice as active.
We care about safety and quality.
And that was the genesis of Coffee Meets Bagel.
Take us through a recent workday.
I woke up at 7 a.m., and I meditated for 10 min.
After I made my morning coffee, I headed to work.
At work, I opened my calendar, and I religiously followed whatever it said.
Even a tiny friction is exacerbated when youre using it every day.
Weekly Staff Meeting:Listened to and shared updates on our weekly performance.
This is where executives talk about things that affect the rest of the team.
1:1 With My CFO:Exchanged candid feedback on each others communication styles.
Not to call anybody out!
Behavioral change takes time.
Whats your workspace setup like?
And tea, I always have tea.
Whats your best hack or shortcut?
My biggest hack is to put everything important on the calendar and to follow it to the teeth.
Once I put something on my calendar, I rarely change plans.
What hacks went into Coffee Meets Bagel?
In the beginning, everything on Coffee Meets Bagel was done manually.
Matching was something that we quickly automated.
We just did that when we were testing with about 50 of our friends.
And wed send them an email.
We would call them and ask them Hey, what was todays match and what did you think?
Manual approving actually went on for quite a while, which was a real pain.
It was the three of us looking over everyone making sure they were safe.
Take us through an interesting, unusual, or finicky process you have in place at work.
Were a really transparent company.
Everything is shared openly, including our fiscal matters.
I really do think this openness is fundamental team fulfillment and productivity at CMB.
Everyone on my team, of course!
Its a rare day that I dont collaborate.
I have an assistant at work, a personal assistant, a cleaner for my home, etc.
Its really helped me be more efficient and focused with my time.
Do you have any dating hacks of your own?
Oh, so many…this is a topic Im obviously really passionate about!
I think the best advice I can give when it comes to dating is to start by self-reflecting.
We end up wasting a ton of time on the wrong people because we dont know what we want.
Start with a blank sheet of paper, and write down what an amazing relationship looks like for you.
Be as detailed as possible.
Or, We try new activities once a quarter.
Then, strive tobecomethis person.
Additionally, learn how to communicate.
We arent taught this (and we usually just end up adopting the communication styles our parents had).
For example, it taught me that anger is never a result of what others say or do.
Its cause lies in my blaming and judging others around my unmet needs.
How do you keep track of what you have to do?
How do you recharge or take a break?
Exercise, meditation, and travel.
I do quarterly getaways with my S.O.
Whats your favorite side project?
When I started Coffee Meets Bagel, I was working 24/7.
She looked so toned and fabulous (andshe was the mom of a 3-year-old)!
I was like, I have to do this.
After my first class, I was hooked.
What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?
I just readThe Five Dysfunctions of a Teamby Patrick Lencioni.
Its a GREAT leadership book.
I also just started readingThe All-or-Nothing Marriageby Eli J. Finkel.
I heard Finkel speak on NPR, and his theories really captivated me.
But the book argues that while an amazing marriage is more difficult to obtain today, it isnt impossible.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
My friendJessica Mahthe founder of Indinero.
She is a hack-master!
The amount of things she gets done within such little time is insane.
She inspired me to outsource more non-core things in life.
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Whats a problem youre still trying to solve?
Im still trying to ensure that all singles out there get to experience connections that inspire them!
Its an amazing feeling, and I want this for everyone in the world.
