I recently went one on one with Albert Wang, co-founder and CEO of PatPat.

Adam: What advice do you have for others on how to come up with great ideas?

Albert: Great ideas often emerge from being nimble and adaptable. Instead of trying to predict major market trends, it is more effective to focus on your own life, the lives of your family, and your friends. Anything beyond that sphere, even if it seems like a great idea, might be challenging to handle or fully grasp. A truly great idea is one that you can grasp and grow on yourself greatly. Often, the ideas that appear “great” at first glance belong to those existing great people or companies.

Adam: How did you know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have on how to test a business idea?

Albert: When my wife and Ken's wife (my partner) constantly complained about the lack of interesting girls' dresses available at Target, I felt that pursuing this business idea was worth it. However, it was truly when we experienced significant sales growth in 2015 and 2017 that I became even more convinced of its value.

Sales growth is typically the best test for any business idea. While tracking metrics like downloads or items added to the cart can provide additional insights, the ultimate measure of success is the revenue generated. In the e-commerce domain, if your revenue volume doesn't surpass your investment (even if you still incur some deficit), the test would be considered a failure.

My daughter has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me, both personally and professionally. As a parent, I have become more attuned to the needs of families, and this has greatly influenced our product offerings and overall brand messaging.

One of the most important lessons she has taught me is that her preferences for dresses differ from her mom's, yet her mom tends to choose dresses based on her own liking rather than what she likes. Creating dresses from a child's perspective and considering their unique preferences has become a crucial aspect of our design philosophy.

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Albert: In the last 8 years of PatPat, we experienced significant milestones. In 2015, our app was featured by the Apple App Store. In 2017, we introduced matching outfits that gained popularity. In 2019, we expanded our offerings to include baby clothes. And in 2020, the DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) boost during the pandemic provided further momentum.

Throughout this journey, we witnessed two primary driving forces. First, the creation of excellent products that resonate with customers and align with trends (2017-2019). Second, seizing great market opportunities.

Our approach has been to prepare exceptional products and patiently wait for the right opportunities to present themselves.

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?

Albert: Creating products that align with market trends is the best sales and marketing strategy. In 2017, we introduced matching pajamas for Christmas, which was a great success.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Albert: An effective leader is someone who can guide the team to achieve realistic business targets within reasonable timeframes. Regardless of the leadership style or project approach, the ability to consistently deliver tangible results is of utmost importance.

Prioritizing business achievement over leadership and management is key. While coaching, mentorship, a growth mindset, self-reflection ability, quick learning, and understanding customers are all essential, the primary focus should be on accomplishing the business goals. 

In my perspective, taking leadership to the next level means possessing the ability to elevate business accomplishments to the next level.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?

Albert: One of my favorite sayings is "teamwork makes the dream work." I genuinely believe that collaboration and teamwork are vital for achieving success, and I strive to cultivate a culture of collaboration and mutual respect within our company. 

A key aspect of managing and building a team is consistently aligning them toward achieving business objectives. Once that foundation is established, teamwork and collaboration naturally follow.

Furthermore, there is an old proverb in Silicon Valley: ‘hire slow.’ It emphasizes the importance of finding team members you can trust and work well with. This approach significantly facilitates the process of building a team right from the start.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?

Albert: 1. Build a great product that not only satisfies customer needs but markets itself 

2. Find team members whom you can trust and work with easily

3. Dream big! But no need to do everything at once, all yourself. Instead, focus on taking incremental steps toward your goals, and celebrate the wins big and small.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Albert: As an e-commerce company, it is crucial to recognize that winning in the realm of digital products alone is not enough. It is essential to find a way to succeed in your physical products as well.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Albert: As a member of a minority race and a first-generation immigrant, building a startup can be more challenging than it is for others. Fortunately, I have come across many successful first-generation Asians in various fields. This serves as compelling evidence that American values and Silicon Valley entrepreneurship still thrive today. I have learned a great deal from others and received tremendous support, and I am eager to give back and contribute to fostering this spirit of growth. PatPat will continue to flourish, offering our utmost dedication to parents and families worldwide.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally-recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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