The Syl Tang Story
Syl Tang is a Chinese American
woman living and working in New
York City. She also happens to
be the CEO of HipGuide.com, an
entrepreneurial business pioneered
by Tang.
Tang is the true entrepreneur. She is very
passionate about her business. She sees herself as
waking each day with a belief in her business, its mission,
and the need for constant enthusiasm. Being an
entrepreneur is a very rewarding experience; however,
it can be quite lonely as well.
Tang recommends that a business plan be carefully
articulated as it is the most important document for
those in financial roles for the business. This group
includes bankers, accountants, and potential investors.
She is firm about starting out by having a destination
in mind, a roadmap. But, she says, one must remain
flexible as there are events that occur that cannot be
anticipated by even the best business plan.
To be a successful CEO, Tang believes that you
must realize that one cannot know everything. The
goal is to surround yourself with people who are experts
in those areas that are critical to your business.
Finally, she advises that one must "listen" first and be
a cheerleader for your people and the business.
Discussion Questions
If HipGuide.com founder and owner Syl Tang
were to choose the right goals to pursue for the business
model but does a poor job in the area of efficiency,
what is the likely result?
What qualities does Tang have that ensure her
success as an entrepreneur?
Syl Tang is an independent owner of her business.
How might she differentiate between efficiency
and effectiveness?
