AAPI Heritage Month Spotlight: Christina Kao on the Journey Behind Le Mini Macaron, Blending Cultures and Building a Brand

AAPI Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the stories that shape our work, our values, and our why. For the co-founder of Le Mini Macaron, that story starts with family.

Raised by Taiwanese immigrant parents who built businesses from the ground up, entrepreneurship was always part of her world. But launching a beauty brand wasn’t planned — it happened organically, sparked by a product she believed in and a drive passed down through generations.

Blending the Taiwanese values of discipline and endurance with an American spirit of collaboration, she’s grown Le Mini Macaron into a global brand rooted in cultural duality. In this interview, she reflects on her family’s influence, the importance of resilience, and how her bicultural lens helps shape a company that celebrates international perspectives and inclusive growth.

What inspired you to start your business, and how did your cultural background influence that decision?

My parents (who immigrated from Taiwan to the US in the 70's) have always been entrepreneurs and I grew up watching them create a variety of different businesses. When my co-founder and I started Le Mini Macaron, we didn't exactly set out to launch a brand. We just created a product that we felt there was a need for. And it grew organically from there - and then one day we found ourselves with a business and a brand on our hands! I would call my parents when times were hard and they would always encourage me to keep going and not give up, that success would come. Because for them, working for yourself and dealing with all the ups and downs that come with it - is the only way of life they know. This has given me the patience and stamina to keep going (because as they always tell me, the journey is long)!

What traditions, values, or lessons from your heritage are you most proud of? How has it shaped your company culture or leadership style?

Growing up Taiwanese-American, I was always in and out of two cultures. In our family, certain Chinese values were ingrained in us, like rigorous hard work and the pursuit of excellence. And in the American culture in school and in work, I learned values like positive collaboration and open communication. The combination of the 2 very different cultures has always allowed me to look at things through different lenses and being able to adapt my thinking and my approach as needed. Our company culture is a reflection of this - we celebrate a diverse and international approach to hiring and are proud that we have a team of over 12 nationalities who bring together a melting pot of different cultures and experiences to inform how we work together. 

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