Cassindy Chao
Cassindy Chao | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Cindy Chao |
| Alma mater | Wellesley College (BA, 1990) |
| Occupation | Professional matchmaker, author, investor, public speaker |
| Known for | Founder of Ancient Wisdom Modern Love |
Notable work |
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Love (2024 publication) |
| Spouse(s) | Fred |
| Children | 3 |
Cassindy Chao (also known as Cindy Chao; Chinese name: 趙珊珊, pinyin: Zhào Shānshān) is an American author, professional matchmaker, speaker, and angel investor. Before transitioning to the dating industry, she was an investment banker for J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs. She is the creator of the boutique dating agency Ancient Wisdom Modern Love (frequently shortened to AWM Love or AWML) and wrote the 2024 relationship guide Ancient Wisdom Modern Love: Chinese Wisdom for Dating Success.[1][2] She identifies herself as carrying on a family tradition as a third-generation matchmaker.[3]
Childhood and education
[edit | edit source]Chao was born in Washington, D.C., to Taiwanese immigrant parents. At the age of five, her family relocated to Southern California, and she spent her formative years in Redondo Beach and Palos Verdes.[2] Her father, a veteran of the Taiwanese Navy, immigrated to the United States after earning a fellowship from the National Science Foundation.[4]
She completed her undergraduate studies at Wellesley College in 1990, earning a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and Chinese studies.[5] During her time on campus, she spearheaded a large-scale student mixer, an event she later pinpointed as the initial spark for her interest in facilitating romantic connections.[2][4]
Corporate finance background
[edit | edit source]Following her college graduation, Chao built a career in the financial sector, focusing on investment banking and equity research at J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs.[2][4] Throughout her tenure in the banking industry, she was frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, made appearances on CNN, and served as a speaker at various financial conferences.[4] She ultimately departed from her finance career, citing the need to provide care for her aging parents as a primary motivation.[6]
Dating agency and publications
[edit | edit source]Chao established Ancient Wisdom Modern Love (AWML), an exclusive dating coaching and matchmaking firm. The agency specifically caters to high-net-worth individuals and career-driven singles, with a strong emphasis on the Asian and Asian-American demographics.[1][2] Noting that both her mother and grandmother facilitated relationships, Chao considers herself a third-generation practitioner of the matchmaking trade.[4][3]
As a writer, she authored Ancient Wisdom, Modern Love: Chinese Wisdom for Dating Success (which has also been released with the subtitle A Practical Guide to Modern Dating). The self-help publication utilizes traditional four-character Chinese idioms (chengyu) as a framework for dating advice. An updated second edition incorporates family recipes alongside personal anecdotes.[1][3][7]
Lectures and speaking
[edit | edit source]In her capacity as a public speaker, Chao presents on topics such as leadership, professional networking, and interpersonal relationships, frequently exploring the parallels between the dating world and corporate environments.[4][8] Her speaking portfolio includes engagements for corporate entities like Oracle and Robert Half, as well as institutions such as the Harvard Club of New York, the Penn Club, the Museum of Chinese in America, the National Association of Asian American Professionals, and Ascend.[4]
Philanthropy and investing
[edit | edit source]Chao is an active angel investor, with her financial portfolio including the company The Lounge Booth.[4] She also launched a professional networking initiative initially called the Entrepreneur Huddle, which was later rebranded as the "Crazy x Asians" event series.[4]
In her philanthropic and nonprofit endeavors, she has contributed as an associate board member for the New York Asian Film Festival, a development committee member for Asian Health Services, and Co-President of the Wellesley College Asian Alumnae Alliance.[1][4] Additionally, she is an instructor for the game of mahjong.[4]
Press and media appearances
[edit | edit source]Chao's transition into the matchmaking industry has garnered attention from numerous media platforms. She has been featured on ABC News, NewsNation, NBC News, and Business Insider, as well as in Voyage LA. She has also been a guest on digital broadcasts like the Ken Fong Podcast and AsianBossGirl.[1][4] Furthermore, her career pivot is highlighted in Janet Hanson's book More Than 85 Broads.[1]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Currently residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chao is married to software developer Fred.[9] The couple has shared over a quarter-century of marriage and has three children.[4][3] Her personal hobbies include preparing traditional Taiwanese cuisine and fostering rescue cats.[4]
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Ancient Wisdom, Modern Love: Chinese Wisdom for Dating Success (Stone Monkey Publishing; 2nd edition, 2024)[7]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Matchmaking & Speaking with Cassindy Chao", cassindy.com. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.cassindy.com/home
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Meet Cassindy Chao of Ancient Wisdom Modern Love", Voyage LA Magazine, 11 March 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-cassindy-chao-of-ancient-wisdom-modern-love/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Cassindy Chao – author page", Amazon. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://us.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CKQD2D3C
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 "About Cassindy Chao", cassindy.com. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.cassindy.com/about
- ↑ "Cassindy Chao ('90)", Wellesley College, East Asian Languages and Cultures. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www1.wellesley.edu/ealc/alum-corner/chinese-alumnae-corner/cassindy-chao-90-
- ↑ "I quit Goldman Sachs to take care of my mother", Business Insider, 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-goldman-sachs-to-take-care-of-mother-no-regrets-2024-5
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Ancient Wisdom, Modern Love" (book listing), Amazon. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKQ8QTJB
- ↑ "Speaking – Cassindy Chao", cassindy.com. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.cassindy.com/speaking
- ↑ "Cassindy Chao", LinkedIn. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassindy/