Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Edlin Choi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Edlin , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I’m very familiar with being the only one in the room that looks like me. Growing up Korean American in a predominantly white community, my survival mechanism was to keep my head down and work hard. This mentality helped me develop a strong work ethic and determination, but I’ve also been emboldened to want to change that context so others don’t have to face the pain and isolation of “being the only one in the room.”
In the food and agriculture industries, being the only one in the room that looks like me is something that happens a lot. When I left big tech to apprentice on a farm in the rural South, I remember wondering if there were any Asian American farmers that could relate to my experience. It can be frustrating and sometimes even debilitating, but I try to remind myself of the bigger picture and the why behind what I’m doing.
After I left tech, I spent a lot of time evaluating what kind of work I wanted to do next, what kind of impact I wanted to have, and how I wanted to accomplish these things. I chose to build a CPG (consumer packaged goods) food brand very intentionally, and in part to bring more diversity to this space and eventually into agriculture. My long-term aim is to become a large and reliable buyer for BIPOC farmers to help make it a viable occupation for others who look like me.
Rather than shying away from non-diverse rooms, I think what’s helped me the most has been facing the challenge head on. Ironically, bringing a Korean-style bone broth to market right now, I’m actually benefiting somewhat from “being the only one in the room” and riding the “K-wave.” It’s been an interesting experience going from the childhood trauma of being othered and ridiculed for my culture, specifically our food, to now being lauded and sought after for it. I’m still processing that, but I’ll take the wins where I can get them and hope to continue making this industry more accessible and inclusive for those that follow.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At Reclamation Foods, we are reclaiming our collective cultural wisdom around food – to us, that means restoring healthy soils and making use of the whole animal to nourish our community through traditional foods. Our mission is to build a climate-positive food system that promotes regenerative agriculture, regional farming and processing, and whole-animal nutrition to bring you real, wholesome foods rooted in culture.
Our Grass-Fed Beef Korean Bone Broth was listed as a finalist in the 2024 Shelfie Awards presented by StartupCPG and won a 2024 Good Food Award.
We are now available at the Chelsea Market location of the iconic Asian NYC store Pearl River Mart, as well as at Mitch’s Provisions in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn Supported Agriculture also in Bed Stuy, Big Night in Greenpoint, Myrtle Wombat in Clinton Hill, Farm to People online, and on our own website. We’re also featured on the menu in a matcha broth latte at Zen Cha Matcha in Darien, CT! Follow us on social media to join our community and stay up to date on the latest news: https://www.instagram.com/reclamationfoods.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have served me the most are perseverance, big picture thinking and looking at things using beginners mind which refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions. The quality that has served me the most is probably my perseverance or resilience. There are always setbacks and unexpected challenges on any endeavor, so the ability to pick myself back up and keep trying has been crucial. Another important one for me has been big picture thinking. Having a vision helps me stay motivated through the tough times. Finally, being able to take on a beginner’s mind has also been really impactful. The curiosity and excitement that comes with trying something totally new has always been motivating and engaging for me, and bringing that approach to my work helps me learn quickly and maintain an experimentation mindset.
All three of these areas are somewhat related, centering around the idea of staying motivated. My best advice for developing these qualities is to really get to know yourself and understand your “why.”
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I think it’s important to know your strengths and lean in on them – that’s what sets you apart. But can’t your strength also be that you’re well rounded? I think being well rounded can be very effective in certain situations, and I think it may be a bit underrated. I think most people don’t realize this, but the full version of the often quoted idiom is actually “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” I personally wouldn’t want to only be a master of one skill. Imagine being the best writer in the world but having zero sales competence or the ability to market yourself? No one would ever get to read your wonderful work!
It can also be risky and limiting to be all in on just your strengths. Another popular expression captures this danger well: “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” If you’re the very best in the world at something, your strength there may compensate for weaknesses elsewhere, but there’s only so many people who operate at that level in a given area. Ultimately, I’m a proponent of improving on your weaknesses enough so that you can most effectively leverage your strengths.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://reclamationfoods.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reclamationfoods/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reclamationfoods
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edlinchoi
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@reclamationfoods
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
