Meet Skye Ding

We were lucky to catch up with Skye Ding recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Skye, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?

I protect time for physical health. Regularly working out and consistently sleeping well are important to me because they keep my energy stable even during the busiest of days. Second, I practice structured reflection: I take 20–30 minutes each morning to review priorities and reset my mindset. This helps me make decisions with more intention rather than reacting to noise. Third, I disconnect on weekends, to spend time with family. The impact of self care on my effectiveness has been significant. I’m more present in conversations and better able to navigate high-pressure situations without feeling burnt out.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

ANNOVA is a modern flatware brand, based in Los Angeles, offering stylish, colorful, high-quality stainless steel utensils for both adults and kids. Our vibrant and durable sets are a favorite for family meals, hosting, and everyday use. Our products are currently featured on Amazon, Wayfair, and our own website: https://www.annovame.com/.

Recently, ANNOVA donated over $20,000 dollars worth of products to NECC, a boarding school for the autistic community that is located in New England. Supporting the autism community is a core part of how I see corporate responsibility and purpose. I care deeply about neurodiversity, not just as a cause on paper, but as a real opportunity to support and empower individuals with autism and their families.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three qualities have had the biggest impact on my journey: clarity, resilience, and empathy. First, clarity. The ability to simplify complexity and keep the organization focused on what truly matters has been a game-changer. Early in my career, I learned that strategy isn’t always about doing more, it’s about doing the right things exceptionally well. Second, resilience. The ability to stay steady through uncertainty is essential. Resilience has helped me make decisions with conviction even when the path wasn’t obvious.Third, empathy. Over time I’ve learned that leadership is fundamentally about people. Empathy has helped me understand diverse needs, including communities I care deeply about and make decisions that create real, human-centered impact. As for advice, I would tell those just starting out that it is okay to make mistakes. Making mistakes is the only way that one can truly learn.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Currently, we are looking for stores and boutiques based in southern California to carry our flatware products in their stores. If you are interested in carrying our flatware in your store, please email us as [email protected]. We would be happy to send over our wholesale linesheets.

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