Story & Lesson Highlights with Fandy Wu of New York

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Fandy Wu. Check out our conversation below.

Fandy, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I started teaching myself AI video creation around June 2025, and from that point on I was making videos literally every single day. I just had this feeling that AI wasn’t going anywhere—sure, some jobs will disappear, but a whole new wave of jobs is going to come out of it.

By doing it daily, I learned so much, and eventually it turned into my actual job. I started going to events and competitions, meeting a lot of like-minded people—even people who are right at the front of the industry.

The first time I won a competition—at the Hypernatural AI Hackathon—I was so excited. It was a huge milestone for me. That “first win” was important because it gave me real confidence. Once you win once, you kind of realize, “Okay, I can actually do this.” It made me competitive in a good way, and on top of hard work, that belief helped me push further. After that, I ended up winning two more times at the OpenArt AI Hackathon.

And honestly, the best part is that I genuinely love what I’m doing. It doesn’t feel like work—it feels exciting.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I actually have a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science from Boston University. I picked that major because I’ve always been really into fitness, and during COVID I started a fitness and lifestyle account. It grew pretty fast, and content creation became more than just a hobby—but it wasn’t enough to turn into a full-time career. I also realized I attracted the wrong audience early on, so when I shifted my content, the engagement dropped.

After that, I taught myself design and eventually got into the Communication Design master’s program at Pratt Institute. I made the switch because I’ve always had a creative side, and I could see myself thriving in a creative field.

Around the same time, AI creation started taking off. There was—and still is—a lot of debate about the morality of AI art. Some people are strongly against it, while others choose to embrace it. I’m definitely someone who chose to utilize it, which connects back to my earlier story.

I think my journey really reflects my personality. I might not be the smartest person in the room, but once I decide to do something, I’m extremely consistent—and honestly, a little stubborn in a good way. I like challenges. The thing I’m most proud of is my consistency: sticking with things from day one, doing a seven-day water-only fast in high school, teaching myself design to get into a master’s program, and landing an AI content creation role because I spent so many hours learning and practicing in a short amount of time.

For me, it’s really about showing up, putting in the work, and not quitting.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Probably my parents. There’s this stereotype that Asian parents always want their kids to become a doctor or lawyer, but mine were actually the opposite—they always felt I should pursue something creative. Part of that was seeing I had talent in that area, but I think it was also because they know how hard I’m willing to work when I’m passionate about something and genuinely believe I’m good at it.

That belief in myself is actually a huge part of who I am. When I’m convinced I can achieve something, I become a different person—I work extra hard, I get super focused, and when I finally achieve it, it just makes me even more passionate. It’s like a positive feedback loop: belief leads to effort, effort leads to results, and results make me want to go even further.

So in the end, they didn’t think Nutrition Science was the best fit for me—and honestly, they were right haha. It didn’t hurt to try, but it was definitely a big financial investment on their end. I’m really grateful, though, because they’ve been incredibly supportive the whole way.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I wouldn’t say there was a moment when I almost gave up, but there was a period where I really looked down on myself. I didn’t know what I could offer beyond my physical appearance—which, as we all know, is definitely not the most important thing. I wasn’t confident because I felt like I wasn’t good at anything. I had never worked, I doubted I’d ever be able to get a job, and I was scared I’d always have to rely on my parents financially.

On top of that, I was at an age where most people already had work experience or were building their careers, and I felt left behind. In college, I wasn’t very driven. Once I started social media during COVID, I let my grades and school slip while juggling online classes with a 12-hour time difference. Honestly, I was surprised I even passed everything and graduated.

My relationship life was messy too, and I think a lot of it came from insecurity. When you’re insecure, it shows up in your behavior without you even realizing it—it gives off negative energy. Looking back, I probably wasn’t the best version of myself. I didn’t have much to talk about beyond social media or how “popular” I was, because I didn’t feel like I had anything else going on.

It was definitely a dark time, and I hated how low I thought of myself for so long. But over time, I grew a lot. I learned who I am, what I like, what I don’t like, and how to actually elevate myself as a person.

That period was tough, but it pushed me to build real skills, find direction, and create a version of myself that I’m genuinely proud of today.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d like to think so! Honestly, it’s kind of funny and ironic. I’m a little crazy and hyper in person—in a good way. I’m very “high on life,” super energetic, and really fun with people I’m close to. For the longest time, I showed that side of myself online. Some people probably thought it was cringe, but I feel like it’s only cringe if it’s fake—and that really is how I am privately, so it never felt forced.

I don’t show that side as much anymore, and a lot of people have told me I seem really down-to-earth and even “classier” in person, which is apparently different from my old public image.

But now that I’m posting more of my professional work, I feel like my public self and my real self are pretty much aligned. It’s just a subjective thing—and probably something you’d notice more if we ever chatted in person haha.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When have you had to bet the company?
I feel like I’ve made a lot of bold moves, but I never really saw them as “risky” at the time. For example, some people think studying abroad alone at 14 is a big gamble, but I was so young and ignorant that I didn’t even know what I was supposed to be worried about—plus I was in boarding school, so it felt normal to me.

Another one was as an international student with only a 60-day grace period after graduating. Most people apply to tons of grad schools as backup, but I only applied to one—and thankfully I got in.

And honestly, I think the next big “bet” is coming after I graduate from my master’s program. I might end up working for an AI company that’s literally just starting this year. I’m also not job-hunting in the traditional way where people submit 100 applications online. I’m betting on networking—going to events, meeting people face-to-face, taking part-time opportunities even though none of them guarantee a full-time offer. I’m basically betting that one of those relationships will turn into something.

My mindset is: I work really, really hard. If things go my way, amazing. If not, at least I’ll know I gave it everything. And I’m genuinely grateful for the people who’ve helped me along the way.

Funny enough, saying all this out loud makes me realize—I’ve just been making bigger and bigger bets as I get older haha.

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