23-year-old quits Morgan Stanley to start fashion-tech startup, reveals how cold email strategy helped her

Sofia Jiang, a 23-year-old marketer and Harvard graduate, quit her investment banking job at Morgan Stanley to launch a fashion-tech startup. Jiang left Morgan Stanley after just four months, finding the role didn't align with her larger career goals. She wanted to learn how to run a business. During her college years, Jiang interned at Diane von Furstenberg and developed a passion for the fashion industry.

She faced challenges in finding affordable, low-maintenance work clothes, which inspired her to create a clothing brand called SofSet. To build brand awareness, Jiang turned to social media, posting 'Day in My Life' videos on TikTok that garnered significant attention. After gaining a following, Jiang started building her brand quietly while still working at Morgan Stanley.

When she realized the banking job wasn't for her, Jiang felt conflicted about staying or leaving. She ultimately trusted her instincts and left Morgan Stanley to join a startup where she gained valuable experience. Jiang then began cold-emailing fashion-tech professionals, using a concise and value-focused approach to connect with key people in the industry.

This strategy eventually led to a job offer at a VC fund, where she now works full-time in fashion-tech marketing. Jiang continues to develop her clothing brand as a side project, balancing her new career with her passion for fashion.