As an incoming freshman to the Iovine and Young Academy, Faith Wang has always been interested in pursuing the intersection of business, technology and design. Outside of school, Wang is a podcast host, an avid Spotify user, and a smoothie bowl expert who can perfectly balance almond milk and frozen fruit. 

Tell me a little bit about your journey to the Academy. What were you looking for in an undergraduate program?

Whenever I’m asked what career I’d like to pursue, my answer has always been “I don’t know, something somewhere in the realm of business and tech and design would be cool?” So when I stumbled across the Academy shortly before the application deadline, I stopped writing essays and started filming a pitch video. I wasn’t looking for anything specific in a program beyond exploring those interests, so I’m hoping to find that specific something during my time here. 

What are you most looking forward to in the Academy? 

Working with and getting to know everyone in Cohort 8 and the Academy. I’m a strong believer in the idea that I am made of the people around me, so I can’t wait to become inspired and find my niche with everyone else. I’m also looking forward to discovering the path between tech, design and business that I’d like to follow, since I’m not really sure yet.

What are three goals you want to accomplish during your time at the Academy and/or USC? 

Pursue and finish at least two personal projects every year

Create a brand/style of work that is unique to me

Let’s say you were miraculously provided $1,000,000 in seed funding tomorrow. What would you create? 

I would create a foundation connecting stutterers with each other, whether they be children or adults. I grew up with a severe stutter, and although it’s mild now, having a community of people who also stuttered helped me immensely, making me feel less alone and more supported.

What is a good piece of advice you've received that you plan to apply throughout college? 

You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone besides you. Take what others have done to inspire, not compare yourself with.

What is your proudest achievement to date? 

Meeting and interviewing actor Rainn Wilson. He is a cool dude and I learned so much from him and his energy.

Describe one thing most people don’t know about you.

Most people don’t know that I’m a podcast host!

What is one thing your parents taught you that you’d like to share?

When you fry an egg, turn the heat off the stove when you flip it. The residual heat cooks it so that the yolk is perfect.

Out of the five traits of a Trojan, which trait best describes you? 

I would say “ambitious.” I’m always on the lookout for ideas and projects that inspire me and that I want to pursue.

What is one skill/thing that you learned during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The perfect almond-milk-to-frozen fruit ratio to make smoothie bowls.

What is your favorite app/website and why? 
Spotify. It’s playing 24/7 on my devices and seeing what my friends are listening to always makes me happy.

If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be and why? 
I would be a whisk. I mix together everything that I come across and turn it into a new mixture 

What is your guilty pleasure? 
ASMR and mukbang videos — they're actually really relaxing.

What inspires you?
The books I read, and the people around me.

As an incoming freshman to the Iovine and Young Academy, Faith Wang has always been interested in pursuing the intersection of business, technology and design. Outside of school, Wang is a podcast host, an avid Spotify user, and a smoothie bowl expert who can perfectly balance almond milk and frozen fruit.

FRESH Encounters: Faith Wang