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Lesley Gao
San Francisco
Lesley’s Substack
Essays
  • Why There Hasn't Been a ChatGPT Moment Yet in Manufacturing
  • The Hero and the Collective
  • We Are Building the Wrong Factories
  • Inside China’s Hybrid Military-Industrial Model
  • How a $1 Lighter Defied Inflation for 20 Years
Work

Advocate for Industrial Renewal

I have spent my career building and scaling tech startups across the United States and China, with deep, hands-on experience in China’s manufacturing and supply chain systems. That background shaped my interest in the deeper forces behind national progress such as industrial capacity, capital formation, and state market coordination. My goal is to move beyond the often single-pointed narratives by offering a more comprehensive lens on how America might reindustrialize. By examining the realities of China’s industrial progress, I hope to surface practical ideas for aligning technology, policy, and investment in the United States.

Play

Recovering tech operator turned chef

Outside of work, I’m a professionally trained chef who finds joy in cooking elaborate meals for friends. Nothing brings people together like a good table. I once ran a marathon in North Korea, which still surprises people, and I’m an avid film lover who writes movie critiques for fun. Whether it’s in the kitchen or in front of a screen, I’m always chasing stories that feed the soul.

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