by Julianne Sun
Content Writing Intern
Time to read
Views
29 views
Arranged front and center, the three generously sprinkled cake pops are the introductory stars of the show. The first bite into them is a perfectly calculated shock of sugar – the snap of the chocolate, the moist red velvet cake waiting inside. Sitting behind the cake pops are a Rice Krispies treat, a chocolate chip cookie, and a rainbow-sprinkled sugar cookie, each more indulgent than the last. A pleasant scent of baked goods and sugar wafts gently from the gift box the treats were carefully packed into, and it’s hard to believe that they spent a couple days in the mail before reaching their final destination. A sticker inside the box says the baked goods are from Sugar Bliss, a brick-and-mortar bakery located at 122 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, Illinois.
Armed with a pastry certificate and six years of experience in private equity, Founder and CEO Teresa Ging launched Sugar Bliss with a single-minded purpose: to create without the fear of burning out. She had no baking experience prior to earning her pastry certificate, but was convinced that she could bake cupcakes worth buying. Almost 18 years later, Sugar Bliss has become a staple Chicago bakery with a brick-and-mortar location right next to Millennium Park and a social media following of more than 10k. Customers can choose from more than 200 mouthwatering baked good varieties and flavors, from cotton candy cupcakes to lemon poppyseed macarons.
Ging grew up with her Asian American family in Texas, spending most of her time in extracurricular activities. “While other kids were running around and playing, I was doing math exercises,” she said in an interview with Shane Carlin, founder and CEO of Asian Student Achievement (ASA). “I did everything from dance to piano to extra schooling.” In the midst of that hard work, Ging developed a passion for the creative arts that never quite left her mind, even once she had earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Chicago and went on to work in the financial industry.
Six years into her career, she went on a work trip to New York and happened to visit a friend who was making cupcakes. As she watched her friend sift the sugar, she was struck by the realization that she could bake cupcakes too, as long as she gave it a fair try. Pushed by the sense that she didn’t want to burn out in her corporate job, Ging made the decision to pivot her career. Upon returning from New York, she quit her day job, purchased several cupcake recipe books and enrolled in the Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie program in Paris. Ging graduated from the program in 2006 with newfound professional baking skills and the beginnings of Sugar Bliss taking root in her mind.
In January 2009, Sugar Bliss opened its first retail location in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, right by Millennium Park. Ging specialized in cupcakes at first, but Sugar Bliss has expanded its offerings to include cake pops, French macarons, cookies, brownies, and morning pastries, all available through nationwide shipping for patrons outside the Chicago area. Ging attributes the bakery’s 17+ years of success to her passion for sweet treats and sharp finance instincts. Being able to use both parts of her brain, she said, made owning a bakery the perfect job for her. photo in front of her bakery
The true roots of Ging’s success, though, lie with her family. Ging’s family instilled a love and desire for education in her from a very young age. Her grandmother on her father’s side of the family was born into a very low income family in China. They were unable to raise her, and gave her to a wealthy family so that she could survive. Having grown up in a supportive environment, she applied to nursing school and later immigrated with her grandfather to Taiwan to avoid the Communist revolution. On Ging’s mother’s side of the family, her grandfather set up a scholarship fund so that when he passed away, the family could use the money to send their children to college. Access to education opened doors for her family that took them from China to Taiwan and finally the United States. Through these experiences, Ging inherited her family’s rich history.
“Thinking about my grandparents and even my parents, they always said that you need to accelerate yourself, you need to be educated and you need to have the best teachers,” Ging said. “I wouldn’t be here if my grandparents hadn’t sought out education the way they did.”
For young Asian American Pacific Islanders looking for success like Ging’s, her advice mirrors her lived experiences. Although most of her childhood was spent on education rather than play, Ging believes that was the cornerstone to her current success. “As a child, you don’t feel very grateful that your Asian American parents are doing all these things that help us succeed,” she said. “So as high school and middle school students, you should get as much education and training as you can. Get a mentor that’ll help you build up your interpersonal and communication skills. When you’re in college, get work experience and do more internships. Just don’t stop learning.”
Ging’s dedication to helping others succeed goes beyond advice. Sugar Bliss donates a portion of their proceeds to support women and minority entrepreneurs and environmental conservation. She was awarded the 2025 WBE Star from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, and in 2009, Ging was invited by President Obama to attend the signing of the White House Council on Women & Girls. She also continues to contribute to the community as a Board Member of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
For the past two years, during AAPI month, ASA was honored to partner with Ging and Sugar Bliss for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Both ASA and Ging were very excited by the opportunity to give back to the greater Asian American community. “Asian Student Achievement is a great organization that helps build up the next generation of Asian American leaders,” Ging said. “Giving to this organization helps build the next leaders, leaders that you’ll hopefully see in C-level positions. It’s honestly really good that an organization like ASA is here to help young Asian Americans.”
“Even now, as an entrepreneur, I’m still constantly learning,” she added. “Just keep driving. If you have a passion, see if there’s an opportunity as a business. If not, no worries! Continuing education is the most important part. Get as many resources and training as you can to get yourself to the next level.” Ging is a shining example of someone in the AAPI community who embodies hard work, courage, and passion for her craft.
References
Give to ASA
If you’d like to support ASA and our partnerships, click the button below to learn more and donate today.
Leave a Reply