navy logo
Products
PRODUCTS
survey icon
In-Product Surveys
Capture targeted user insights right in your product
replays icon
Replays
Recreate and optimize user journeys across your product
teal icon of a survey with chapters
Long-Form Surveys
Measure UX at scale with advanced link surveys and AI analysis.
heatmaps icon
Heatmaps
Visualize user behavior in your product at scale
feedback icon
Feedback
Collect continuous user feedback at scale
ai recommendations icon
AI Insights
NEW
Sprig AI generates actionable product solutions
Features
integrations
Integrations
mobile icon
Mobile
star icon
AI Analysis
magic pencil icon
AI Study Creator
dashboards icon
Dashboards
Solutions
by Use Case
continuously optimize icon
Continuously optimize
Analyze your users’ experience through core flows
solve pain points icon
Solve pain points
Uncover emerging trends in your users’ behavior
improve conversion icon
Improve conversion
Understand why and how users are dropping off
save time and resources icon
Save time & resources
Know which new features are worth the investment
by TEAM
uxr icon
User Research
Maximize the speed and impact of your research
Design
Validate and get buy-in for designs with real user insights
pm icon
Product Management
marketing
Marketing
code icon
Engineering
star icon
Customer Experience
Templates
lenny template
Survey
Develop Product Sense to Build Great Products
lenny headshot
Lenny Rachitsky
View Template
arrow icon
feedback template
Feedback
Continuously Collect Product Feedback
favicon
Sprig
View Template
arrow icon
Optimize New Features
Replay
Optimize New Features to Enhance the User Experience
favicon
Sprig
View Template
arrow icon
templates
Template Gallery
Discover how our team and community use Sprig templates to inform product development.
View All
arrow icon
Customers
square nav photosquare left logo
Square uncovered 100+ actionable insights within the first 6 months
Read Now
arrow icon
ramp nav imageramp logo
Ramp created customer-centric products with Sprig AI
Read Now
arrow icon
classpass nav photoclasspass left logo
ClassPass improved usability and retention by optimizing core user journeys
Read Now
arrow icon
users icon
Meet our Customers
Learn how top companies leverage Sprig user insights to boost conversion, reduce churn, improve onboarding, and more.
View All
arrow icon
Resources
blog icon
Blog
Get expert advice on capturing product experience insights
event icon
Events & Webinars
Learn from past Sprig events & register for upcoming ones
help center icon
Help Center
Explore our knowledge hub to get started
in Sprig
video tutorial icon
Video Tutorials
Get a crash course in Sprig with our guided
video series
AI replay announcement text with a dashboard showing AI insights
New: AI-Powered Always-On Replays
Read Now
arrow icon
EnterprisePricing
Sign In
Book a Demo
navy logo
hamburger menu iconclose icon
Products
caret icon
Products
survey icon
In-Product Surveys
teal icon of a survey with chapters
Long-Form Surveys
feedback icon
Feedback
replays icon
Replays
heatmaps icon
Heatmaps
ai recommendations icon
AI Insights
Features
integrations
Integrations
mobile icon
Mobile
star icon
AI Analysis
magic pencil icon
AI Study Creator
dashboards icon
Dashboards
Solutions
caret icon
By Use case
continuously optimize icon
Continuously optimize your product & website
solve pain points icon
Surface & solve pain points
improve conversion icon
Improve conversion rates
save time and resources icon
Save engineering time & resources
By TEAM
uxr icon
User Research
Design
pm icon
Product Management
marketing
Marketing
code icon
Engineering
star icon
Customer Experience
Templates
Customers
Resources
caret icon
blog icon
Blog
event icon
Events & Webinars
help center icon
Help Center
video tutorial icon
Video Tutorials
Enterprise
Pricing
Sign InGet Started Free
Blogarrow icon
Thought Leadership
arrow icon
Sprigster Stories: How Sprig's Head of Finance Jenny Jao Went from Wall Street to Startup
Thought Leadership

Sprigster Stories: How Sprig's Head of Finance Jenny Jao Went from Wall Street to Startup

Written by Heather Bien | Feb 06, 2023

February 6, 2023

Sprigster Stories: How Sprig's Head of Finance Jenny Jao Went from Wall Street to Startup

We're back with another Sprigster story today. We're profiling the people who make up Sprig, from the engineers to the product managers, designers to the marketers. We're talking to them about how they've navigated their career paths and asking questions that can help inform those who are currently forging their own way.

Today we're talking to Sprig’s Head of Finance, Jenny Jao, whose career started on Wall Street and who became intrigued by the IPO process, leading her to a career helping companies through that process and, now, working at Sprig.

Let's hear from Jenny.

First, let’s start with a fun question, what are you most looking forward to in 2023, outside of work?

I’ve got a trail race in the summer, which I’m excited about. I’m running it with a few friends, which should be fun.

Tell me about your career path to Sprig. What did you study, what did you think you want to do, and what led you to this role?

I took a pretty nonlinear route, but the journey from banker to investor to operator has provided a lot of perspective. I studied finance in college, joined Wall Street out of school and thought I’d be a career banker. Through that experience, I got exposed to the IPO process and the idea of taking a company public sounded really interesting. I subsequently worked at two companies and helped them through that process. While Sprig is the youngest start-up I’ve worked at, the idea of building a finance team sounded really intriguing and a good next step in my career.

When did you decide to make the transition from working in the finance world to working in tech? What was exciting about that move and how did the expectation v. the reality compare?

The decision came down to breath vs depth. The benefit as a banker or investor is the exposure to a plethora of different companies and business models, but in turn, you don’t really get to see how the sausage is made. On the flip side, as an operator, you are immersed in the good, the bad and the ugly of one company.

I’ve enjoyed my time as an operator, particularly the strategic elements of building and scaling.

How would you describe your leadership and/or collaboration style? Are there mentors you’ve learned from along the way?

I strive to be a great finance partner to the business and to lead by example. I’ve had the opportunity to work cross functionally and with a lot of different people so I like to think that collaboration is a strength. Of course, you should ask my team if that’s true!

In terms of mentors, I’ve been fortunate to surround myself with some incredible mentors throughout my career. My grandma and mom are two forces of nature who both have had incredible professional careers and instilled in me the value of a strong work ethic.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023 with Sprig? As you grow your team, what are you excited to accomplish?

We’ve made some big changes in 2022 and I’m looking forward to executing this year. I’m also fully prepared for a very tough year and my priority is to help manage the business so we’re well positioned to really scale when the economy picks up.

How do you see Sprig’s mission reflected in its culture and everyday values?

Our mission of helping our customers design better experiences for their users is reflected in what we do day in and day out. In our weekly all hands meetings, it’s great hearing updates from the team on how our product impacts our customers and new features we’re launching to make the collection of consumer insights easier.

Now, let’s end on another non-work question. What is something that your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?

I love the outdoors, but I actually hate camping (ironic right?).

Sign up for our newsletter

Get the best content on user insights, design, and product management delivered to your inbox every week.

linkedin icontwitter icon

Written by

Heather Bien

Related Articles

Using AI Analysis and Managing Resistance to AI
Thought Leadership
Apr 19, 2024

Using AI Analysis and Managing Resistance to AI

5 Tips for Leaders to Create a Culture of Experimentation in Product Teams
Thought Leadership
Aug 7, 2023

5 Tips for Leaders to Create a Culture of Experimentation in Product Teams

AI Experts Map Out Future Opportunities of AI
Thought Leadership
Jun 6, 2023

AI Experts Map Out Future Opportunities of AI

white sprig logo
Products
In-Product Surveys
Long-Form Surveys
Feedback
Replays
Heatmaps
AI Insights
Features
Integrations
Mobile
AI Study Creator
Dashboards
AI Analysis
Security Standards
Solutions
BY use case
Continuously Optimize
Improve Conversion
Solve Pain Points
Save Time & Resources
BY TEAM
User Research
Design
Product Management
Marketing
Engineering
Customer Experience
Templates
Customers
Resources
Blog
Events & Webinars
Help Center
Video Tutorials
Session Replay Guide
Pricing
Enterprise
Company
About Us
Careers
Sprig Service Agreement
Privacy Policy
Data Processing Addendum
Status
Compare
vs Qualtrics
vs Fullstory
vs Hotjar
vs Medallia
vs Pendo
Copyright 2025 Sprig, All Rights Reserved
linedkin logotwitter logo