In this forward-thinking episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jason Wong, award-winning packaging innovator and CEO of PackinDuck, to explore how technology, media, and manufacturing can combine to transform a traditional industry.

After building and scaling multiple consumer brands, Jason experienced the friction of unreliable overseas manufacturing firsthand. Rather than accepting the status quo, he invested directly into a factory in China and rebuilt operations from the inside. What emerged was not just a packaging company, but a three-pronged infrastructure built on manufacturing, media, and technology.

Jason explains how generating 40 million annual views in short-form content replaces the need for expensive trade shows, how AI-powered internal tools remove bottlenecks and increase accuracy, and why the manufacturers of the future must operate like technology companies. Carly and Jason also dive into hiring for integrity over résumé, managing capital-intensive growth without outside investors, consolidating supply chains for clients, and setting a clear long-term vision without overwhelming teams with unnecessary complexity. This episode is a masterclass in building systems first and creating leverage without burning capital.

Key Themes:

• Demand Beats Booths: How strategic content creation generates inbound demand more effectively than traditional industry marketing.

• AI Removes Friction, Not Humans: Why automation should eliminate repetitive tasks so teams can focus on strategy and creativity.

• People Are the True Infrastructure: How disciplined hiring and cultural alignment protect momentum and long-term scale.

Memorable Quotes:

“People really is everything in your business.” “Can I build this without spending a dime on marketing?” “Your job as a CEO is simple. Set a clear target and help your team get there.”

About Jason Wong: Jason Wong is an award-winning packaging manufacturing innovator and CEO of Paking Duck, specializing in custom packaging solutions across paper, plastic, glass, and metal for high-growth consumer brands. A serial entrepreneur, Jason previously built Doe Lashes to a $15 million valuation and served as CEO of Pughaus. By combining firsthand experience as a brand owner with deep East-West supply chain expertise, Jason is redefining how modern manufacturing companies operate and scale.

Connect with Jason Wong: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/pug 🐦 https://www.twitter.com/eggroli 🌐 https://pakingduck.com