Peggy Cherng is the co-CEO and co-Founder with her college sweetheart and husband, Andrew Cherng, of popular Chinese fast food chain Panda Express. In 1982, the two opened their first location in the second largest mall in Los Angeles. Over time, the chain expanded to over 2,200 locations in North American and Asian markets. Cherng’s background in engineering and software design gave Panda Express a technological advantage. In the 1980s, the company was an early adopter of using computers to make ordering in stores easier and to collect data about the highest selling items at each store. Together, the duo instated a mandatory program for all Panda Group employees teaching a healthy lifestyle, continuous learning, and skills for building strong interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, Panda Cares, the Panda Group’s philanthropic organization, has raised over $45 million for children’s hospitals and disaster relief since its conception in 1999.
