Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kaitlin Kao of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Kaitlin Kao and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Kaitlin, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
For the past year and a half, I’ve been quietly building the world’s first fitted bed sheet with soft, supportive borders called the SherpaNest™. Inspired by my own restless nights, the SherpaNest™ is designed to help people feel comfortable, safe, and truly rested at night. What most people don’t know is that for more than 500 nights, I’ve been prototyping, testing, and teaching myself everything I could about manufacturing and business, all while pursuing my MBA at USC Marshall. The part I’m most proud of is that I bootstrapped every step of this journey through my resale business, Kao Closet, a side hustle I started years ago.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
When I was in high school, I began experiencing intense anxiety while trying to balance friendships, extracurriculars, grades, and college applications. The stress felt like a weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe or fall asleep. To cope, I surrounded myself with pillows, hugging them tightly just to ease the anxiety. By the time I graduated, I had built a small fortress of nine pillows around my bed. It was the only way I felt protected enough to finally fall asleep.

That experience became the foundation for Kaomi Sleep. I dreamed of creating something that could bring that same sense of comfort, security, and peace I craved as a teen. Something designed to help others feel calm and safe in their own bedrooms. My dream became real with the SherpaNest™, the world’s first fitted bed sheet designed with soft, supportive borders to bring comfort and security to restless nights. In a world where we’re constantly fatigued and overstimulated, Kaomi Sleep exists to help people sleep better, think clearer, and wake up re-energized.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to believe that once I turned 18, I’d magically have everything figured out. Now I’m a 25-year-old USC MBA student launching a new business, and I still have no idea what’s going to happen. But whether it’s learning about how to do free cash flows, depreciating assets, or finding the best smash burger in LA, I’m learning something new every single day. Being an adult is chaotic, but it’s also so exciting and rewarding.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
For years, I convinced myself I couldn’t start my own company without consumer packaged goods experience, so I stayed in my 9-to-5. Changing that mindset is what finally pushed me to build something of my own. When MBA applications were due in fall 2024, I applied to USC on a last-minute gut feeling and I got in. Looking back, it was the best decision I could’ve made for my personal and professional growth. It pushed me to believe in myself, take risks, and finally build the product I truly believe can change how people sleep.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe everything happens for a reason. Looking back at some of the tough moments when I didn’t understand why things were happening, I didn’t realize until later that they were actually blessings in disguise.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes. I landed multiple corporate internships and even full-time offers at companies I was genuinely excited about. At the time, I was thrilled to have a steady, high-paying job after graduation. But after a couple of years, I realized those roles didn’t fully satisfy me. I found myself craving freedom, flexibility, and the chance to build something of my own. It taught me that getting what you think you want doesn’t always mean it’s what you actually need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kaomisleep.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaomisleep/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaitlin.unemployed