Mei Xu
Mei Xu is a Chinese-American entrepreneur who founded Chesapeake Bay Candle and launched Blueme, a sustainable fragrance brand. After Newell Brands acquired Chesapeake Bay Candle for $75 million in 2017, she now leads YesSheMay.com, a community platform for women entrepreneurs.
Mei Xu's Bio
Born in Hangzhou, China, Mei Xu was selected at age 12 among 80 children to train as a future diplomat. She attended Beijing Foreign Studies University, earning a BA in American studies, and later moved to the United States to study journalism at the University of Maryland. A World Bank hiring freeze after graduation derailed her original career plans and set her on an entrepreneurial path.
In 1994, Xu co-founded Pacific Trade International with her then-husband David Wang. The two experimented with candle-making in their home kitchen before building Chesapeake Bay Candle into the company's flagship brand. By 2005, Xu had launched a second brand, Blissliving Home, an interior lifestyle company. Newell Brands acquired Chesapeake Bay Candle for $75 million in 2017; Xu stepped down as CEO in 2018 but retained leadership of Pacific Trade International.
In late 2022, Xu launched Blueme, a sustainable fragrance brand rooted in fragrance science. Blueme now sells in Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue. She also serves as CEO of YesSheMay.com, a community and marketplace for women entrepreneurs, and sits on the board of trustees for the University of Maryland in Baltimore.
Career Timeline
1967 — Born in Hangzhou, China
Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
1989 — BA in American Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University
Earned Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
1994 — Co-founded Pacific Trade International with David Wang
Launched candle-making business from home kitchen
2005 — Founded Blissliving Home
Interior lifestyle brand focused on home fragrances
2007 — Asian Women in Business Entrepreneurial Leadership Award
Recognized for entrepreneurial leadership and innovation
2017 — Newell Brands acquired Chesapeake Bay Candle for $75 million
Successful exit after growing company to $75 million acquisition
2018 — Stepped down as CEO of Chesapeake Bay Candle
Transitioned leadership after acquisition
2022 — Launched Blueme fragrance brand
Sustainable fragrance brand now in Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue
Episodes
Advice Line: Tapping AI as a Resource for Your Business
Guy Raz hosts a special Advice Line episode where six founders reveal how they weave AI into their businesses. From Modi Toys to Raising Cane's, these entrepreneurs share concrete examples of automation and analysis that freed them to focus on what humans do best. No hype, no buzzwords—just practical insights you can apply.
Advice Line with Mei Xu of Chesapeake Bay Candle and Blueme
Guy Raz brings Mei Xu back to the Advice Line, this time to take calls rather than pitch. The Chesapeake Bay Candle founder and former diplomat answers questions from three founders who have already built real businesses but hit walls at the next level. Sasha Millstein needs an operator for her frozen pot pie company, Tara Parkinson is weighing D2C against wholesale for her towel-dress brand, and Lindsay Gallas wants to crack school district sales with her math curriculum platform.
