Home: Los Angeles, CA. Age: Getting wiser by the day. Birthplace: China. Profession: EdTech Product Leadership. Organization: Barnes and Noble Education, DSS. Title: Chief Product Officer. Preferred pronouns: She/Her/Hers. Significant other: Jared Wynn. Alma mater: MIT. Languages spoken: English, Mandarin.
Current project: Rethinking higher ed, parenting and doing ballroom competitions. Recent recognition: 3rd place in the Hollywood Dance Classic in my category. Recent professional development: CHIEF membership. Latest accomplishment: Successfully limiting my three teenagers' video game time to one hour a day! Latest contribution to others: Speaking with someone who worked for me in the past about navigating their next career move. Hobbies: Competitive ballroom dancing. Recent travel or adventure: On the last day of my previous role, I did zoom drop-ins in an inflatable panda suit to say goodbye. Better to celebrate the good times we had than to be sad that I’m leaving as my exit. Recent unique acquisition: A belly dancing coin belt, so I can learn belly dancing. Since I already have the belly, I might just as well celebrate it 😂.
Personality profile: Bright, thoughtful and a little goofy. Moral compass: Do onto others as you would want done to yourself. What is your greatest joy? My kids. What is your guilty pleasure? Spicy ramen. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Neuropsychiatry, cognitive scientists. What is at the top of your bucket list? Paris, with my mom, my sister and my daughter.
What book have you repeatedly read? Calvin and Hobbes. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Step-up 2. Who has had the greatest influence on your life? My mom. What is the best advice you received growing up? People don’t think about you as much you think they do; they mostly think about themselves.
What is your big idea?
Tiger mom, meet dragon mom. Not parenting towards high achievement, parenting towards broadening potential.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? The fundamental structure of higher ed has to change: multiple semester start dates, cohort centric learning, required global experience, all-inclusive pricing. What message do you want to send out into the world? For everyone you encounter every day, try to make them a little happier than before. What widely held belief do you reject? Kids don’t like to learn.
What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Ali Wong. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My grandpa. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A dancer. What day in your life would you like to re-live? My first date with my husband.
Personal motto: Be there, be happy. Favorite quote: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world" (Marianne Williamson). Desired epitaph: She thought it might be fun, or at least interesting, so she tried it.
