Emily Ma
X, the moonshot factory
Mountain View, CA USA
"Be curious and be awed by how amazing the world is. When we see the world through the lens of curiosity and awe, it’s so much more beautiful."
Career Roadmap
Emily's work combines: Technology, Food, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Go be audacious. Do something hard, something that you are going to get laughed at but you believe in enough that it doesn’t matter. Gandhi said, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they get angry at you, and then you win.” Find ways to exercise courage—regardless of your moonshot, personal or professional, you have to develop your courage muscle!
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Mechanical Engineering
Stanford University
Graduate Degree
Mechanical Engineering
Stanford University
Graduate Degree
Business Administration and Management, General
Stanford University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I grew up in Canada.
2.
Growing up, I faced a lot of cultural expectations from my family—as a girl, I was encouraged to stand back and support others rather than take the lead, which led to me becoming pretty shy.
3.
As a high school student, I loved math, physics, and chemistry.
4.
I moved to California for college and got my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.
5.
After college, I took a job with IDEO, a large innovation firm, and worked on engineering and design.
6.
My journey continued through various other jobs, including working as a marketing manager, chief of staff, and lecturer.
7.
When I found X, the moonshot factory, I knew the company would align well with my values—I started as the head of global operations and now work as the food systems lead.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I do not have what it takes to break through.
How I responded:
I actually wrote this on a wooden plank, which I was taught to smash through. But it continues to be in my head. The most important thing I learned from the black belt who taught me how to break a board is that we must believe we're already on the other side. We don’t hit to the board—we aim for the other side of the board. It’s the same with when we have negative self talk—it’s trying to protect us from hurting ourselves, but in doing so, it prevents us from achieving our greatest potential.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Coming from an Asian family, I faced a lot of pressure and expectations. As a girl, I was encouraged to support others rather than take the lead. I make it a point now to speak up but I also rely on those close to me to help bring me out of my shell.