Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

The United States of America is a great and terrible country.
We have taken on so much responsibility in the world and have misused our power.
But it's also a beautiful place of opportunity, debate, conflict, and growth.
It's hard to explain my complicated relationship with my birth country.

I've spent too much time flying between the US, China, and other parts of the world to really call it my "home country", yet I am oddly attached at the same time. My life has been a constant balancing of being Chinese-American and sometimes feeling American-Chinese - defining and redefining what that means.

I look to allow this story to unfold on its own as I don't find myself terribly important, and I think it's important to think in that way not to belittle oneself, but it allows us to actually see the world in a more meaningful way.

Q: What is your view of the world as it is today? And how do you define the concept of a better world?

The world today is as chaotic as it always has been, just in different ways. It is the worst of times. It is the best of times. Despite all the problems we have, we also have more changemakers and problem solvers around the world. So what is a better world? A better world is where these people can create spaces and structures that allow growth and improvement in individuals and organizations - allowing for impact near and far.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society?

Which is "my society"? I'd say in the US and China, a common challenge is an acceptance of difference and diversity. In the US, we embrace difference on the surface and are able to discuss and debate the topic as we struggle with our multicultural identity. In China, we accept that some topics just aren't up for discussion or that they can only be embraced in certain smaller circles. However, if anyone has been paying attention to Chinese news lately, they'll see how social media news is affecting how diversity is being discussed in the country. We're even seeing minor forms of protest and activism which is an interesting development.

Q: As a young individual what are a few of the hurdles that you had to overcome up until today?

Prejudice.

As an Asian American in the US, I was expected to be a model minority, to be perfect, to not get credit for my efforts.

As an Asian woman, I was assumed to be and expect to be docile, obedient and easy to control. I literally had a potential boss mention some horror stories from past interns and then tell me that because I'm Asian, he didn't see a problem in the future as "Asians are good with authority". There is a lot of sentiment and history to be unpacked in that sentence that I simply wasn't ready for then.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

A mentor is someone who might not always be in your life, but when you have a problem or concern, they are someone you can go to for either comfort, advice, or just someone to listen and help you sort out ideas. That is what I imagine a mentor to be like as that is what I try to do for my students.

A mentor provides experience and different perspectives for a mentee to bounce off of and that's always valuable. And it's also helpful even when the mentor may not have the answer you are seeking. No one knows everything and sometimes along the way, we can even help each other.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share?

Patience. I don't mean blind faith and patience to work through problems without thinking of good solutions along the way. I mean the kind of patience that accompanies a hard situation when an individual is doing everything in their ability to make it work. It's the perseverance to push through and the patience to wait it out.

I recall being jobless when I first graduated college - still applying to many opportunities and waiting on offer results. I got to a point where it made no sense to remain anxious because I have done everything I could possible do at that time and rather than be anxious, I might as well be spending my energy and time on things that would improve my skill set or make me happy. Once I realized that, I became a happier person to be around to and that actually attracted more people and opportunities to me.

Be patient. Be Open. Especially with yourself.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives!

Liz Miranda is a Community Center Director in Boston and she started the #blackpantherchallenge that gathered people across to fund young black students from underprivileged backgrounds to see Black Panther when it was released. It gave her students the opportunity to see themselves represented in places of dignity and power, giving them motivation and inspiration to rise up and be recognized in their own worth. This is just one of the wonderful things she has done and I really think that ensuring the students can see themselves valued creates space that actually allows students to be nurtured.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are made towards gender equality?

The US still has a lot to do to break the glass ceiling, especially among women of color. Women are still paid less and then it breaks down by race and ethnicity. This is still a huge issue and is only something that is slightly better when we stay on the coasts - especially in places such as San Francisco.

If we're looking at China, then it's a similar problem of claiming a seat at a table and not being considered a "leftover woman" when one passes the age of 30. People at the age of 25 are already getting pressured into marriage and for a growing global power like China, that has the potential to stunt the country's growth as a society if we ever are going to even out.

Q: Athena40 is the first ever global selection of the top 40 women forward thinkers, commentators, activists, authors, academics, entrepreneurs, executives, innovators. Can you think of a truly innovative and forward-thinking woman from your country that you wish to nominate for the Athena40 global ranking?

Susan Lyne, Founder of BBG Ventures

A woman who raises other woman up to create businesses that serve communities one way or another is someone who truly is making an impact.

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that you love or you find interesting!

When you have two pennies left in the world, buy bread with one, and a lily with the other. 
- Chinese Proverb

There's always room for the romantic and the practical in our lives.

Q: Tell us one thing that you have learned from your mentor.

I never thought of myself as a creative entrepreneur type but he encouraged me to look at relevant resources and it changed how I am considering my personal brand. I don't have it yet, but as I'm shaping it, I'm less conservative. I'm now more willing to paint it out in broad strokes and let it take me where I want to be eventually.