“Engineer turned entrepreneur.”
When I was 4, my mom said I could be anything I wanted when I grew up. I said, "even a monkey?!" She said yes. I built my first invention when I was 5. My parents said it was too expensive to patent but encouraged me to refine it and we could try to sell it somewhere. Several events over the next few years left my family destitute, and I was working to support my family by the time I was 10. My mom had been disabled in a car accident and my father left. My priority wasn't necessarily being a monkey or even an inventor anymore. At this point, I wanted to help my mom get better so she could ride roller coasters like everyone else's parents. I went on to become a biomedical engineer and got an MS in mechanical engineering as well. During this time, I authored several publications and patents, was named in Times Magazines Top 100 Inventions of the Year, and won research awards. I was the youngest person at my company to pitch a research program, which was on spinal regeneration. Eventually, I pursued an MBA and started a nonpartisan political education company. I remember laying in my bed as a child thinking that I wanted to be rich so I could help other kids like me have a normal childhood. I didn't understand anything about business, money, or even life. Having taken on a parental role and several jobs at a young age combined with my life experience taught me how to be resilient and work for what you want. I've dedicated this part of my career to social good through my business, tutoring, and volunteering.
