My Parents' Journey to the US for My Education, and My Return to China for Career Growth

Originating from Beijing, I made the move to California at 11, and now, at 25, I've decided to establish my professional life in China.

An Unconventional Upbringing

While many of my peers in China focused on academic preparation through additional classes, my parents encouraged exploration of personal interests—electronics, art, craftwork.

Upon arrival in San Jose, my mother, brother, and I resided in a small guesthouse. We transitioned from bustling Beijing neighborhoods to the sprawling suburbs of California. A year later, we established our own space, and my father, after concluding his duties in China, joined us.

Navigating a New Life as a Family

I initially enrolled in a public school where language barriers left me isolated for months. My understanding improved significantly after transitioning to a private institution.

For my brother, who was merely three, adapting was simpler, whereas my sister, born in the US, only knew this environment.

My parents faced greater challenges, struggling with cultural adaptation and networking, impacting their career zones. My father relinquished his profession, working in delivery, but found solace in literary activities.

Conversely, my mother, fluent in English, shifted from managing an educational firm to founding a college consultancy in the US, supported by her church community.

Prioritizing My Career in China

Standardized testing wasn't my forte. Remaining in China may have led to a modest university attendance and limited job prospects. In America, judgment extended beyond grades.

My passion for STEM and art guided me to a degree in industrial and product design at the Rhode Island School of Design. Post-graduation, I joined Formlabs, a Massachusetts-based 3D printing firm, marking the onset of my intrigue with innovative ventures in Shenzhen.

After proposing a strategic idea to the company's leaders, I was tasked with spearheading the establishment of an R&D hub in Shenzhen, which led to my relocation back to China, taking on an engineering leadership role.

Embracing a New Work Environment

Initially, aligning our operations to mirror the fast-paced, goal-oriented nature of Chinese enterprises was a necessary shift.

Developing innovative hardware requires quick adaptation and strategic decisions, contrasting with the clearer, directive methods I found more prevalent in the US.

While local teams excel in optimizing well-defined projects, encouraging autonomy in defining project details initially presented challenges. Now, collaborative decisions at the top level help streamline execution by the rest.

Life in Shenzhen

My workday runs from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., dictated by communications with our US division.

Having cooked extensively in California due to cost, my lifestyle in Shenzhen finds me savoring affordable diverse cuisine without the need to cook.

Socially, I engage with peers through local activities like karaoke, despite needing practice with popular Chinese songs.

My identity blends Chinese roots with an Americanized exterior. In China, presenting as Californian helps contextualize my background to locals.

One colleague projected I might settle indefinitely, build a family here — an idea I might entertain given China’s suitability for my current aspirations.