I place a premium on giving, whether that means giving people new opportunities, my time, the benefit of the doubt, or a helpful hand. As a child, I was heavily influenced by the unfailing generosity of my parents. As I continue to give, I realize that others are also always giving to me. I see my dedication to giving as one of the key reasons why I am successful today.
Rokid is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company based in San Francisco. Tami Zhu leads the cross-functional organization, collaborating with colleagues in China. This past year, she spearheaded the expansion of Rokid into the U.S. The first office was in Zhu’s apartment. Ever since, the company has grown to over 30 employees, who are focused on developing a suite of products targeting the American market. Rokid also has established a research lab and new corporate headquarters in the Bay Area.
Raised in Communist China, Zhu was very fortunate, at the age of four, to be one of the few Chinese children selected to attend the one and only international school in the nation, which allowed the children of foreign diplomats to attend. At the time, the government wanted to prevent potential "capitalism erosions.” It was, in fact, at school where Zhu got her very first “window onto the world."
“I was fascinated by a little boy from Tanzania who spoke fluent Mandarin,” Zhu said. “I thought it would be so cool to be able to live overseas and speak a different language, just like this little boy.” Furthermore, when she was 12 years old, Zhu’s father served as a visiting professor in the U.S.. During that time, he told his daughter many fascinating stories about tech companies, Stanford University, and life in the Bay Area. Zhu decided then that she wanted to be involved in technological innovation and work in Silicon Valley when she grew up.
Because Zhu had suffered from a serious eye condition since birth, which handicapped her stereoscopic vision, she became highly interested in computer vision and artificial intelligence as she got older. She decided that she wanted to pursue a career that would help people with visual impairments.
As a graduate student, Zhu was able to fulfill both her dreams – that of improving vision for people with disabilities, and that of living and working in foreign countries. She earned a full scholarship to come to the U.S. after college in order to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Vision.
Zhu has since worked on some of the most cutting-edge innovations of the times, from launching internet joint ventures in the Netherlands, Japan, and Australia, to running digital media organizations in China. She has lived in 39 places in a period of 13 years, transforming herself into a worldly person with the confidence to connect with people from wildly diverse backgrounds.
When she was a little girl, Zhu always thought that she would pursue her passion for scientific breakthroughs by becoming a professor. Zhu came from a family full of prominent academics with intellectual curiosity and a relentless desire to be the best. But while she did not end up in academia professionally, Zhu says that her core values never deviated from those of her family.
“I share with my family a foundation of core beliefs, including meritocracy, resilience, independence and the beauty that shines from within,” Zhu said. “As I continue to gain new perspectives in life, I have added to that list compassion, authenticity, and modesty. These guiding principles have helped me to become an all-around better person – a better colleague, a better friend, a better girlfriend – which in turn enables me to push my career to greater heights.”
At Rokid, Zhu demonstrates her core values by emphasizing that all employees are equal partners, instead of utilizing a conventional hierarchical reporting structure. She also challenges people to be leaders in their own ways. “The organization is driven by conviction rather than authority,” Zhu explained. “My job allows me to influence those around me. I firmly believe that anyone can succeed when they have a passion and belief in what they do.”
Zhu finds great satisfaction in her career. She enjoys the thrill of traveling down the road not taken, tackling extraordinarily difficult problems, and pulling through in order to thrive, again and again. She has a great passion for staying on the forefront of technological innovation. “It keeps me alive, vibrant and youthful,” she said. At the same time, she also loves getting to work with “the best and brightest talents in the world.”
The greatest challenge Zhu faces is the inevitable race against time. “There are always so many new skills to learn, books to read, and fun things to experience. But there is just not enough time. As a result, I have become a minimalist. This lifestyle allows me to laser focus and prioritize the most important things in my life without many materialistic distractions.” In order to sustain herself under intense career demands, Zhu stays in top shape, running 55 miles per week year-round along the San Francisco Bay.
Zhu offers this advice to other young people interested in aligning their careers with their life purpose:
- Follow your passion as soon as possible. “Determine early on whether your passion is your true calling, or just a fantasy to get out of your system.”
- Don’t worry too much about titles and compensation. “When you’re passionate about what you do, it's highly likely that you will succeed because you will be doing the best that you can, working hard in order to attain your goals.”
- Take risks. “Don't be afraid to take risks and make mistakes. You will learn from them.”
- Get curious and experimental. “Be genuinely interested in people and fully embrace the community around you. My chief interest is in the consumer Internet of Things. Therefore, I need to be an avid user of everyday consumer products, from Echo to AV gears to Pokémon Go. Being an early adopter allows me to gain insights into how to create a great product that is truly engaging.”
- Keep an open mind. “Be completely open-minded when it comes to receiving feedback, especially criticism. Consider what the other person is saying as objectively as possible.”
- See with the eyes of a child. “My most unexpected and powerful lessons have come from my 13-year-old son, Stanley. By observing how a child looks at the world and deals with people, I have learned how to become more loving, forgiving, nurturing, and observant. From growing up in communist China to raising a child in the freedoms of the United States, the world and the people in it continue to inspire me.”
