Many of us across our #Linkedin community ask how we get where we are now #career-wise. Thanks to #NYC, the city that never sleeps, I have met many of you who have shared your unique stories.
There were three pivotal moments that have shaped my experience and vision. Each event, though seemingly senate, has contributed to a narrative of trying, weaved together threads of curiosity, and taught me that a career journey can be full of explorations and trumphs.
At 13, I stumbled upon an elegant tea shop. The aroma of floral notes and the delicate dance of petals in the tea leaves captivated me. I was drawn to the intricate beauty of tea in a moment of Zen, and the way that time stood still. I questioned why dry chrysanthemums were considered as tea. The shop owner was friendly and kind, who suggested to “Have a Try.” I wrote a newspaper article that went viral and enjoyed by many readers who was inspired by the metaphor of tea. A lifelong appreciation for the nuances of exploration in a fast-paced world is was formed.
At 15, I found myself writing a trilogy entitled “Journey,” about embarking on new beginnings. The words flowed effortlessly, as if lives had been simmering beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed. This juxtaposition of parallel stories let the he readers ponder on their existence, exploring themes of purposes, and map points of transformations along the paths. This work was the first prize from the professional writers’ and children writers associations, which made me realize how we can craft our own narratives.
As a researcher in my late 20s, I took a pivotal step into the world of cancer-imaging and artificial intelligence as a principal investigator to develope a Neurosurgical Decision Aid for therapies with many talented team members, co-developers, and co-authors. Curiosity, innovation, and entrepreneurship were our motivators. We were driven by the potential to improve patient outcomes and push the boundaries of surgical planning. Translating scientific discoveries into tangible solutions was purposeful.
Recently, many of us have embarked on a new venture, launching an innovative network #AI4Purpose to bring together like-minded individuals to share cutting-edge knowledge and ideas via innovation, connectivity, and mentorship. This have-a-try journey has been filled with its breakthroughs via the progress made so far. It is a platform for trying new and aiming for growth, and let’s envisionwhere it will take us in upcoming years!
As I look back, I am struck by the way events have been intersected to influence one another. The tranquility of the chrysanthemum tea taught to appreciate the joy of sampling. The trilogy showed the power of storytelling. And my work such as the STAPLE algorithm for estimating segmentation ground truth is well-used by many researchers. Each experience was a thread in the tapestry of an coherent journey that has brought me and many of you to where we stand today via momentum! Keep trying! 🪴
Best,
Kelly Zou