Meet AJung Moon
FREEDOM DECLARATION
AJung co-creates systems that liberates the thoughtfulness in AI systems. She is a liberator.
Her Many Hats
Founder / Director / CEO / Board Member / Advisor / Speaker / Enabler
First moment of enlightenment
When I mapped out what my ideal week looks like, and Ellany told me that we can get me to live it three times a month, my eyes were opened. I now had control over my calendar, my schedule, and the full permission to integrate zen in my life. But I did not know it until Ellany showed me the ropes.
F*ck this shit moment
When I failed the PhD comprehensive exam and had to take an oral exam, I went through a really rough patch. I said "Fuck this shit. I'm gonna go to CMU where they don't have these stupid exams." And then a couple of weeks later, I pass the exam and got my Vanier scholarship to fund my entire PhD. It all worked out in the end and I had enough scholarship funds to start working on my own think tank.
Books that transformed her life
Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown, The Course of Love by Alain de Botton.
About Her
One of the hardest moments of her life?
I had been building up to this dream of creating a robot ethics company for over a decade. I got myself prepared with my robotics PhD, a think tank, publications and all that jazz. And in less than a year from starting the company, I hit a point where I thought this was all over. I failed my team, myself, and my dream. It took the longest time to recover from what felt like a very long winter. It took tremendous amount of effort and swallowing of pride and all that to reach out to get help. But I reached out, and saw that all of this winter comes to an end eventually, and that I am much better for it.
What used to terrify her?
Being a minority in a room and feeling the expectation to represent those who look like me but aren't there.
Superpower
I have the ability to shine in places where I am a double, triple, quadruple minority in the room.
It took tremendous amount of effort and swallowing of pride to reach out to get help.
Grateful to her top BFFs
I met my best friends at the University of British Columbia, during the rough days, months, and years of grad school.
Romantic partner?
He was literally the guy next door during my research exchange in Switzerland. We shared the same house for months.
About her Business
About her business (5 words or less)
Thoughtfulness in AI systems.
Mastermind Topic
Resolving conflicts and negotiating, thoughtfully.
Biggest leap of faith taken in her business?
Living on my savings while having my business partner paid regular salary during the first year of our consultancy.
Most thrilling "high"? most challenging "low"?
High • Having a client come up to me and say "Wow, I want to work for you guys!"
Low • Realizing that there is such a thing as small entity bias.
False advice being taught in her industry
Not a false advice, but rather a false ideal about what "making it" means.
What does She need to do less of in Her business?
Everything administrative.
How did she overcome her fear of selling?
I don't think I ever did. But I am starting to see how the sales can be made to come to me, rather than me going after them.
Hardest part about being a trailblazer?
Feeling like there isn't a lot of people with shared experiences to help you go through all the ups and downs.
What's next for her?
I'm cooking up a big plan... but it's a secret.
Connect with her
(First Published aug 7, 2018)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Having lived, died and traveled 131 countries, 87 emotions, 16 career reinventions, and 46.5 traumas, Ellany Lea inspires and guides women overachievers, phoenixes, wisdom keepers, and entrepreneurs to free her genius, so it frees the world.
