The Good Morning Silicon Valley Association (GMSV) held its annual grand event on November 3rd (Monday), bringing together nearly twenty Silicon Valley technology communities with about 180 enthusiastic guests in attendance. This year’s theme was “Build for Impact,” focusing on how to create positive influence.
The event was humorously opened by GMSV President Terry Yang and Vice President Scully Wang. Wu Zhi-Xiang, the director of the Taiwan office, was invited to speak and mentioned that the documentary “Mountain Builders” screened at the event tells a story of resilience and innovation, symbolizing the shared spirit between Taiwan and Silicon Valley. He congratulated GMSV on its outstanding achievements over the past year.
Co-founders Michelle Cheng and Maggie Li took the stage to reflect on the three-year journey of GMSV. Cheng emphasized, “Three years can create different stories and bring about change.” She announced that Xianghe Li would serve as co-president with Maggie Li for the 2026 term. Li shared her vision for the future, stating, “Titles are not the most important; what matters is doing what needs to be done.” They thanked all volunteers and sponsors for their support in continuing the mission of impact.
Jiang Xianbin, co-founder of the CNEX Documentary Fund and former founder of SinaNet, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on the “Mountain Building Movement,” sharing his personal journey from tech entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley to promoting Chinese documentary culture. He emphasized that whether in tech innovation or cultural creation, both are processes of “mountain building” in different eras, accumulating energy to drive change and shape the world.
He recounted his experiences in founding Sina and the CNEX Foundation (Looking for Chinese NEXT), highlighting that documentaries are not just art but also vehicles for social memory and cultural dialogue. Their mission is to “document change, cultivate visual literacy, and build cultural empathy.” He stressed that “technology changes the world with chips, while documentaries change hearts with images – this is also a mountain building movement.”
The evening’s highlight was a panel discussion moderated by UC Berkeley professor Trevor Keenan, with speakers including Hu Limin, Honorary Chairman of the Global Yu Shan Technology Association, and CNEX co-founder Ben Tsiang. The three discussed the core meaning and practical ways of achieving “impact” from the perspectives of technology, education, and social innovation.
Entrepreneur Hu Limin told Epoch Times that real impact lies not in money or fame but in whether one can “make society and the world a better place.” He emphasized that the key to impact lies in leadership and passion. Leaders must lead by example, inspire others to work together toward lofty ideals, and focus on common goals rather than personal interests.
He encouraged the younger generation to find meaning in life and persist in their pursuits to accumulate the power of change. Using business management as an example, he further pointed out that entrepreneurship and social responsibility are inseparable. Only when employees believe that the company’s vision has a positive value to the world can a cohesive corporate culture be formed. “If it’s only about making money, there will be infighting; but when everyone feels that this company is making the world a better place, they will strive for the common goal.”
He shared insights from his early involvement in charity work, stating that money cannot buy passion. “Highly paid employees leave at 5 o’clock, while volunteers are willing to work late into the night for their ideals.” He believed that what truly inspires people is not money but being “moved by meaning.” When people take spontaneous action because of a vision, that is the true source of motivation and influence.
Event coordinators Ai-Lan Chen and director Ju-Zhen Xiao, executive producer Tian-Shun Chen, as well as guests such as Cupertino Mayor Liangfang Zhao, Saratoga Councilwoman Yan Zhao, and Honorary Mayor of Fremont Sujia Gao were all present, witnessing the glorious moment when the Silicon Valley community came together to mobilize with action and drive change with vision.