Li Zhang, a senior financial manager at Tesla, expressed her belief that “only by contributing to society can one truly feel a sense of belonging.” Currently, she is running for the school board in the Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District.
After graduating from Peking University in 1991, Li Zhang moved to the United States and obtained a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego, followed by an MBA from UC Berkeley. She joined Tesla in 2017 and now serves as a senior financial manager at Tesla’s clean energy division. Her husband is a lifetime member of the Sierra Club and Audubon Society, well-known environmental organizations. They have twin sons.
With a successful career, a deep understanding of society, and her sons in college, Li Zhang felt it was time to give back to the community. In 2022, she ran for city council in Mountain View for the first time, officially entering the political arena. Although she didn’t win that election, she considers it a valuable learning experience.
Running for office required her full dedication, especially while balancing a full-time job, making the challenge even more strenuous. Additionally, every public statement she made required extra caution, as any deviation from others’ opinions could lead to intense criticism.
Initially, Li Zhang was deeply affected by these attacks and even entertained thoughts of arguing with everyone. However, over time, she learned to face challenges with a calm mindset and tried to understand things from others’ perspectives. She realized that it was unnecessary to dwell excessively on these attacks. What mattered most was sticking to her goals. “After the 2022 campaign, I have accumulated some valuable experience,” Li Zhang said.
Two years later, Li Zhang decided to run for public office again, this time for the school board in the Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District.
She mentioned that she has been volunteering at schools and is very familiar with the district’s education system. Running for the school board came due to two members retiring, leaving two vacancies. She aims to help Chinese parents better understand the American education system, support Hispanic disadvantaged families, and promote outdoor educational activities to encourage children to engage with nature by hiking and tree planting.
Li Zhang also highlighted concerns about some educational content, which she likened to class struggle in mainland China, simplifying individuals into rich and poor categories and creating a divide between students and teachers or principals. She believes that the school board should consist of individuals from diverse backgrounds to truly reflect democratic diversity. As a highly educated immigrant, she hopes to bring her past life experiences to the board, preventing extreme and indoctrination-like educational approaches in the democratic United States.
For Li Zhang, immigrants in America seek a sense of belonging, and giving back to society is an essential part of that. She emphasized the importance of mutual giving and receiving love, stating that mere taking without contributing will not lead to lasting effects. Only by truly integrating into society and making contributions can one feel a sense of belonging. Therefore, she views giving back to society as a natural progression, as she has benefitted greatly from it.
She pointed out that many Chinese people tend to not be involved in public affairs initially. However, she gradually realized that being uninvolved could lead to exclusion. By the time issues become severe, it’s often too late to take action.
In conclusion, Li Zhang hopes for the community’s support and promises to fulfill her duties fairly. If residents in the district are unfamiliar with her or have questions, she encourages them to reach out. She looks forward to hearing suggestions on how to improve the district together. For contact information, please visit the website: https://www.liformountainview.org/contact-us.