Elaine Wen

Elaine has been to China where her parents are from, has been honored with the 2017 Girl in Technology nomination, has won the Georgia Individual Championship in Women’s Epee Fencing and competed in the Nationals, been a facilitator for the No Place for Hate Summit in Atlanta, been a part of the National Youth Leadership Mission as part of a group that traveled to Washington DC sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League to meet with Holocaust survivors and learn their history – and she is only 17 years old!

How long have you lived and or worked in Sandy Springs? I was born in Sandy Springs and have lived here my whole life. My mother and father moved here after leaving China to come to the US for law school and settled here to raise their family (my younger brother and me).

Who is the most interesting person you have met here who has made an impact on your life? I have two people that have been positive role models in my life – Ms. Ciepluch who is the Public Relations liaison at my high school (North Springs) and Ms. Carrisa from Women in Technology who has mentored me and helped me start a high school chapter at my school.

What is your favorite movie? I love the movies by Studio Ghibli and am looking forward to seeing Castle in the Sky.

Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative with whom would you like to have lunch? Condoleezza Rice, Michelle Kwan or Amy Tan.

What makes you happy? Growth from discovering new ideas. Getting to mentor and empower other girls to help them grow.

What are some of your hobbies? Baking, reading books and skiing with my family.

What is something unique about you or that has happened to you? I got to go to the International School in China for a few weeks my Freshman year at the same time we had exchange students at my high school. When I returned to school some of the people I didn’t know thought I was an exchange student from China. (I do speak fluent Mandarin)

What are your plans and goals for the next 5-10 years? I would like to go from the classroom to the boardroom

What advice would you give to people? Go outside of your comfort zone and expand your boundaries to grow. Be comfortable being uncomfortable – take a leap.

What words come to mind when you think of the word home? Family and Comfort Food (Mac n cheese and Chinese pickled vegetables

Debbie Soneshine of The Sonenshine Teamwould love your Faces nominations.

Leave a Reply