Valerie Song | Présidente-directrice générale d’ AVA Technologies Inc.

Valerie Song

CEO

Ava technologies Inc.

Created On: October 13, 2017
Sector:
Business, Management, and Administration,  Technology
Education Pathway: University
Related School Subjects:
Business & Economics,  Science,  Technology & Engineering

Learn About My Career

Valerie Song is the CEO of Ava technologies Inc. in British Columbia.

I was born/grew up in:Taipei, Taiwan. I grew up in Coquitlam, BC.

I now live in:Vancouver, BC, Canada!

I completed my training/education at: Sauder School of Business at University of British Columbia

At AVA, we have an extremely complex product that requires multi-disciplinary thinking. We use all aspects of STEM to develop our AVA Byte smart gardens. We use plant science to create our plant pods, technology for our machine learning software, engineering to create the electronics in the product, and maths to determine draft angles and material reduction in manufacturing a product.

We use 3D printing to prototype our gardens, and even robot arms that we want to train to plant, water, and harvest our greens.

STEM learning is really about training your mind to think critically. Running a start-up, every day is like putting out fires - what is the biggest issue that we need to solve now? What solutions could there be, and which one is the best? How can we work with the team to solve it together?

I always had an idea that I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but graduating from business school I was enticed by the idea of getting paid a good salary right out of school.

So, throughout my 4 years at university, I worked hard to get a double option and to intern every summer. I worked selling laptops for Microsoft Canada, conducting market research at Procter & Gamble, launching new cereals at Nature's Path Organic Food, and even selling beer to restaurants.

I was so unhappy with working at a company that didn't practice their values. That wasn't diverse. That didn't embrace failures. I eventually quit my job to pursue my passion in entrepreneurship.

What excites me the most about work is how different it is every day.

We set our own tasks and deadlines. We drive our own results. We plan for our own campaigns.

Most importantly, we embrace failure. Failure is a way to move forward and seek success, unlike the mentality many big corporations have where failure is not an option. Failure is a slap on the back of your hand.

I find it rewarding to learn, grow, fail fast, and fail forward. It challenges me every day, but that way I can improve so much more.

As a woman and minority in technology, I strive for gender and ethnic balance in our teams. We call our team the AVA Family - we care about everyone's voices being heard, that people are not boxed by their job titles, and that they can learn a lot. That is the most fulfilling part - seeing us grow as a family.

I quit my corporate job to do something I cared about - sustainability for future generations. We know what the future of food could look like if nobody takes action, and decided that we would do something about it.

The movement to grow more food, closer to home, using no pesticides, will only continue to grow!

I love volleyball, zombie movies, cooking, and exploring. I volunteer as a start-up coach for the JDC West competition for both teams at BCIT & UBC!

Following your dreams isn't a cliché, it's a necessity. Do what you love, love what you do.

What I do at work

At AVA, we have an extremely complex product that requires multi-disciplinary thinking. We use all aspects of STEM to develop our AVA Byte smart gardens. We use plant science to create our plant pods, technology for our machine learning software, engineering to create the electronics in the product, and maths to determine draft angles and material reduction in manufacturing a product.

We use 3D printing to prototype our gardens, and even robot arms that we want to train to plant, water, and harvest our greens.

STEM learning is really about training your mind to think critically. Running a start-up, every day is like putting out fires - what is the biggest issue that we need to solve now? What solutions could there be, and which one is the best? How can we work with the team to solve it together?

My career path is

I always had an idea that I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but graduating from business school I was enticed by the idea of getting paid a good salary right out of school.

So, throughout my 4 years at university, I worked hard to get a double option and to intern every summer. I worked selling laptops for Microsoft Canada, conducting market research at Procter & Gamble, launching new cereals at Nature's Path Organic Food, and even selling beer to restaurants.

I was so unhappy with working at a company that didn't practice their values. That wasn't diverse. That didn't embrace failures. I eventually quit my job to pursue my passion in entrepreneurship.

I am motivated by

What excites me the most about work is how different it is every day.

We set our own tasks and deadlines. We drive our own results. We plan for our own campaigns.

Most importantly, we embrace failure. Failure is a way to move forward and seek success, unlike the mentality many big corporations have where failure is not an option. Failure is a slap on the back of your hand.

I find it rewarding to learn, grow, fail fast, and fail forward. It challenges me every day, but that way I can improve so much more.

How I affect peoples’ lives

As a woman and minority in technology, I strive for gender and ethnic balance in our teams. We call our team the AVA Family - we care about everyone's voices being heard, that people are not boxed by their job titles, and that they can learn a lot. That is the most fulfilling part - seeing us grow as a family.

I quit my corporate job to do something I cared about - sustainability for future generations. We know what the future of food could look like if nobody takes action, and decided that we would do something about it.

The movement to grow more food, closer to home, using no pesticides, will only continue to grow!

Outside of work I

I love volleyball, zombie movies, cooking, and exploring. I volunteer as a start-up coach for the JDC West competition for both teams at BCIT & UBC!

My advice to others

Following your dreams isn't a cliché, it's a necessity. Do what you love, love what you do.

When I was a student I enjoyed:

  • Art
  • Foreign Languages
  • Literature and English language arts
  • Math
  • Home Economics/Family Studies
  • Foods and Nutrition
  • Physical Education/Health
  • Science

When I was a student, I would describe myself as someone who:

  • Brought people together
  • Liked helping people
  • Organized activities for my friends
  • Played on a sports team
  • Was motivated by success
  • Liked being given specific instructions
  • Liked being given free range to explore my ideas
  • Engaged in volunteer activities
  • Liked reading
  • Played video games
  • Was really creative

Related Topics

3D Printing Agriculture Business Careers Computer Software Entrepreneurship Robotics

Explore More Career Profiles

  • Brianna Lummerding à genoux près d’un cerceau en plastique collectant des échantillons dans un champ herbeux.

    Brianna Lummerding

    Career Profiles

    Agronomic Innovation Manager

    I look after all things related to soil management for a group of retailers.
    Learn More Brianna Lummerding
  • Li Tan, vêtu d'une blouse de laboratoire de couleur blanche, souriant dans son laboratoire.

    Li Tan (he/him)

    Career Profiles

    Molecular Lead

    I coordinate the day-to-day operations in the DNA Extraction Lab.
    Learn More Li Tan (he/him)
  • Tyler Mohard wearing lab coat and hair net as he works in the SyLMAND lab

    Tyler Morhart (video)

    Career Profiles

    Scientist, Beamline Responsible - SyLMAND

    I am responsible for the SyLMAND beamline at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron facility.
    Learn More Tyler Morhart (video)
  • Five people, each wearing a white lab coat, standing around a lab bench that has scientific equipment on it.

    Li Tan (Video)

    Career Profiles

    Molecular Lead

    I coordinate the day-to-day operations in the DNA Extraction Lab.
    Learn More Li Tan (Video)
  • portrait par Rashell Featherstone

    Rashell Featherstone (she/her)

    Career Profiles

    Senior Program Associate

    I coordinate projects for the development of new products at STEMCELL.
    Learn More Rashell Featherstone (she/her)
  • Kira Hoffman portant un casque rouge avec de la fumée en arrière-plan

    Kira Hoffman (she/her)

    Career Profiles

    Postdoctoral Researcher/Fire Ecologist

    I am a researcher at both a university and a not-for profit organization where I am gaining experience to become a senior researcher.
    Learn More Kira Hoffman (she/her)
  • Zoe Ehlert closely examining a plan that has yellow flowers

    Zoë Ehlert (Video)

    Career Profiles

    Manager, Marker Assisted Breeding

    I lead a team that develops canola crops by breeding plants with traits we are looking for.
    Learn More Zoë Ehlert (Video)
  • Daniel Meister headshot

    Daniel Meister

    Career Profiles

    Master's Student, Kinesiology

    Learn More Daniel Meister
  • Zoë Ehlert, vêtue d'une blouse de laboratoire blanche, pose une boîte en carton sur une étagère.

    Zoë Ehlert

    Career Profiles

    Manager, Marker Assisted Breeding

    I lead a team that develops canola crops by breeding plants with traits we are looking for.
    Learn More Zoë Ehlert
  • Jennifer Baltzer portant une casquette et un tee-shirt violet avec des arbres en arrière-plan.

    Jennifer Baltzer (she/her)

    Career Profiles

    Professor and Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change

    I work at a university, teaching students and conducting research on the impact of climate change on forests in Canada and around the world.
    Learn More Jennifer Baltzer (she/her)
  • Caitlyn Lyons, prête pour la forêt avec son sac à dos et ses outils de collecte de données. La photo insérée montre Caitlyn examinant une section de gazon.

    Caitlyn Lyons (she/her)

    Career Profiles

    Ph.D. Candidate

    I am working towards my PhD and studying the forests in the Northwest Territories.
    Learn More Caitlyn Lyons (she/her)
  • Joann Whalen headshot

    Joann Whalen

    Career Profiles

    Professor at the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,

    I teach advanced courses on how to manage soils to produce healthy, nutritious food and maintain healthy ecosystem functions.
    Learn More Joann Whalen