2022 Fellow Focus: Wesley Ma + healthOpX
What propelled you into the entrepreneurial space? And what do you enjoy most about being a founder?
A mix of my derailed career aspirations and my experiences growing up as a second generation American. I had aspired to become a foreign service officer and ambassador, and ended up interning at the United States Agency for International Development where I was living out my dream. Unfortunately, due to changing budgets and presidencies, my dream got derailed. I looked inward and thought about the problems that I wanted to solve as a second-generation American. I came to the conclusion that I could best use my talents to support nonprofits and healthcare organizations that work with communities like the one I come from by giving them access to tools and support they otherwise would not have.
What do you enjoy most about being a founder?
healthOpX is centered around nonprofits and social impact organizations. One of the biggest perks of being a founder is creating your work environment. I also have the pleasure of working with and serving people who inspire me.
What is one piece of advice that has been the most impactful to your journey as an entrepreneur so far?
It's a marathon, not a race. If you are an entrepreneur who is solely focused on the destination and not enjoying the journey, it makes it significantly harder to compete with those who are enjoying themselves along the way.
Tell us about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values: "Belief in Mission + Vision"; "Unafraid of Failure"; "Constant Learner"; "Humble + Hungry"; and "Give First."
At the start of my entrepreneurship journey I wanted to learn more about how ethnic and/or grassroots nonprofits operated. So I drove all around the state of Michigan, sometimes 3-4 hours, to meet nonprofits in person and see how they operated. Even if they didn't agree to a meeting, I would still stop by to see how their volunteer processes worked and ask the front desk what kind of pain points they were experiencing. This “Humble + Hungry” approach really helped me gain a better understanding of who I was trying to help, and I truly enjoyed meeting everyone along the way.
As a social innovator, what legacy do you hope to leave behind for future generations?
Whatever problems you had growing up, it's possible to change them for future generations by innovating and creating your own sustainable solutions.
What's your favorite book or podcast that you draw entrepreneurial inspiration from?
Million Dollaz Worth of Game Podcast
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation, so I could always spend time with my loved ones no matter where they are.
Anything else you want to share about yourself and/or your Camelback Fellowship journey?
I never could have made it this far without the numerous people who have supported me. It truly does take a village, and I can only hope to return the kindness they have shown me and pass it along to other entrepreneurs.
You can learn more about ➡ Wesley Ma of healthOpX.
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