The person who most inspired me to work in opto-mechanics is Arthur Ashkin, the inventor of optical tweezers. His work showed that you could use light not just to observe matter, but to physically move it. That simple but profound idea led to breakthroughs across biology and physics, and it sparked my dream: to create a platform technology that, like his, could touch multiple fields and make a lasting impact.

Today, I’m the CEO and CTO of Zero Point Motion, a startup developing a whole new type of semiconductor sensor for positioning and navigation: we have combined photonics with semiconductors to create accelerometers and gyroscopes. I wear many hats: I lead fundraising efforts, meet customers, work with suppliers, and build our team. On the technical side, I still get moments in the lab — recently doing laser locking — but what I love most is enabling our team to work smarter and faster, strategizing and questioning all the industry and social norms that hold us back from innovating.

My proudest accomplishment so far is creating the first optical fiber-based optomechanical accelerometer that was successfully field-tested on a moving vehicle. It started as a bench-top lab experiment and became a battery-powered device in a rugged case, tested outdoors. I built it alone in under a year, and while it wasn’t award-winning research, it changed the course of my career and my life. It proved I could take an idea from the lab to real-world use, to cross over from physicist to engineer. That experience and achievement gave me the courage to start my company.

The biggest challenge has been learning to build teams from scratch, especially with limited resources. It means looking beyond conventional CVs, taking risks on people, and creating a culture of “constructive conflict.” We’re building the parachute as we fall, so decisions must be made quickly and debated honestly. That kind of environment is where we create groundbreaking achievements.

To young girls or women thinking of a STEM career, I would say: Trust logic. Science and maths are always there for you — they’re your sword and shield. And learn a bit of psychology, too. Understanding how the world works will help you navigate it without internalizing the setbacks. You are not the problem. Keep going.

As for the legacy I want to leave? I hope I’m remembered as someone who lived the values of my company — passion, integrity, and focus — and who built something that provided others with the tools to go further than I ever could.

Lia Li
CEO, Zero Point Motion
Born in China / Resides in United Kingdom
Educational Background: MSci in Physics, First-Class Honours, Imperial College London, United Kingdom; PhD in Physics, University College London, United Kingdom