Meet GreatSchools: Lilly Fu

We'd like to introduce you to our valued chief financial officer, Lilly Fu. Before she worked in finance, Lilly was one of the first corps members of Teach for America, where she taught second grade in Oakland, Calif. And after a stint with Sony Pictures Entertainment, she led the financial metrics and evaluation efforts at the Stupski Foundation, a private philanthropic institution dedicated to improving urban public schools in the United States. I asked her to tell us what motivates her, and here's what she said:

What inspires you about the GreatSchools mission?
Lilly: As a mother of two children and a former public schoolteacher, I have a deep appreciation for the importance of fostering effective learning environments for children. We have a full set of resources to make these tasks less daunting for parents. I believe the combination of easy-to-navigate student achievement data, expert advice on parenting topics and a lively Web community really empowers parents.

Who in your childhood most inspired your love of learning?
Lilly: My parents, like many Asian immigrant parents, placed a very high priority on instilling a love of learning and academic achievement in their children. My favorite pastime as a child was to spend whole afternoons in the public library with my mom or dad, reading up on all the fairy tales and fantasy books. My parents constantly reminded me that I can be anything I want to be if I am willing to work hard and remain open to learning.

What's the best parenting advice you've heard?
Lilly: Don't ignore your own instincts. Although the proliferation of parenting books and Web sites has given us tremendous insights on child-rearing issues, it can also make us more confused about what the right thing to do is in any given moment — especially when experts provide contradictory advice. Since no one knows my child the way I do, I try to trust my instincts when making parenting decisions.

Lilly, thanks for reminding us to listen to our intuition.
Lilly: We usually do know our kids best!