Michelle Sun facts for kids

Michelle Sun is a smart entrepreneur from Hong Kong. She started a special school called First Code Academy. This school taught kids from age 4 and up how to code and create cool apps for phones. First Code Academy had schools in many cities across Asia, like Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

Michelle's Early Life and Learning

Michelle grew up in Hong Kong. She was a great student in high school. She then went to the University of Chicago to study Economics.

In 2012, she took a three-month intensive course in computer programming. This course was at Hackbright Academy in San Francisco, which was just for women. It helped her learn how to write computer code.

Later, in 2016, Michelle finished a special program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This program taught educators how to teach coding to kids.

Michelle's Career Journey

Working at Goldman Sachs

From 2007 to 2010, Michelle worked at a big financial company called Goldman Sachs. She was an analyst, which means she researched companies in the technology and media industries.

Her First Business Ideas

In 2011, Michelle started her very first business. It was about helping shops connect with their customers using a mobile app for loyalty rewards. Running this business made her want to learn how to code herself!

Learning in Silicon Valley

After her coding course, Michelle worked for several new tech companies in Silicon Valley. This is a famous area in California known for technology. While she was there, she started volunteering on weekends. She taught coding to middle school girls. This experience inspired her to create her own coding school.

Starting First Code Academy

In 2013, Michelle moved back to Hong Kong. She then founded First Code Academy. It started small, with workshops just for girls. Soon, it grew to offer many courses for both boys and girls, from ages four to eighteen.

The courses taught everything from basic programming to building apps and websites. They even covered advanced topics like Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence. Michelle wanted to make sure kids had good coding classes. She believed that all children need to understand coding. She also really wanted more young girls to get interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.

First Code Academy expanded to places like Taiwan, Macau, and Singapore. Michelle wanted to show girls that they could succeed in coding and tech, even though these fields often have more men. She taught her students to have a positive mindset and to see challenges as chances to grow. Persistence and optimism were also important lessons she shared.

Sadly, due to tough economic times, First Code Academy stopped all its lessons on May 31, 2022.

Teaching at MIT

In 2017, Michelle became a guest lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She taught in the same Master Trainers program she had completed. This program trains teachers to help kids learn coding.

Helping Women in Tech

Michelle is very active in helping more women join the tech industry. She helped start the Women Who Code HK chapter in Hong Kong. She also became a council member of the Hong Kong Women's Foundation. She believes these groups help women support each other and share advice.

Awards and Recognitions

Michelle has received several honors for her work:

• In 2015, the BBC named her one of the "30 Under 30 Women Entrepreneurs."
• In 2016, Forbes magazine included her in their "30 Under 30 in Asia" list.
• She also won a Woman of Hope award in 2014 and 2015 for her work as an entrepreneur.