In this episode of Conductive Conversations, host Carey Lai sits down with his father, John Lai, to explore a life story that spans from rural Taiwan in the 1940s to helping build some of America's most advanced aerospace technology.
Most people today have never experienced a world without electricity, refrigerators, or indoor plumbing.
John did. Born in 1943 during Japanese rule in Taiwan, John grew up surrounded by rice fields and water buffalo, making toys from clay and learning to solve problems with limited resources. In 1967, he left home to pursue aerospace engineering in the United States, beginning a journey that would take him from culture shock and language barriers to contributing to projects including the F-35 fighter jet.
This conversation is about resilience, immigration, family, reinvention, and witnessing one of the greatest technological transformations in human history, from wood fires to Artificial Intelligence.
What you'll learn:
• What life was really like growing up in rural Taiwan in the 1940s and 50s
• Why John immigrated to America in 1967
• How he built a career in aerospace engineering
• The story behind his work on the F-35 fighter jet
• Lessons from layoffs, failure, and reinventing yourself
• How he approached parenting as a first-generation immigrant
• Why he believes AI is the most transformative technology he's ever seen
• The opportunities and risks of an AI-powered future
This episode is for founders, engineers, immigrants, and anyone interested in how perseverance and curiosity can shape an extraordinary life.
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