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Alumni Profiles Series: Zhiping Mao
Zhiping Mao received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Duke University, conducting research under the guidance of Professor Robert Kielb. His doctoral work focused on scientific computing, specifically on reducing computational resource requirements by transforming problems between time and frequency domains. This technical foundation would later prove essential in his transition from academia to industry. Beyond the lab, Zhiping actively pursued professional development. He served as president of the Duke Advanced-degree Consulting Club (DACC), and under his leadership, the club hosted nationwide case competitions, produced a well-regarded consulting workshop series on YouTube, and delivered pro bono consulting projects for both local businesses and multinational corporations. These experiences helped him bridge the gap between rigorous academic problem-solving and business-oriented thinking. After graduation, Zhiping started his career in venture capital through a serendipitous opportunity introduced by a former McKinsey consultant: that internship at SummitView Capital marked his entry into tech investment. He is now a technology investor at Temasek, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, focusing on sectors such as digital infrastructure, advanced materials, and smart hardware. His work aligns closely with Temasek’s long-term, impact-driven investment philosophy of building a better world for future generations.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Duke?
My favorite memory at Duke was my time at the Duke Advanced-degree Consulting Club (DACC). I began with zero knowledge of management consulting—it was my then-girlfriend (now wife, and also a Duke alum) who introduced me to the field. As I got more involved, I started leading workshops, organizing national case competitions, and eventually became the club’s president. That experience helped me realize how transferable the analytical skills from scientific research are to solving business problems. It also gave me a structured path out of the purely technical world into broader business roles.
How did your Ph.D. help you professionally?
My Ph.D. taught me structured thinking and how to approach complex problems—skills essential in both consulting and investment. The mindset of breaking down and resolving the core problems during Ph.D. training is constantly utilized in my day-to-day work now in the business world. Additionally, scientific computing gave me strong foundations in data processing and mathematical modeling, which are highly applicable to understand related tech-development trajectories. For instance, my Ph.D. work involved optimizing computational efficiency—very similar to the co-development of software and hardware in digital infrastructure. These are building blocks I obtained at Duke, shaping my unique angle and advantage in tech investment.
You’ve transitioned from engineering into investing. What was your original career plan, and how has that evolved?
Initially, I aimed to go into consulting. My involvement in ASME (the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) as chair of the student advisory committee helped me develop leadership skills and organize student-led initiatives. During my Ph.D., my advisor, Prof. Robert Kielb, actively encouraged me to explore career paths beyond academia, emphasizing the impact achievable through diverse perspectives. I benefited from Duke's open-minded research environment and career support services like the Career Center, which helped me refine my résumé through dozens of iterations.
An important turning point was meeting an ex-McKinsey consultant who had transitioned into venture capital. He introduced me to SummitView Capital, where I interned and later joined full-time after graduation. I became their first Ph.D. hire from campus recruitment. Today at Temasek, I focus on identifying and investing in high-impact technologies.
What does a typical day look like in your position at Temasek?
In my role as a tech investor at Temasek, I evaluate emerging technologies for their capacity to disrupt markets and deliver societal value. My daily responsibilities involve scouting new opportunities, conducting rigorous market research, engaging with company leadership, performing technical due diligence, and presenting at investment committees. One key investment involved driving the funding of silicon carbide (SiC) power components for electric vehicles. This innovation enhances EV efficiency by up to 10%, making it a pivotal step toward sustainability and carbon-neutrality goals.
What advice would you offer to current graduate students exploring their career options?
Explore broadly while you're still in school—the cost of making mistakes is much lower. Try joining organizations like DACC, DISI (Duke Interdisciplinary Social Innovators), or participate in hands-on interdisciplinary projects. Use Duke’s Career Center to practice interviews and refine your résumé. And don’t hesitate to reach out to alumni for advice. Many are happy to help.
Most importantly, understand that your technical training gives you a unique lens to access and engage with the world—even in fields far from engineering. Harness this advantage.
Author
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Shiyuan Li
M.S. student, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Shiyuan Li is a second-year master's student at the Salahshoor Lab in the Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, focusing on computational mechanics and scientific computing. He completed his undergraduate studies at Wuhan University of Technology in China. Currently, his research focuses on scientific machine learning (SciML), particularly on developing a theoretical and mathematical understanding of solution operators for partial differential equations (PDEs) and exploring how neural operators can replace or be combined with traditional numerical methods.