We had the good fortune of connecting with Edna Ma, MD and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Ma, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Tough question! As I grow older and am raising my young family, I’ve shifted my priorities and how I spend my precious time. Before children, I spent my extra time picking up extra work at the hospital, socializing/networking, and starting businesses. The birth of my two children taught me how quickly time passes and how rapidly they change. I also listen to those I admire and whose relationships I wish to emulate. They’ve shown me that the family is foundation of a child’s well-being. Finding balance is finding the strength to be able to say “no” to work so I can be available for the family.
I’ve also discovered Parkinson’s Law, which is the adage that work fills to fill the time available for its completion. This means, if you allow work to dominate your life and schedule, the more work there is to do! For me, learning to prioritize the family over “work” has helped me regain “balance” in my life.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
After medical school, I completed my training as an anesthesiologist. As a physician, we are trained to heal and be problem solvers. I applied my training and creativity by launching BareEASE, a prep kit that numbs the skin before bikini waxing or laser, in the same way skin is numbed prior to placing an IV in a child. BareEASE earn a patented formula, address the everyday pains women encounter with beauty procedures (e.g.: waxing and laser hair removal).
In an attempt to raise money for my start-up, I accepted the challenge and opportunity to compete as a castaway on the hit reality TV show SURVIVOR. (Unfortunately, I didn’t win the million dollars!) Later, BareEASE was featured on the popular TV show SHARK TANK (Season 5). While I wasn’t selected by one of the five TV sharks, I was able to create a partnership with a private equity group that saw my segment.
Now as mother of two children, my love to create and solve problems still hasn’t waned. As an American born Chinese, my husband and I wanted to raise our children to be bilingual and global citizens. With our children in Mandarin immersion school, I found a limited selection of engaging picture books with both English and Chinese. So I used this paucity in the marketplace at motivation to create bilingual children’s books I wished existed.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My ideal weekend itinerary would include a early morning hike up to the Griffith Observatory. There, we would see snap a few instagramable photos to include the Hollywood sign and the Observatory’s dome. For lunch, we would head to Hollywood Boulevard, meander over the stars and grab lunch at the pool side at Chateau Marmont. From there, we would head west to Santa Monica and stroll down the Pier and catch a ride on the ferris wheel. For dinner we would arrive at Nobu Malibu and catch sunset from their beach front deck. Naturally, I would take advantage of the parking and walk down to the sand for an evening stroll. For day two of our epic LA weekend, we would start off at the Getty Museum. From there, my friends would discover Westwood and the UCLA campus, where I spent 3 years completing my medical training. After strolling through the historic movie theaters of Westwood, we would grab lunch at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. I would conduct my own “TMZ” inspired drive though Beverly Hills residential neighbor and making a special stop at the Witch’s home. For the evening, I would have already arranged for (because I am a planner!) box tickets and the Hollywood Bowl! My guests might be too tired, but I would insist on grabbing drinks on a roof top bar on either Waldorf Astoria, Sunset Boulevard or Downtown LA! My friends would be exhausted but they would have an authentic and memorable experience. Sorry Disneyland and Universal Studio, next time!!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
LaTonya Wood Huey, she and her family have become our family. Her son and my children have become the motivation for my bilingual children’s book. They have taught me so much about being kind and accepting humans.
Website: www.EdnaMa.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ednamamd/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ednamamd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ednamamd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ednamamd
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrsYDi1kcDhFjE_e6MXbwpA
Other: Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Edna-Ma/e/B078NNXPSQ?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1620584526&sr=8-1
Image Credits
Johnny Shryock
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
