Jason Ma Biography

Jason L. Ma is CEO and Chief Mentor at ThreeEQ, a family-owned, premier education and global (tech) business consultancy. ThreeEQ is also deeply engaged in applied research. He holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at UC Berkeley College of Engineering in 1984, and attended the evening MBA program at Santa Clara University Leavey Graduate School of Business starting 1989 but dropped out in 1991 because his international tech sales/marketing management career demanded traveling and missing classes over 80% of the time. Jason earned his way to being a delegate to the Forbes Global CEO Conference (mainly billionaires and UHNWIs) for 8 years before Forbes Media was acquired by an Asian firm. Jason is Silicon Valley’s leading member of the Future of Work and Education Taskforce at the B20, the G20’s private sector advisory council representing the global business community across all G20 economies, since 2014.

As a global business and education leader, entrepreneur, and investor, Jason Ma has 35+ years of seasoned experience in technology, education, and other industries, and nearly 3 million miles of world travel across Asia Pacific, Europe/Middle East, and Americas. As a senior executive earlier in his career, he successfully co-built leading tech companies (subsequent IPO or M&A) and teams, and led international sales and marketing of mobile/wireless infrastructure equipment and systems, IT/network security products and systems, and Internet services to major mobile operators, telcos, enterprises, government agencies, and ISPs primarily across Greater China, Southeast Asia, Australia/NZ, India/South Asia, Japan, and South Korea. And as an entrepreneurial CEO and strategist, he co-founded, invested in, and exited astutely from a few U.S., Chinese, and Indian tech companies in mobile payment, e-payment, new media, education technology (edtech) platform and SaaS, and education services. He also advised family offices and firms in private equity, venture capital, hedge fund, wealth management, private banking, investment banking, management consulting, and real estate.

As a father and tech CEO thirteen years ago, Jason noticed that most young people—the next generation—had yet to unleash their full potential and actualize their best selves. “Wasted potential, leaving lots of future money on the table,” Jason would say. He then decided to dedicate his second career to transforming young achievers, preparing them to gain admission to great universities, mentoring them to develop powerful mindsets and soft skills, and helping them to thrive in impactful careers. In 2007, he co-founded IvyMax, a private college counseling, test prep, and academic and activity enrichment services company by executing the international merger of a chain of learning centers, which was run by a family, and an education technology and SaaS startup, where he was co-founder and CEO. Because families were most available to meet in center during Saturdays and Sundays, he compassionately worked full time every weekend for a few years. Learn more about Jason’s IvyMax story under the Past Work Experience section below.

In late 2011, Jason departed IvyMax via a mutual agreement, reclaimed his weekends, and freed himself up to pursue his next-level mission. That’s when he founded ThreeEQ, with initial focus on guiding more deeply and powerfully 1-on-1 the motivated students in selected, high-end client families worldwide. Not burdened with the time/energy/costs of a facilities-based business, he operated a more flexible, cost-effective “global mobile virtual office” by mainly using Zoom wherever quiet with reliable Internet access. (At his previous company, Jason brought in Eric Yuan, who is now on the Forbes 400, as an investor; Jason saw Eric giving birth to Zoom!)

As the Chief Mentor of Next-Gen Leaders known in high-level circles today, Jason Ma and Team ThreeEQ serve as foremost (Ivy League and highly competitive) college admissions, high-end career, leadership, and life success mentors and coaches to Gen Z and Millennial achievers in private client families. ThreeEQ masterfully inspires and guides 1-on-1 these young achievers to accomplish great results and also hone pragmatic emotional, social, and leadership intelligence (“3EQ”)—for a more sustainable competitive advantage and a higher, more impactful and rewarding, long-term success trajectory.

Over the past 13 years, Jason’s own 1-on-1 success mentoring and coaching method, which became exceptionally effective, has transformed hundreds of driven high school and college students, working adults, and even C-suite leaders (Gen Z, Millennial, and Gen X achievers), and has helped them achieve strong outcomes. On college admissions, many of the students were accepted into the eight Ivy League universities and other top private and public schools, and over 100 admitted to UC Berkeley and UCLA. Given ThreeEQ’s guidance, families gain peace of mind, enrich relationships, and mitigate risk of opportunity loss—all with sound family values. Jason also helps ease succession planning for UHNW families.

A wealth of factors make ThreeEQ different, including a 100% success rate (defined by outcomes that clients are happy about) with coachable, committed, high-achieving students in selected HNW client families. ThreeEQ fully understands EXACTLY how Ivy League and highly competitive college admissions decisions are made. But Jason’s work is MORE PROFOUND than just helping kids get into college because college ISN’T their destination but is PART of their JOURNEY and a steppingstone to their greater career and personal success. His students’ growth, contributions, identity, relationships, happiness, and security for many years to come are just as vital.

Jason also helped guide brilliant, young entrepreneurs in technology and sciences as a Thiel Fellowship mentor and a Kairos Society mentor.

As a global CEO/board strategic advisor, enterprise business rainmaker, and C-suite coach today, ThreeEQ CEO/Chief Mentor Jason Ma helps selected (tech) companies, C-suites, and family offices worldwide progress strategically to next levels. Depending on the business client, he addresses global/U.S./Asia/China business and geopolitics, private equity, M&A, venture and strategic investment, HR/capital, succession planning, and/or intergenerational leadership 3.0. In doing so, he applies his business acumen and engages his Forbes Global CEO, Fortune 500 C-suite, family office, and other high-level connections worldwide. Jason brings to his business clients not only a powerful global network but also over 35+ years of CEO/senior executive, founder, mentoring, M&A, corporate development, sales and marketing, and engineering experience in technology, education, and other industries, as well as perspectives from nearly 3 million miles of world travel. 

Additionally, Jason is privately a C-suite coach to selected CEOs/senior executives, helping them take their own business and personal/family successes to next levels.  

As an appointed, leading member of the B20 in the G20, Jason Ma serves on the Future of Work and Education Taskforce, while observing Digital Transformation and Trade & Investment. The B20 is the official voice of the private sector to the G20 heads of state and governments, representing the global business community across all G20 member states and all economic sectors. The B20 develops policy recommendations for and leads engagement with the G20, which represents over 80% of the global nominal GDP of nearly US$90 trillion and 2/3 of the worldwide population of 7.8 billion people. The G20 consists of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Since 2014, through the G20 and B20 presidencies in Australia, Turkey, China, Germany, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia in 2020, Jason is one of only a few hundred business leaders worldwide handpicked to be B20 members.

As an international keynote/fireside/panel speaker, moderator, and masterclass leader, Jason Ma inspires and enlightens audiences worldwide, including billionaires and tycoons; CEOs and executives; business owners; government leaders; family office executives; investors; parents; educators; Millennial professionals and entrepreneurs; and Gen Zers at work and in graduate school, college/university, and high school. Jason’s repertoire of speaking topics is too long to list here: please see this list under the SPEAKING TOPICS tab below. He has spoken at global CEO/business conferences, Global China and India Business Meetings, tech industry events, B20 forums for the G20, enterprises, family office conferences, high-net-worth parent private events, education summits, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, INSEAD, Los Angeles Unified School District, and special events co-sponsored by alumni clubs from Harvard Business School, Harvard, Stanford GSB, UC Berkeley Haas, and Wharton. In addition his own professional speaking platform, Jason is represented by leading speakers bureaus worldwide, including All American Entertainment, A-Speakers, Champions Speakers, Executive Speakers Bureau, Harry Walker Agency, London Speaker Bureau, and MFL Global.

As an influential author and media contributor, Jason Ma is the author of the critically acclaimed book Young Leaders 3.0: Stories, Insights, and Tips for Next-Generation Achievers. He is the former Forbes contributor on “Mentoring Young Leaders” for elite college prep and admissions, higher education, next-generation leadership, and entrepreneurship success—with over 1.4 million views and counting. He also authored Gen Z: Understanding Tomorrow’s Digital Workers in an eBook. In his career, Jason was featured in CNBC Asia (Managing Asia and Squawk Box), Business Rockstars, Fast Company, Asian Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, Nikkei, Channel NewsAsia, WealthBriefingAsia, JustLuxe, India West, Teen Kids News, various radio shows, and other media. Jason was featured as one of eight “Industry Men of 2020” for his “Leadership 3.0 Intelligence” in Clientele Luxury Global Magazine and was named “Preeminent Mentor for Next-Gen Leaders” by Black Tie International Magazine.

As a philanthropist and B20 member, Jason believes in giving. ThreeEQ Foundation, a small donor-advised fund, works with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in giving to causes that assist the disadvantaged, and ThreeEQ donates pro bono services to select charities.

As a father today, Jason values unconditional love, humor, and high standards on what matters. In his own family (playfully called the “MAfia”), he and his wife are blessed with two happy, compassionate Gen Z daughters—a Google software engineer and emerging leader, and a Wharton rising junior—both with tech industry leadership aspirations.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Jason Ma's expertise is in high demand. To book Jason Ma for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Jason Ma's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Jason Ma's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Jason Ma for your next speaking engagement.