The Way We Work Now

> LIHUA ZHAO > GLOBAL HEA D, 3D LAB AT H P LABS

HP OFFICE

PALO ALTO,CA

HOME OFFICE

SUNNYVALE,CA

What is your workspace like?

I live in a small townhome and share a workspace with my husband and two daughters, ages 10 and 12. My husband still goes to a physical space each day for work, though not for as many hours each day as before.

Do you go into the lab at all?

I’m not there as often as I used to be. I used to just walk into the lab and talk to my research scientists and engineers, see what was happening, and brainstorm right on the spot. That is still happening, but only occasionally.

Are there upsides to the current work situation?

Definitely. You have fewer boundaries to working with people across the nation and the globe. When the pandemic started, I was working on developing a 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab with researchers, engineers, and businesses in different locations and states. There was a sense that there were fewer limitations for us.

Do you have a favorite part of the workday?

When I finish work and my kids are just two steps away. I turn

What does your day look like now?

My job now requires a lot more meetings and discussions. It can start as early as 5:30 a.m., and if I am working with Asia, it can go as late as 9 p.m. We need to prioritize and make sure we don’t burn out.

Are there aspects of remote working you don’t like?

Yes. Your home is your office, your kitchen is your office, your office is everywhere. For managers, you have a lot more discussions that need to be scheduled, which before would have been hallway conversations. around and I can ask them, “Okay, what problem do you have? We can solve it together.”

Both of your daughters are interested in science. Do you actively encourage that?

At our dinner table, we always discuss technology and the problems we encounter. My older one is starting to code and she produced her very first game last year. It’s interesting to see how much curiosity they have. If you give a little direction to someone, they can accomplish something impressive. —Interviewed by John Newton

“I turn around and ask them, ‘Okay, what problem do you have? We can solve it together. ’”

Clockwise from left: Lihua Zhao with a 3D-printed sample, a surgical guide tool, a nasopharyngeal swab container, and a 3D-printed mat. Opposite: Zhao’s daughters, Jocelyn and Katheryn, have inherited her passion for science.

GARAGE.HP.COM

WATCH “THE WAY WE WORK NOW,”

A NEW HP VIDEO SERIES »