Stefanie Yu Molina works as Executive Engagement Lead at Meta Reality Labs, the part of the tech giant previously known as Facebook that produces innovative hardware products, including Quest Headsets and AI Wearables. She works with thought leaders and executives across industries to explore how Meta’s technologies and products can continue to unlock meaningful outcomes and spark new solutions. Her career journey in technology has been about building trust, connecting vision to action, and creating growth and momentum at where it matters the most.
Her journey to Silicon Valley began in the University of Toronto Department of Art History. “FAH101 [Monuments of Art History] opened a whole new world for me,” she recalls.
Art history taught Stefanie how to read narratives in objects, spaces, and people. Learning how meaning is constructed across different audiences helped her step into the perspective of others and offer them aesthetically and intellectually stimulating experiences.
Her studies in art history open doors to opportunities at Christie’s, an assistant curatorship at Barbara Edwards Gallery in Toronto, freelance curatorial projects with museums and art shows, and supporting leading artists and major international art fairs such as Art Basel.
Brought to the San Francisco Bay Area by an art world opportunity, Stefanie moved into the tech sector, driven by a passion to democratize aesthetic experience and bring people together. She didn’t expect it to be easy, but now, four years into her time with Meta, she is happy where she has landed
“How you present your experience is key. It’s all about storytelling. A lot of skills from studying art history are transferable.” Explaining how her training prepared her for real-world jobs helped her get noticed by hiring managers and employers, Stefanie says.
Mentorship and guidance were central to her development. Stefanie credits professors like Jens Wollesen, Elizabeth Legge, Mark Cheetham, and Jennifer Purtle for helping her navigate academic challenges and for encouraging her to explore internships and opportunities in art galleries.
Enriched by this hands-on experience, Stefanie found success in curatorial work and client engagement, teaching her how to translate the practice of art history into relationship building.
Because of the support she received, mentorship remains central to Stefanie’s work. She helped found the Asian Empowerment Group, a community of 300+ Asian women supporting emerging tech leaders.
For art history students entering a world driven by technology and AI innovations, Stefanie offers this advice: Don’t shy away from technology. Lean into your art historical outlook to help shape its development. “We need to bring in that perspective. Speak out. We need to be louder!”