Simone Mao is an award-winning Canadian political theorist and AI governance researcher currently affiliated with Harvard University. Her work bridges normative theory, institutional design, and global governance. She develops pluralist, value-sensitive frameworks for ethical AI alignment and global cooperation, with a focus on reconciling value pluralism across systems and cultures. Her recent research spans three interrelated domains: AI ethical governance, political philosophy and cross-civilizational theory, and institutional and policy design in a global context, unified by one central question: how can diverse societies live together in an age of rising intelligent machines, global value fragmentation, and institutional uncertainty? Her work addresses foundational problems in the history of philosophy and seeks to offer new theoretical contributions. At its core, all of her research centers on one fundamental question: How can people live together harmoniously in multi-ethnic, multicultural societies? What philosophical foundations enable us to recognize diversity and respect difference, and how?
All of her work across diverse fields converges toward a unifying vision: rethinking the philosophical and institutional foundations of human cross-civilizational coexistence in an age of global value fragmentation, rising intelligent machines, and institutional uncertainty and redesign.
Meet Simone Mao
Simone Mao is a Chinese-Canadian researcher, author, philosopher, and advocate for equality and democracy. She was a serial entrepreneur and poet.
Name
Born Zhenting Mao, she preferred to be called Simone. She said, "A name, when freely chosen, can be an act of authorship." Her choice of Simone is a deliberate act of self-determination, aligning her identity with the cultural and philosophical path she chose, which deeply reflects her philosophical vocation and self-understanding. "In choosing Simone, I affirmed who I am becoming. It represents my intellectual identity (rather than my bloodline) —my consciousness, my vocation, and my philosophy—and reflects the way I view the world and the way I wish to be understood and recognized within it. It is the name by which I think, by which I write, and by which I wish to be understood." Read this to learn more.
She is a master's candidate in government at Harvard University, focusing on the theory and history of political thought. She actively contributes to academic and social causes.
Researcher
Simone graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in economics and a minor in government. She is pursuing a postgraduate degree in government at Harvard University, focusing on political philosophy. Her current research examines Jean-Jacques Rousseau's conception of the General Will and Canadian Multiculturalism.
Learn more about Simone's work in political thought and philosophical system-building.
Apprentice of Philosophers
Before entering Harvard, Simone’s passion for philosophy drove her to study German, French, Italian, Latin, and Ancient Greek. She later traveled to Italy to pursue Classical Studies (Lettere Classiche) with a focus on Ancient Philosophy at the University of Rome "La Sapienza". Her interest in philosophy began at the age of 12.
Author (co-)
Simone co-contributed to the Chinese edition of the Oxford Classical Dictionary and is currently working on her scholarly translation, Methexis: The Platonic Theory of Ideas and the Participation of Empirical Things, a monograph in Italian and Ancient Greek by Francesco Fronterotta (President of Mediterranean Section of International Plato Society).
Advocate
Simone is a strong advocate for democracy, public policy, and gender equity in particular, in academia and the community. She has worked with the Canadian Parliament, NGOs, think tanks, and civil society organizations.
Learn more about Simone's work in public policy and service.
Serial Founder
Simone founded several startups, including Adastra Consulting, before initiating a market expansion plan as a Marketing Manager at a 20-year CPG company. She later incorporated her own company. She holds a CORe certificate from Harvard Business School. As a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Alumna, Simone mentors at The Forum and is actively involved with the Harvard Innovation Lab, HBS Alumni Angels Association, and Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs.
Poet
Simone has been writing poetry in the Classical style since 12. She won prizes for her outstanding Classical knowledge in a national competition TV program and received a scholarship from professors at prestigious universities.
Meet Simone Mao
Simone Mao is a Canadian author, philosopher, advocate for equality and democracy, serial entrepreneur, and poet. She is a master's candidate in government at Harvard University, focusing on the theory and history of political thought. She actively contributes to academic and social causes.
Student
Simone graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in economics and a minor in government. She is pursuing a postgraduate degree in government at Harvard University, focusing on political philosophy. Her current research examines Jean-Jacques Rousseau's conception of the General Will and Canadian Multiculturalism.
Learn more about Simone's work in political thought and philosophical system building.
Apprentice of Philosophers
Before entering Harvard, Simone’s passion for philosophy drove her to study German, French, Italian, Latin, and Ancient Greek. She later traveled to Italy to pursue Classical Studies (Lettere Classiche) with a focus on Ancient Philosophy at the University of Rome "La Sapienza". Her interest in philosophy began at the age of 12.
Author (co-)
Simone co-contributed to the Chinese edition of the Oxford Classical Dictionary and is currently working on her scholarly translation, Methexis: The Platonic Theory of Ideas and the Participation of Empirical Things, a monograph in Italian and Ancient Greek by Francesco Fronterotta (President of Mediterranean Section of International Plato Society).
Serial Founder
Simone founded several startups, including Adastra Consulting, before initiating a market expansion plan as a Marketing Manager at a 20-year CPG company. She later incorporated her own company. She holds a CORe certificate from Harvard Business School. As a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Alumna, Simone mentors at The Forum and is actively involved with the Harvard Innovation Lab, HBS Alumni Angels Association, and Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs.
Advocate
Simone is a strong advocate for democracy, public policy, and gender equity in particular, in academia and the community. She has worked with the Canadian Parliament, NGOs, think tanks, and civil society organizations.
Learn more about Simone's work in public policy and service.
Poet
Simone has been writing poetry in the Classical style since 12. She won prizes for her outstanding Classical knowledge in a national competition TV program and received a scholarship from professors at prestigious universities.
Meet Simone Mao
Ongoing Projects
My recent projects consist of four parts:
Multiculturalism Project: Examining nationalism, global citizenship, ethnicity, and migration within political philosophy, focusing on Canadian policies.
Rousseau Project: Exploring the theory and history of political thought.
Philosophy Project: Engaging in pure philosophical inquiry.
Public Policy and Practicality Project: Responding to real-world societal issues.
Advocating for Change
Simone's Commitment to Global Peace, Immigration, Housing, Women Empowerment, Diversity, Equity, and Justice.
It's not just about talking the talk; it's about walking the walk. Every day, we live by our principles, striving for a better world for all.
Inquire. Investigate. Evolve.
Curiosity Sparks Reality.
Copyright © 2023 Simone Zhenting Mao. All rights reserved.
The troops exulting sat in order round,
And beaming fires illumined all the ground.
As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night,
O’er heaven’s pure azure spreads her sacred light,
When not a breath disturbs the deep serene,
And not a cloud o’ercasts the solemn scene,
Around her throne the vivid planets roll,
And stars unnumber’d gild the glowing pole,
O’er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed,
And tip with silver every mountain’s head:
Then shine the vales, the rocks in prospect rise,
A flood of glory bursts from all the skies:
The conscious swains, rejoicing in the sight,
Eye the blue vault, and bless the useful light.
So many flames before proud Ilion blaze,
And lighten glimmering Xanthus with their rays.
The long reflections of the distant fires
Gleam on the walls, and tremble on the spires.
A thousand piles the dusky horrors gild,
And shoot a shady lustre o’er the field.
Full fifty guards each flaming pile attend,
Whose umber’d arms, by fits, thick flashes send,
Loud neigh the coursers o’er their heaps of corn,
And ardent warriors wait the rising morn.