Archive · 20 Aug 2026
From Buddhist Monk to Meta Engineer, Chen Challenges Accenture
Lilly Chen had an unusual path into technology.
When she was 16, she became a Buddhist monk in a rural monastery in China.
The monks taught her to listen carefully before trying to solve problems.
Later, Chen returned to the United States and taught herself how to code.
She earned a perfect score on the ACT and attended Colorado College.
She eventually became a software engineer at Meta.
Now she leads FSH Technologies, a company that helps governments and schools improve old technology systems.
FSH has raised $25 million and has defeated Accenture in some government contract competitions.
The often-reported Rs 3 crore Meta salary is only an estimate, not a confirmed figure for Chen.
Lilly Chen became a Buddhist monk at 16 while dealing with Graves’ disease and limited healthcare access.
After about six months at a rural Chinese monastery, Chen returned to the United States and taught herself to code.
She earned a perfect 36 on the ACT, attended Colorado College, and later worked as a software engineer at Meta.
Chen founded FSH Technologies, which develops software for governments, schools, and public agencies.
FSH has raised $25 million and competes with Accenture for government contracts, while Chen’s reported Rs 3 crore Meta salary remains unconfirmed.
- Who
- Lilly Chen, founder and CEO of FSH Technologies, and companies including Meta and Accenture.
- What
- Chen moved from Buddhist monastic life to software engineering at Meta and later founded FSH Technologies.
- When
- Chen became a monk at 16, worked at Meta after college, and is now 30; she recently discussed her career in a Business Insider interview.
- Where
- She spent about six months at a Buddhist monastery in rural China, later studied and worked in the United States, and now pursues government contracts.
- Why
- Chen says her company aims to address outdated government technology and the rules, work practices, and resistance to change that can make upgrades difficult.
- Age
- Chen is 30.
- Monastery stay
- She spent about six months at a Buddhist monastery in rural China.
- Education
- Chen earned a perfect ACT score of 36 and attended Colorado College.
- Former employer
- She worked as a software engineer at Meta.
- Company
- FSH Technologies develops software for governments, schools, and public agencies.
- Funding
- FSH Technologies has raised $25 million, including a recently closed $20 million Series A.
- Salary caveat
- Chen’s Meta compensation was not officially disclosed; the Rs 3 crore figure is based on a separate report about another Meta engineer.