After graduating from the Institute of East Asian Studies at National Chengchi University, Ma earned a Master's in East Asian studies at Oregon University and worked as a reporter for the China Times and editor for the Taiwan weekly The Journalist and Hong Kong's Ming Pao Monthly. "Without really being aware of it, my interests were always connected with Chinese culture."
一向喜歡「到處走走」的馬勵，從政治大學東亞研究所畢業後，接著到美國奧瑞岡大學取得亞洲研究碩士學位。曾任中國時報美洲版記者、台灣新新聞週刊、香港明報月刊副總編輯的馬勵，發現「不知不覺中，自己的興趣一直是華人文化。」