5 Minutes with… 2018 WLA Winner Enoch Li

February 13, 2019

In our 5 Minutes With… series, we’re speaking to remarkable women about their career highlights, challenges, who they admire and advice they have for other women.

In this edition of 5 Minutes With… we caught up with Enoch Li, 2018 Women Leadership Award recipient of Social Contributor of the Year.

What do you do here in Shanghai?

Actually I live in Beijing but I travel to Shanghai regularly as some of my clients are there. My company helps other organizations prevent burnout in the workplace, and to raise awareness of mental health amongst employees – especially to learn about the symptoms and when to look for support – through a dose of playfulness!

I am passionate about…

Playfulness for adults, Chinese calligraphy, Dr Seuss, and anything fun and new!

What was your inspiration for your current career path?

My own burnout and breakdown, which served as a wake-up call to me about how I was living my life. Being in severe depression taught me about another dimension that 350 million other people in the world exist in, and I want to bridge that for those who do not understand.

What do you think is unique about being a professional woman here in Shanghai?

Things happen fast, new things spring up, and so we have to adapt and learn to embrace the uncertainty, and better still, be the one who leads the next wave.

What has been your biggest career challenge?

When people told me Bearapy would not work, that play is only for kids, and said I would be better off finding a job again. It was an internal challenge of, “am I just being stubborn and won’t let go” versus “I am confident of my path and will trudge on despite rejections.”

What has been your biggest career highlight?

Getting my first paid client to run a PLAYshop and giving me the liberty to talk about mental health in the depth that I had always wanted to their employees. I left their offices in tears – because I was so grateful for the opportunity and also to see how tides have turned to accept mental health as a topic to discuss openly and to break the stigmas and stereotypes we have of each other.

The career woman I admire most is…

Margaret Thatcher. To be a woman in her days and become a leader of a country must have taken immense resilience and versatility.

You were a finalist for the 2018 Women Leadership Awards. Why would you encourage other women to nominate themselves (or others) for this year’s WLA?

It is more than recognition or assurance that we are on a path that makes an impact to community, it is support from the network and a reminder to continue improving ourselves and developing ourselves. It was heartening to see how many great women were doing amazing things. As the Winner of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, it was also encouragement and inspiration to continue forging the way for not only myself, but for others and the greater good.