Board of Directors selection process
Throughout 30 years of history, IPWS has developed professional and transparent governance processes. The selection process to become IPWS board member is transparent and open to any women who seek to bring value to the community. It includes a formal application through IPWS website, interview with several board members and voting by current IPWS members. The 10 IPWS board members serve for the period of a year starting in September. They each bring their own diverse knowledge, set of expertise and network to the community. The board meets once per month to reflect on past initiatives, prepare upcoming events and manage collaborations.
Meet the 2024-25 IPWS Board of Directors
Theresa Hudzinski
president@ipwsconnect.com
For Theresa, it has always been about PEOPLE, and over 29 years ago, she began her adventure in “People & Pixie Dust” at the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim CA. As her leadership responsibilities expanded, she realized building authentic relationships were the tipping point and critical success factor in achieving the goals and success of the overall organization.
In 2005, Theresa had the amazing opportunity to bring Hong Kong Disneyland to life and share the Disney Magic and begin building the foundation in a new environment and culture.
Returning to region in 2009 began her second phase of her APAC adventure. Theresa joined the Shanghai Disneyland Resort Opening team in 2013, bringing with her knowledge and experience from other sites to build an organization unique to the China market.
Encouraging, developing and motivating teams & communities is critically important to Theresa. She believes in creating an environment where people feel safe and can find their voice and face their fears so they find the courage within to accomplish their goals.
Focusing on people, driving trust, transparency and respect to strengthen engagement allows for them to create magic, inspire each other and drive effective business decisions and results.Theresa is passionate about creating that same environment for women and their allies. She is an active mentor and loves starting her day with Mentor Walks Shanghai. Her purpose is to help those who feel unseen and unheard and help them find their voice.
Theresa is excited to continue the vision of IPWS in its 30th year through Connecting, Growth, Inspiration, Leadership and Empowering female professionals to mold the future of leadership across the globe by creating an authentic platform where the Amazing Women of Shanghai can thrive!
She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for both Disney Parks and Resorts and International Professional Women’s Society (IPWS).
Mom to two crazy but wonderful kids. Theresa spends her spare time experimenting with new recipes, reading, writing and getting lots of cuddle time in!
Vice President
Anaïs Pothon
Anaïs is a firm believer in creating a positive societal impact, and she finds in IPWS the chance to put her professional skills and passion into empowering women.
She is a seasoned hospitality professional and is currently the Head of Sales and Program Manager for a corporate events company. Together with her team, she creates peer-group forums for Asia senior executives and facilitates meetings on the issues and challenges facing executives across Asia.
Anaïs has studied and worked in China for six years in Guiyang, Beijing, and Shanghai.
Before China, she lived and worked in the hospitality industry in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
Anaïs holds an MBA from Shanghai JiaoTong University and a bachelor’s degree from EHL, Lausanne Hospitality School.
Initiatives
Melissa Liu
Melissa is currently the Marketing Excellence Director and Digital Transformation Customer Experience Innovation Center Head of a global Healthcare company. She is an experienced leader with more than 25 years’ experience within the pharmaceutical/medical device and healthcare sector.
Melissa is a dynamic change agent with proven record of achieving results & optimal value of investments. Extensive marketing experience contributing to & providing leadership within a matrixed, evolving organization, she able to work effectively with multi-culture & multi-functional team across Asia Pacific.
In addition, she is passionate about delivering meaningful customer online experience derived from pain points & opportunities.
Melissa is also an Certified Professional Trainer of IPMA(International Professional Management Association), Certified Trainer of CQ (Change Quotient),and Certified Growth Mindset Ambassador of GMI(Growth Mindset Institute). Her personal passion is using digital to enhance customer experience, and empower young talent’s career development. She looks forward to contributing her learnings and experience with IPWS.
Business Operations Executive
Saylee Dange
Saylee is a senior finance professional with over 15 years of experience in the media, consumer products and financial services industries. Saylee’s expertise is in financial planning and analysis, accounting, SEC experience and finance background in mergers, acquisitions and divestures, and financial statement requirements with extensive knowledge of US GAAP.
A native of the greater New York City area, Saylee began her professional career at Deloitte & Touche LLP, where she spent 10 years working as a trusted advisor working in mergers, acquisitions and divestures of strategic and private equity clients with deal values ranging from $300 million to $2 billion. Saylee also serviced large public financial services clients, specializing in corporate asset management companies managing up to $400 billion in assets under management.
After her time at Deloitte, she went on to work at Omnicom Media Group as the Corporate Finance Director for the North America region. She oversaw financial planning and analysis for the region, consolidating thirteen business units under her purview. In addition, Saylee spearheaded multiple special projects, such as companywide cost savings initiatives, M&A transactions, system roll-outs, media audits and cross-functional client pitches as her role as second in command behind the CFO of North America.
Since moving to Shanghai in 2019 Saylee has started a financial consulting practice, assisting small businesses and companies in the start-up space. She offers support in all areas of corporate finance and business strategy, carving out a niche for fractional CFO services.
Saylee is a high-performing, results oriented and experienced team leader. Saylee is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of New York. She continues to navigate the China landscape, both in business and personally, as she is a mother to two young girls.
Membership Executive
Ellen Koo
Ellen is a seasoned international executive with 17+ year multi-faceted experience across function, industry and region. Her areas of expertise include strategy & planning, business development and cross culture team management. She is passionate and writes about self-growth, entrepreneurship and diversity. Originally from Seoul, Ellen has spent over 23 years in overseas and is currently based in Shanghai raising two kids. She holds an undergraduate master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Oxford and a Global EMBA from China European International Business School (CEIBS).
Events Executive
Erica Oh
Erica is a seasoned Digital Project Manager with a background in overseeing mini-program and app development for the mainland Chinese market. Her proficiency lies in ensuring the timely delivery of projects, orchestrating cross-functional teams of digital experts, including engineers, designers, and strategists for some of the best brands in the world.
Her previous roles were in the fintech industry in New York City, where she served as a key player in operations and credit risk operations. Responsibilities included end-to-end management of risk-related product innovation and development, collaborating with Product, Engineering, and Legal teams for compliance-adherent processes, and relationship building with key players within the industry.
Marketing Executive
Soudamini Khurana
With over two decades of digital experience across China, India, and the USA, Soudamini has excelled in leadership roles in design and creativity. As a former Disney Creative, she has a strong track record of enhancing the digital presence of renowned brands in China, including Giorgio Armani, Maserati, Hilton, Dyson, Hublot, and Topgolf, using platforms like WeChat and various apps.
Her expertise covers design storytelling, branding, tech adaptability, UI/UX, social media, generative AI, metaverse creatives, strategic design thinking, and collaborative leadership.
Soudamini is dedicated to promoting inclusiveness and diversity, especially for women in the workforce, by fostering flexible and supportive environments. She values open communication, collaboration, and cross-cultural management for improved team morale.
She’s also passionate about mentoring aspiring designers and emphasizes the importance of practical experience and education.
In her spare time, Soudamini actively participates in social and professional initiatives, supporting causes like women’s empowerment, mentoring, and community activities through various organizations.
Lana Jin
Lana is a professional with a diverse background in corporate law and a current focus on facilitating global business strategies as a business consultant. Having practiced law in both the United States and China, she has contributed to numerous cross-border projects, cultivating a rich understanding of international business dynamics.
As her journey evolved from navigating the intricacies of corporate law to guiding companies in their inbound and outbound investments, she understands the importance of appreciation for diverse cultures and inclusivity. With IPWS, she aims to leverage her insights to champion initiatives that foster skill development and networking opportunities for women professionals.
In her spare time, she finds joy in playing tennis, exploring hiking trails or savoring coffee with friends at a street cafe.
Xolisile Sithole
Xolisile grew up in South Africa. From a young age she was raised by two cultures (African and European) which instilled her love and appreciation for multiculturalism. Xolisile’s childhood inspired her curiosity about different cultures. In her gap year, she was awarded a scholarship by the local Rotary Club to be an exchange student in Canada. During her amazing Canadian exchange, her duties revolved around being an ambassador for South Africa throughout the year.
Her China adventure began when she first touched down in Anhui in 2017. Xolisile now calls Chengdu her home where she is currently an EYFS teacher at Malvern College Chengdu. Outside of work, she is the creative director of ”Hello南非” where she organizes edutainment events about South Africa’s Intangible Culture for guests in Chengdu.
In addition, Xolisile contributes articles about Mental Health for Kindergartners to Venture Education’s Newsletter, taking complex psychological ideas and experiences and translating them suit kindergarten teachers (or caretakers with young children). She is also on her second-year duties as a WAWF (World Academy for the Future of Women) mentor.
Internationally, she is the Director of Khula Sithole Consulting Services, a consulting company focusing on mental health strategies, cognitive development planning, and communication for caretakers with young children and divorced co-parents.
30th Anniversary/ WLA Executive
Franka Gulin
Franka got published her first interview at the age of 13in local newspapers, knowing even than that journalism and photography could help her travel the world.
Although she has double master degree in Humanities, it was her media work that brought her to China back in 2013. She freelanced in media, photojournalism and marketing related industries, was part of China Media Group for nearly six years and reported for Croatian News Agency and Croatian Radio and Television among others.
In the 2018, Franka was appointed as a first ever Croatian National Tourist Board Shanghai Representative Office’s Director focusing on destination promotion on China and broader SE Asia markets. And in 2021 she was unanimously voted for position of European Travel Commission China Chapter chairwoman.
While regularly sleep deprived, Franka has a great passion for feminism, friendships, dogs, cats, travels and brunches. And most importantly, she strongly believes change is possible ONLY when women stick together.
Linda Lian
Linda received her Bachelor of Arts in English Translation from Zhengzhou University in Central China. After her graduation, she worked for different international corporates as Executive Assistant & Office Administrator. Linda has rich experience in improving office working vibe, organizing activities/events, and communicating with all stakeholders.
While she was in college, she joined a bold and daring leadership program World Academy for the Future of Women (WAFW), committed to developing women for leadership roles and achieving the United Nations’ Millennium Goals. As a WAFW member,
Linda joined project teams working on different aspects of community improvement, including Sunshine Angels Project which helps mentally and physically challenged children in Zhengzhou. Her IPWS journey started in 2017.
In Linda’s leisure time, she is fond of dancing and doing yoga. She is very passionate about social events and activities, especially for those ones related to empowering women.
Xixi Wang
Xixi Wang has always been about adventures, be they taken at the spacial plane or the intellectual and spiritual ones. With 18 years of international experience, Xixi’s global journey began with the universal language of music. She performed at distinguished venues including Schönbrunn Palace in Austria, The Shanghai World Expo, and various music halls in China, Japan and Korea. She then pursued higher education in Canada, Norway and the Netherlands, and it’s been a decade-long commitment to the exploration of global and systemic issues in equality and justice. She is founding an impact business, which conducts global research and creates e-learning solutions to address social challenges related to life transitions and awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion.
At IPWS, she initiates and manages local partnerships with diverse entities, including various Chambers of Commerce, Consulate Generals, corporations, SMEs, international schools, communities, and individuals. She truly enjoys the mental stimulation when people from all walks of life come together and bring to the table their authentic stories, voices and laughter.
Lauren Hogan
Lauren originally came to Shanghai in 2011 to work for That’s Shanghai magazine. As an editor on the team she managed Urban Eyes magazine, as well as contributed community and lifestyle articles to the main magazine. Since that time she has continued to freelance for “That’s,” as well as write for publications such as Marriott Traveler, The Rio Times, Smithsonian Institution and local businesses.
In 2017 she helped open F45 Training Shanghai and worked as general manager until 2022.
She is also a running coach with RunForce, the founder of SWIFC – the first all-female international football club in Shanghai – and a Lululemon ambassador.
Along with her full time roles, Lauren was an UnTour food and run tour guide, instructor at Spinback and fitness community connector and creator.
She has recently joined the UP Clinic orthopedics and rehabilitation center to support their marketing department.
Marketing Intern
Malorie Wang
Malorie has graduated from Sias University. At the University, She also was a member of WAFW(world academy for the future of women), helping to accelerate young generation’s leadership.
Her mission is to pass on greater value, help and influence more women. She is honored to be a member of IPWS family to empower more people and grow with IPWS.
Marketing Intern
Wendy Chang
Wendy has graduated from SIAS University. She is now working in marketing in the skincare industry. She is also a member of WAFW(World Academy for the Future of Women). Through studying leadership at WAFW, She has also discovered her potential and become more confident. She is honored to be a member of IPWS and continue to be inspired and inspire others. She also wishes live a meaningful and fully expressed live.
Community Development Manager
Tina Fuu
Administrator
Lisa Liu
For Lisa, it’s all about learning, developing, and growing!
As an educational professional, it has ignited her passion for training and inspiring others. Her past experiences as an entrepreneur have allowed her to embark on a unique and interesting adventure, interacting with fantastic individuals of diverse backgrounds all over the world. She believes that every person is unique, so her approach to each client is tailored specifically to their needs. This way, they can work together towards their goals and help each other along the way. Working at NYU has firmly convinced her that learning and developing make the world go ’round.
Currently, Lisa is working in the training and digitalization field at a German company. She is also an ICF (International Coaching Federation) accredited and certified coach, dedicated to helping individuals unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.
What she learned through facing many challenges and obstacles was that each setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. She realized that lifelong learning is an exploration of the power of never-ending education. It isn’t only about textbooks, exams, or grades. It’s not just about burying your face in books or attending endless lectures (unless that’s what you enjoy). It’s a journey of discovery that lasts a lifetime. It’s the joy of asking questions, the thrill of gaining new perspectives, and the satisfaction of personal growth. It’s like a journey that takes you deeper into the space of self-discovery, becoming the best version of yourself, never ceasing to grow, evolve, and live. So, take it one step at a time, enjoy the process, and be patient!
As a board member of IPWS, she looks forward to discovering passions and expanding worldviews together with the IPWS community!
Meet the 2024-25 IPWS Board Advisors
Board Advisor
Anna Lukina
Anna is a keen China observer with an entrepreneurial approach to business. Passionate about helping companies thrive in China, she specializes in market entry strategy, investment strategy, business deal structuring and negotiation.
As a cross-cultural communicator, part of the Chinese corporate law firm A&Z, she helps companies to identify crucial aspects of building a successful international business and the legal framework to support it. Anna has worked with numerous European and American clients, assisting multinationals, international SMEs, and groups to enter and expand in the Chinese market, and to navigate complex legal issues locally. A dynamic public speaker, Anna enjoys topics related to legal and business developments in China.
With an experience of 7 years in China, prior to working at A&Z, Anna was employed at one of the biggest Chinese corporate law firms. A University of Oxford alumna with a multicultural background, her professional experience also includes work at companies in the UK and in France.
Passionate about professional development and equal opportunities, Anna has been an IPWS board member since 2019. She wants to participate in making a positive change together with the entire IPWS community.
Daria Krasnoperova
Daria is passionate about developing brands with 12 years of experience in China.
Based in Shanghai. With a diverse professional experience, as she worked in the areas such as Brand & Marketing, Business Development, Category Management and International Trade, in both B2C and B2B international companies with entrepreneurial environment.
She has international background working for European companies with international presence and strong focus on China and Asia markets. Daria enjoys working within multicultural environment.
For the past 2 years, she has worked at Nordisk, premium Danish outdoor brand with more than 120 years of history.
Daria took the leading role in setting up Nordisk Sales & Marketing office in Shanghai, building the brand and marketing activities from 0, including the development of Nordisk Social Media accounts, trade shows and offline events, established collaborations brands like Audi and Arc’teryx, and now leading the team on 3.
Daria speaks fluent English, Chinese (bachelor degree in Chinese language), Russian and basic Spanish.
Her desire to contribute to the community for women leaders led Daria to IPWS, where she has served as Marketing & Communications Executive and now the role of Membership Executive.
Curtis Baker
Regional Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) and Employee Experience (EX) Lead, Asia Pacific for Dow.
In this combined role, Curtis is responsible for driving and implementing the Inclusion & Diversity + Employee Experience strategy and providing expertise, consultation and support to business, functional, and ERG leaders and EX change champions in the region. Curtis advocates elevating the voices of Asian talents in Asia and globally.
After a 7-year career in the music industry in Nashville, TN, he relocated to Orlando, FL shifting careers to private education and international student programs. In 2013, ready for a new adventure, Curtis relocated to China to work with The Walt Disney Company China within the HR Talent Acquisition team.
His diversity and inclusion journey started as Curtis was the founder of the DisneyPRIDE Greater China (LGBTQ+ ERG) at both The Walt Disney Company Greater China and at Shanghai Disneyland Resort while also an active member of the Diversity & Inclusion Team for North Asia.
This was the first ERG for Disney in the Asia Pacific region. He later moved to Shanghai Disney Resort as the Diversity & Inclusion lead prior to joining Dow.
Curtis previously served on the ShanghaiPRIDE Executive Leadership team and continues to serve on the Out & Equal China Business Council. Curtis has been living in China for the past 9 years and finds the Asia Pacific region his home away from home.
Board Advisor
Olivia Plotnick
Founder, Wai Social
Cristina Tang
Founder & Director at Mei YaZHo
