Last week, IPWS announced the FINALISTS for this year’s Women Leadership Awards and ahead of the IPWS Leadership Summit – where we will announce the winners – we thought you’d like to read a little more about each of the finalists and their background so you can see why they have reached this level of recognition in their careers.
The IPWS Leadership Summit powered by IE Business School will be held on Friday 2nd June at The Place, and you’re invited! Sign up here for your tickets!
Business Leader of the Year
Chloé Reuter, Founder & CEO – Reuter Communications
Chloé is from Luxembourg and the UK, but was born in Belgium. She lived in Brussels until she was 15, growing up bilingual (French/English) and studying at the European School. Chloé’s father was a diplomat and her parents were always engaging all 3 children in discussion about current affairs. This sparked an ongoing thirst for reading and knowledge of world events, which has shaped Chloé’s career. Her love affair with China began at age 15, when she spent 2 hugely formative years at the Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong. Surrounded by a huge international pool of idealistic students, she credits the school with giving her the principles and confidence to believe that anything is possible. She remains committed to United World College and works closely with the board in China today. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Chloé worked as a journalist for over a decade with Reuters TV, Bloomberg TV and Channel 4 News, before switching to public relations by heading up DDB China Group’s corporate communications for four years. Chloé has lived in Asia since 1993 and is a graduate of Chinese Studies and Japanese from Durham University and the People’s University of China (Beijing). She is fluent in French, Italian, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Veronique Toully, VP, Head of Operations China, SEAK and Australia, UCB
Veronique Toully came to Shanghai, China in January 2013 as managing director of UCB China. She joined UCB in 2004 and was appointed Managing Director of UCB Australia in 2010. She was previously Vice President G3P – Global Patients, Payers and Providers – in charge of Global Outcomes Research & Pricing/Reimbursement strategies, Market Research and Marketing & Access Innovation in UCB global headquarters in Brussels Belgium. Prior to joining UCB, Veronique had 10 years of consulting experience in pricing and reimbursement for drugs and medical devices, as well as working for leading Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms. She is a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine with an MBA (HEC, Paris) and a Diploma in Health Economics from the University of York (UK). She has two daughters with whom she has done extensive travelling in Asia Pacific exploring local cultures and understanding people during her 4-year in China as the head of China operations.
Young Business Leader of the Year
Lu Zhang, Founding and Managing Partner – NewGen Capital
Lu Zhang, 29, is the Founding and Managing Partner of NewGen Capital. Prior to starting NewGen, she was a Venture Partner at Fenox Venture Capital. She participated in over 20 investments and assist M&A of the portfolios. Lu was also the Founder and CEO of Acetone Inc. (acquired 2012), a start-up focused on non-invasive technology for the early diagnosis of Type II diabetes. She has also worked as a consultant at the United Nations Industrial Development Agency. Lu received her M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University and holds several patents. She is an advisor and mentor to several innovation programs and incubators in Silicon Valley. Lu has won numerous awards and is frequently invited to speak at events. She was awarded the prestigious 2017 Forbes 30 under 30 & Featured as the Honoree of VC category.
Michelle Li, Founder & CEO – Sorority China
Michelle Li is the Founder and CEO of Sorority China. Born in Beijing, China and transplanted to the opposite end of the world to Eugene, Oregon, at a young age she experienced the diverse and polar opposite lifestyles of the East and West. After university in the U.S. where she was a member of a sorority, Michelle returned back to China to begin her career in the corporate world, where she was involved in the roll-out of Mercedes-Benz China dealer wide training and customer satisfaction programs. Transitioning to management consulting fields, Michelle was the Head of China for U.K. based CEO development firm where she co-authored a business leadership book based on candid interviews with over 150 Chinese entrepreneurs and CEOs. Her last role she was responsible for leading Chinese capital overseas investment in the fashion, retail, and consumer wearable early stage and PE deals. Ten years later, Michelle dreadfully blew out the candles on her 30th birthday cake and began the current and most exhilarating phase of her life. Entrepreneurship in China has brought her more wrinkles and sleepless nights than imagined, and finding the right people, partners and projects to work on has been more of a long marathon than simply business. However, her belief in the support and freedom a young woman should have while working and living in China has been her driving passion for Sorority China.
Entrepreneur of the Year
Rachel Daydou, Co-Founder & CBO – Lihaoma
Rachel is 29 years old and from France, born and raised in Paris’ Chinatown. She has been in China for 7 years, of which the first 4 years in Beijing as Brand Manager for ABInBev’s imported beers in China. Following that, Rachel was Project Manager for the fashion retail group Beaumanoir in Shanghai where she opened and managed 20 flagship stores (about 500 staff and Y200M yearly revenue). 3 years ago, she became the co-founder of Lihaoma 礼好吗 . Lihaoma turns advertising into entertainment. Users play branded games to win branded rewards. Lihaoma has helped 350 brands including Feiyue, Budweiser and Dunkin Donuts multiply by 10 their ad engagement rate. Lihaoma was awarded most innovative startup in 2016 by the Shanghai government and has been selected out of 210 companies to join Chinaccelerator Batch 11.
Rachel’s personal achievements include 8 times France Champion of KungFu Wushu and HSK5. Professional achievements include GBC Prize for women entrepreneurship, speaker at Ladies Who Tech, Barcamp and Coder Bunker, jury member for Startup Salad (in Mandarin), interviewed on SH TV (in Mandarin), and mentor at Startup Weekend. Rachel is also managing member of Startup Grind Shanghai, she mentors startups of French Tech Shanghai, and teaches Lean Startup & Leadership at the university of Shanghai. She has been in entrepreneurs’ panels organised by National University of Singapore and she leads the entrepreneurship program of UTSEUS Shanghai University. This diploma program brings international students from ideation to prototyping to fund raising in 4 months, through 13 workshops, 3 pitches, 2 hackathons, 1 study trip and 1 professional exhibition, with the help of a mentor and 200 advisors. The program gets excellent feedback from partners such as Mobike, WeWork, Caohejing High tech Park, French Tech among others.
Cathy Hsu, Co-Founder – Jiliguala
Born in Taipei, raised in Shanghai, Cathy sees China as a second home. After graduating from New York University, she worked for PayPal Co-Founder Max Levchin in San Francisco. In 2008, Cathy brought Max’s Slide, Inc. to Shanghai and set up its only international division. She quickly grew the team from 2 to 25 in less than year, and together, they released one of Slide’s leading products, SPP Ranch. In 2009, Slide was acquired by Google. At Google, Cathy led the product marketing efforts for the Slide business unit. She also became a mother, and itched to try her hand at entrepreneurship. In 2014, Cathy left Google to build Jiliguala. Today, Jiliguala has more than 6 million registered users and growing.
Social Contributor
Shari D. Rosen, PhD, Program Director – The Essential Learning Group (ELG)
Dr. Shari Rosen is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Founder of The Essential Learning Group (ELG), Program Director at ELG, and Board Member of Xiersen Service Center. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, in which she researched early communication for at-risk toddlers who had low birth weight and were premature. She began her career working with physically challenged children, teaching and supervising at Emerson College and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Later, she worked at the University of Washington, Seattle, at the Center for Human Development and Disorders, where she supervised graduate students and participated in comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluations. Dr. Rosen moved to Shanghai in 2003, where she began to provide support services, working as a volunteer to empower students, teachers and parents. She soon became frustrated with the lack of services for children with special needs in Shanghai, and decided to stay in China to help create change. In 2006, she founded ELG, a social enterprise dedicated to providing high-quality special education, developmental, behavioral and mental health services. Dr. Rosen also helped found Xiersen, ELG’s sister NGO for Chinese families and children with special needs. As Program Director at ELG, Dr. Rosen is responsible for overseeing ELG’s daily programs. Besides managing teaching staff, she is also in charge of communicating with the ELG Clinic team, training staff and parents, and connecting with outside resources. She is a member of the Special Education Network in Asia (SENIA), the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), and the International Association of Special Education (IASE). She was the recipient of the inaugural SENIA Advocacy Award in 2013.
Corinne Richeux Hua, Founding Director – Stepping Stones
Corinne is the Founder and Executive Director of Stepping Stones, first came to China in 1988 as a 20-year old, the first exchange student in a sister city program connecting her hometown Doncaster with Liaoning border town Dandong. After her 1990 graduation in Chinese studies from Cambridge University, Corinne worked with Dr. Joseph Needham in Cambridge, and in UK-China trade related positions in London until 1992. In 1993 she moved to Shanghai, where she joined Coopers & Lybrand. A stint in the Commercial Section of the British Consulate General was followed by a return to PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she worked as Senior Director of HR until 2005. In parallel with her full-time positions, Corinne volunteered for education-based non-profits, notably the Shanghai chapter of internationally known Roots & Shoots and the grassroots Loving Heart Association (爱的教育). As her involvement with mission-based educational organizations grew, she left PwC to work with a local CSR consultancy and completed an online Master’s Degree in Rural Development at Imperial College London. Observing the lack of English language teachers in Shanghai’s migrant schools, she founded Stepping Stones in 2006. Corinne serves as Chair of the Charity Committee of Wellington College International Shanghai and chaired the Parent Support Group at Shanghai United International School from 2008 to 2015. She has lived in Shanghai for 24 years, and has raised two children, Dominique and Joseph in the city.
Innovator of the Year
Michelle Li – Founder & CEO – Sorority China
Michelle is the Founder and CEO of Sorority China. Born in Beijing, China and transplanted to the opposite end of the world to Eugene, Oregon, at a young age she experienced the diverse and polar opposite lifestyles of the East and West. After university in the U.S. where she was a member of a sorority, Michelle returned back to China to begin her career in the corporate world, where she was involved in the roll-out of Mercedes-Benz China dealer wide training and customer satisfaction programs. Transitioning to management consulting fields, Michelle was the Head of China for U.K. based CEO development firm where she co-authored a business leadership book based on candid interviews with over 150 Chinese entrepreneurs and CEOs. Her last role she was responsible for leading Chinese capital overseas investment in the fashion, retail, and consumer wearable early stage and PE deals. Ten years later, Michelle dreadfully blew out the candles on her 30th birthday cake and began the current and most exhilarating phase of her life. Entrepreneurship in China has brought her more wrinkles and sleepless nights than imagined, and finding the right people, partners and projects to work on has been more of a long marathon than simply business. However, her belief in the support and freedom a young woman should have while working and living in China has been her driving passion for Sorority China.
Wai Yin Sin – General Manager – Kong Sing Manufactory – Hong Kong 3D Printing Association
After graduating with a bachelor degree in Business and Marketing from USC, Wai Yin Sin, also called Ami, moved back to Hong Kong to take up the mantle of the family business. During the 10 years since Ami has returned to take charge of Kong Sing, the company has seen major improvements under her leadership. Including operational changes such as accounting system and CRM system upgrades, as well as, improving the quality of life for employees. Ami encouraged her team to engage in team based sports to foster deeper relationships, and still maintain a healthy sense of competitiveness. She also undertook projects that physically improved the working and living space standards that are often overlooked by Chinese companies. Kong Sing has invested in modern open office spaces that promotes co-working and enhanced employee dormitory to include recreational facilities that workers can feel at home after a day of work. In 2017, Ami also received her GEMBA diploma and now has a MBA from Marshall School of Business (USC). She is looking forward to further develop her leadership skills by participating in various industry associations. She founded Hong Kong 3D Printing Association 2 years ago and is currently its chair-lady. The association promotes advanced manufacturing techniques and educates young children in Hong Kong about the potential of 3D Printing as a form of community service.
HeforShe Man of the Year
Dave Schoch – President Asia Pacific at Ford Motor Company
David L. Schoch was named Ford Motor Company group vice president and president, Asia Pacific effective Dec 1, 2012. On June 1, 2016, he was named to the additional role of chairman and chief executive officer, Ford China. He reports to Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company president and chief executive officer. In this role, Schoch has responsibility for all of Ford’s operations and partnerships within the Asia Pacific region. He also leads Ford’s operations in China – including the Ford China import business as well as Ford’s passenger car joint venture Changan Ford and commercial vehicle joint venture Jiangling Motors Corporation. He is based in Shanghai, China. Prior to being named president of Ford’s Asia Pacific operations, Schoch held the role of chairman and CEO, Ford China. Schoch has served in a variety of positions around the world since joining the company as a financial analyst in 1977. This includes serving as controller, The Americas, as well as executive director, Ford Canada, Mexico and South America Operations. He also served as chief financial officer and vice president of Strategic Planning for Ford of Europe. Before joining Ford of Europe, Schoch was chief financial officer of Ford Asia-Pacific Operations. Schoch’s extensive global experience also includes senior leadership positions in South America and South Africa. Schoch, born in April of 1951, received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Lycoming College and his MBA in Finance from Temple University. Schoch and his wife, Carol, have three daughters.
Jochen Christian Müller, Director Purchasing Automotive Greater China, Schaeffler Group Greater China
Jochen Christian Müller is a highly respected leader in the automotive world. He draws upon more than 15 years of experience with Fortune 500 company profiles from different industries (Lufthansa Group, Bosch-Siemens, Schaeffler AG). In his latest role as Purchasing Director Automotive Greater China, he leads 5 cross-cultural and cross-functional teams to revamp the sourcing opportunities for his organization, in order to drive overall organizational value add bottom-up. He holds a Master Degree from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany) in Economics and Logistics, graduating with summa cum laude, in 2002. In his free time, he loves to travel the world with his mountain bike and his wife as well as photographing. He believes in creativity being the heart of innovation, which is truly reflected in his life style. Currently, he and his wife are completing their family project, adopting their Chinese foster daughter.
