As a mother and two-time breast cancer survivor, I have gleaned invaluable insights that have fortified my determination both in and out of the ring. With over two decades of experience as a professional boxer and kickboxer, I have solidified my position as a formidable athlete, clinching numerous world championships, including the prestigious WIBF super-bantamweight title.
The vision Masca Yuen and I share for Aboro is to establish a nurturing community focused on personal growth and holistic well-being. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive environment that honors individuals from diverse backgrounds and fitness levels.
Our dedication to giving back, particularly through collaborations with organizations like the Children Foundation H2H, Joy Foundation working with Shanghai children’s hospital, highlights the positive influence Aboro aspires to have within the community.
Being inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame is a great acknowledgment of my contributions not only to the sport but also to championing women’s empowerment in the boxing realm. I strive to ensure that female fighters receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve in a traditionally male-dominated arena.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude on this empowering journey at Aboro. It is a sanctuary where individuals can discover the strength, encouragement, and sense of belonging necessary to pursue their fitness and well-being aspirations. Our fervor for empowering others and advocating for gender equality shines brightly through my efforts and endeavors.
Joanne Wood is a 40-year veteran investment banker, tech entrepreneur, Board Director and Advisor to tech startups and growth ventures globally.
In 2006, she founded Capital Eight, a corporate finance house focused on the middle market and headquartered in Shanghai, advising clients on a wide range of M&A, debt and equity capital raising, corporate restructure and infrastructure financing. Joanne previously worked in senior corporate finance positions with UBS, Jardine Fleming and GE Capital across Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific, and was internationally ranked as a leading Asian-emerging markets advisor.
In 2012, Joanne began mentoring tech startups in China, advising aspiring entrepreneurs as an accredited mentor to Silicon Valley’s SOSV accelerator programs. She now mentors globally and serves on the Advisory Boards of a UAE-headquartered Web3 infrastructure platform and an Australian biotech advancing world-leading innovation in the treatment of diabetes and wound healing. In 2023, she became a co-founder of Pullulo, a pioneering Singapore climate biotech developing a proprietary range of alternative plant-based proteins from agri-waste.
Over the last 20 years, she has been active in the local China community serving as Chair of the British Chamber’s Financial Services Group, Chair of the American Chamber’s Ethics Council, inaugural Chair of the National Australian Chamber Greater China and Vice Chair of the EU Chamber’s Investment Working Group. She is a staunch advocate of female entrepreneurship and the empowerment of women in business.
Joanne is a regular speaker at international conferences and often asked for her views on the China investment environment. She holds an MBA from London Business School, a B. Arts degree from the University of Adelaide, South Australia and reads, writes and speaks Mandarin.
