Raised between tradition and transformation in China, she learned early how culture shapes identity. From sketching her own outfits as a child to working across global luxury brands, her journey has been guided by instinct, ambition, and vision.
But beyond the polished world of fashion were moments of doubt, pressure, and personal loss that reshaped her path. This conversation is about resilience, reinvention, and the quiet strength it takes to rise again and again.
Can you share a bit about your childhood in China and how living in different countries shaped who you are today?
My generation is unique as my parent is THE generation that experienced the beginning of China’s economic boom, and although I was a kid, I witnessed the optimism and energy of the economic reform brought to the country and its people.
I was lucky to learn Western culture from a young age because my parents were scientists who studied and worked in Europe and America, where they brought a positive influence into my upbringing, which in turn provided me with a worldly vision and enthusiasm to see the world through my own lens.
My grandparents also influenced me in art and culture, with one grandfather being an antique collector and the other being a Kungfu Master. I had endless fun growing up in absorbing the rich and complex Chinese history.
I’m grateful to my parents that I was able to live abroad from a young age. In total, besides China, I have lived in the UK, the US, Denmark, and Monaco, plus regular trips to France and Italy, with fashion/luxury branding being the center of my career.
Being able to experience different cultures enhanced my career in understanding different people, alias ‘consumers’, because branding at the end of the day, is about understanding people and what entice them to become the ‘consumers’ of the brands! And of course, it had shaped me as the true citizen of the world!
When did you first discover your passion for fashion and luxury branding? Was there a moment that made it click for you?
It came to me completely naturally! Back in the days, China was still very much underdeveloped, but my mum said I just had a natural taste for pretty things! I ‘demanded’ nice clothes with cute accessories, and since I was 4 years old, I was telling everyone what they should wear (LOL that’s bossy!). I was sketching what I wanted to wear by the age of 8 and asked my nanny to get them made for me at the tailor’s with the fabrics I wanted! A few items I still remember vividly to this day!
I remember back in the days, there were barely any luxury brands sold in China! The first time I saw a Chanel bag was when my aunt was doing business with some foreigners, and she was gifted a Chanel bag. It was a classic black quilted bag with a gold chain, and even though hardly anyone in mainland China knew what Chanel meant back then, I was stunned by the beauty and the craftsmanship of the bag, and that started my fascination and love for the House of Chanel and the luxury industry!
The moment I felt I truly wanted to work in the fashion and luxury industry was when TomFord became the designer of Gucci in 1994! At the time, there was no fashion media in China, but there were some retailers imported HongKong fashion magazines and I was an avid reader, so I remember very clearly about the features of his first season, and how he transformed the ailing house into one of the most successful super brands of our time, not only on design, but marketing and branding campaigns that made me vow to work for him someday!
What made you realize that luxury brand management was the right career path for you?
I have a natural fascination with branding. I live for fashion, which is part of luxury, but ‘luxury’ is bigger than fashion and it’s ultimately about positioning and marketing. As I was growing up and paying attention to the market development in China, I noticed that some brands can sell goods to people at higher price points compared to other brands with the same quality; and Western brands can declare its superiority to the rest of the world even though they use the raw materials and techniques of many underdeveloped countries…these discoveries raised my curiosities and opened my eyes to the concept of ‘branding’.
Then, when I was studying my degree in the UK, I worked at a luxury retail, and I noticed that everything is about branding, including celebrities and the differences between the country origins of brands. It is all about how to present one’s image to the target audience! I find that captivating as it’s closely linked to psychology, and later I studied that in the theory of luxury – ‘perception is reality!’ so there is an enormous amount of work taken to the process of creating that perception, which I will not spill the beans LOL…Anyhow, I think I’m rather intuitive about it!
As a fashion journalist for major magazines, did any story or interview leave a lasting impression or change how you see the industry?
There have been many incredible memories, such as meeting Karl Lagerfeld, partying with Stella McCartney at Abbey Road Studio, and talking to Christopher Bailey about his transformation of Burberry. But the person who touched my heart the most is:
Mr. Tom Ford – it was such a thrilling experience because his minds are truly of a genius and I feel people don’t give enough credit to his contribution to the luxury and fashion industry.
Without him, LVMH would have taken over Gucci and monopolized the whole industry, and he’s the one who brought luxury beauty onto the map of mainstream luxury business (YSL), not to mention how he created his own fashion and beauty house that later sold for a historical figure.
I admired him as a designer and an entrepreneur since a young age, so it was truly amazing to have interviewed him. I’m so glad they’ve found a new guard to the TomFord brand, Haider Ackerman, whom understands how to interpret the TF glamour and sexiness with new energy for the younger generation. So now I want to interview TomFord again for his achievements in the film industry!
Working with top brands like Harrods and Tiffany must have had its challenges. Can you tell us about a tough moment and how you overcame it?
I think being a consultant, the most frustrating thing is that the clients want you to advise them, but they do not listen, and then make the same mistake repeatedly. I’d say the biggest challenge has always been to convince Western companies that China is a complex and unique market that one cannot replicate what it’s done in other markets, even the most closely proximate market like Hong Kong, yet it’s a mountain to climb to get some senior executives to listen and learn!
One might say it’s arrogance or just laziness, but I think luxury is a people industry, so I just kept going, and eventually I always meet someone who shares the vision and is willing to take risks! I’m glad to see more luxury brands are making efforts to learn and adapt to the ever-evolving Chinese market, and nowadays, many luxury brands conduct way more innovative marketing activities in China compared to in the West.
You’ve helped international investors connect with opportunities in the UK. Can you share a story where your work truly made an impact?
There are many cases, but the most visible one to the public is Leon, I am very proud to say I was part of the Investor Relationship team that helped Leon to secure a substantial amount of funding from a Brazilian investor that enabled Leon to expand from an independent food retailer with good cause to nationwide chain stores in the UK, and a lot of people’s favourite lunch spot that prioritizes fresh produces and health.
Luxury branding often requires understanding different cultures. Have you had an experience where culture or tradition surprised you and influenced your approach?
Funny enough it is China! I’m constantly surprised and amazed by the speed of the modernization of the country and the Chinese consumers! The digitalization of the country is way ahead of the West, and because of the size and diversity of the country, I’m constantly learning the regional differences and micro trends within the market.
I’m very proud to finally see that several Chinese luxury brands can compete with top Western luxury brands such as LaoPu Gold, Huishan Zhang, and ShushuTong, hence why Western luxury brands have a lot to do in adapting to the fast-developing Chinese market environment. I think it’s highly positive as healthy competition is always good for international businesses.
Your Instagram shows a playful and vibrant personality. How does that side of you appear in your professional life?
Thanks! I’m a Gemini! So one part of me is the dare devil who never plays safe LOL
I think life is a journey that comes with pleasure and pain, so my ethos is to enjoy all the pleasure while I can! and part of that is to speak up my own mind and do things with my own style! Of course, one must be humble and learn to be diplomatic in different industry, but always be assertive and trust your instincts! I never like to take life too seriously, and I truly believe in presenting oneself well as it shows personality and respect to others; so even when I worked on governmental events, I always inject some fun into it and always fashionable (but appropriate)! You’ll be surprised how many people appreciate my uniqueness, and remember me for it!
Traveling and living in cities like London, Monaco, Shanghai, Miami and Dubai, is there one place that feels most like “home” to you? Why?
There are always things I like and I don’t like in every place I have lived. I guess London’s diversity and freedom truly resonates with me, but I really love the beauty and romance of South France, and I do appreciate the extravagance and glamour of Dubai.
Even with so much negativities on the USA right now, I will always and still be inspired by the perseverance of the ‘American Dream’ mentality. As we move into a new world order, I think Shanghai will soon become a major international cultural hub for international talents to pursue their dreams, so watch this space! I’m looking at the rise of Saudi Arabia and SouthEast Asia! Who knows, might just recover some of the glory of the past and offer new stages for international creative minds to shine!
I guess I’m not a very ‘homey’ person after all. I think the world changes, and everything can be very fluid! My generation is witnessing the transition of the world, so I always have an open mind to different places and am ready to pack and leave whenever I feel like it!
Have there been moments when you doubted your path in this industry? How did you navigate through those challenges?
Of course! There have been many times, for instance, doing a Ph.D. was immense pressure for someone who’s never been an A-list student! Talking about sweat and tears and almost blood LOL! It was a very tough journey, but I’m glad I pulled it through, and it has opened so many doors to me! Fashion/luxury is a really tough career with low pay and many….hmmm, shall I say it’s much worse in real life than Devil Wears Prada! But if you truly have the passion and self-belief for it, you’ll always find ways to push it through!
My biggest challenge in life so far is the pandemic, where I lost several solid business potentials, lost loved ones and was unable to see my family for 3 years, among other challenges that messed up my life and career plans, and all resulted in a severe depression….It was truly a very dark period of my life, but I guess in the utter darkness, I still had self-belief and eventually found the light at the tunnel to push myself to move forward!
Many young women look up to professionals like you. Was there a mentor or someone who inspired and guided you along the way?
I don’t think I have a mentor per se! But there have been many people in my life who inspired me in different ways. I’m very lucky to be born with inspirational parents, who are both great role models. My mum was an independent career woman even though my dad always provided for the family. Back in the days, it was tough for Chinese to study and work abroad without being discriminated against, but my parents are both very confident people, and they taught me to be proud of my skin colour and never feel inferior to anyone! They both achieved a lot within their means through hard work and perseverance, and these have ingrained into my personal growth.
My Ph.D. supervisor was a very strict professor whom many students disliked, because he never held any student’s hand and he always wanted us to face the complications and find solutions on our own. I learned so much from his wisdom, and his toughness enabled me to learn to deal with many obstacles in career development on my own. Whenever I’m down I always remember he said to me “life is unfair, but if you’re really good at what you do, you’ll always get recognised!”
Throughout my career, there have been several very successful people I look up to who helped me to achieve my goals, it was that deep talk to pull me through a downtime, or a reference on my CV to get me started, or the projects offered to me among many competitors because they recognized my talent….I think instead of expecting a ‘mentor’ lead you through life and career, I truly believe in self-development, it is through stumbling and grinding that you learn and improve to be a better self; and you’ll always meet incredible people who acknowledge and support you along the way!
BUT, Nothing is overnight! So, if you find your passion, go for it! work hard, but more importantly, work smart! Make sure a job brings your value and enable your progress, both the technical side and network side!
As a person of colour, and a woman, I always look up to successful people in public who come from nowhere but achieve outstanding success with true talent, charm and humbleness, such as Obama and the great Michelle Yeoh, as she said “don’t let where you from decide where you can be!”
Looking back at your journey, is there one personal or professional moment that you feel especially proud of?
I was a bit lost during my early to mid 20s to be honest, too much fun living in different nice cities and was rather confused about what I wanted from life, so I’m extremely proud that I had pulled my life around to the right track. Gaining a Doctorate has not only moved my career into the right direction, but it improved my self-development by gaining confidence, strength, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills. So I’m very proud of that!
Overall, looking back, Fashion/luxury is a very conceited industry that full of nepotism and snobbery, so I’m proud that without any family wealth or connections, I’ve been able to achieve my childhood dream! and now although I’m still recovering from the losses over the pandemic and facing the turbulent market and economy like everyone, I’m working on new creative projects and ready to move into a new chapter of my life, so watch this space!
Editor’s Note
Some conversations stay with you long after they end. This was one of them.
As she spoke about growing up in China, moving across countries, and building a career in luxury branding, I kept thinking about how much strength it takes to keep starting over in new places. Her story isn’t just about fashion. It’s about identity, confidence, and learning to stand on your own.
What moved me most was her honesty about the darker chapters. She shared how the pandemic brought business losses, distance from family, and depression. When she said, “In the darkness, I always had self-belief that I could get through this,” it stayed with me. It wasn’t dramatic. It was quite strong.
She also said, “Nothing is overnight! So work hard, but more importantly, work smart!” That line feels especially important for young women watching her journey and thinking success happens quickly.
This conversation reminds us that behind every polished career is doubt, discipline, and growth. And sometimes, pulling your life back on track is the biggest achievement of all.
