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Allan Gabor
Principal at Goal Advisory- Panel 1 – Women In Leadership in A Year of Uncertainties
- FIRESIDE CHAT - CEO DIALOGUE: SHAPING THE FUTURE TOGETHER
Allan is the Principal at Goal Advisory. He formerly served as President of Merck China and Managing Director of Merck’s Electronics business sector in China and was a member of Merck’s Electronics Leadership Team. As President of Merck China, he developed and drove growth strategies in this key country and built on the company’s 350-year presence and reputation.
Prior to that role, Mr. Gabor was the President of Asia Pacific for the biopharma business of the Merck Group and was also the President and CEO for the biopharma business in China. He was instrumental in expanding Merck’s Asian footprint with a series of investments, including establishing Merck’s new €170 million world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing facility located in Nantong as well as building an extensive network of collaborations with leading academic and medical institutions.
Prior to joining Merck, Mr. Gabor spent 25 years at Pfizer in leadership roles including Chairman and General Manager for China, and Regional President for North Asia, Russia, India, Turkey and Eastern Europe. Mr. Gabor successfully directed the launch of many of Pfizer's innovative medicines into China and opened the China Regional Investment Center and a state-of-the-art research and development center in Shanghai.
In recognition of his tireless contribution to Shanghai, Mr. Gabor has been awarded the Magnolia Award twice by the Shanghai municipal government. He holds a BA in Communications from the College of Wooster and pursued further education at the University of Tennessee and Harvard Business School.
Helen Hu
Chief Financial Officer at NYU ShanghaiHelen Hu is the Chief Financial Officer at NYU Shanghai, responsible for the strategy, management and implementation of all finance and purchasing related activities.
Before joining NYU Shanghai, Helen was the CFO for Duke Kunshan University and the Chair of DKU Education and Development Foundation. Prior to that, she worked for multinational companies in progressive leadership roles in both China and the United States, including: International Paper, Ferrari Maserati Cars, McCormick, Tate & Lyle North America, and Kimberly-Clark. Helen has accumulated a wealth of experience in corporate finance, control and compliance, risk management, FP&A, M&A, restructuring, system implementation and people development. She is the recipient of multiple leadership awards from her employers and external professional communities.
Helen is an active AmCham Shanghai member, and has been elected multiple times to the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai’s Board of Governors during the terms of: 2017-2018, 2019-2020, 2022-2023, and again for 2024-2025. She was appointed as the Treasurer and the Chair of Finance Committee for 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024, in addition to serving on the Finance Committee each term.
Helen is an AICPA and CGMA member.
Helen received her bachelor’s degree from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), China, and an MBA degree from Wake Forest University, USA.
Eric Zheng
President at AmCham ShanghaiEric Zheng became the President of AmCham Shanghai in 2022. He has been involved in the Chamber for over 15 years as a member, committee leader, Board member, Board treasurer, Board secretary, and Board vice chair, and Board chair (2018 and 2019).
Eric brings a unique combination of private and public sector experiences to the presidency. He worked in management consulting with PwC in the U.S. and later served for the U.S. Department of Commerce as the principal commercial officer at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. Eric had a long career with AIG in Greater China and held a series of positions that culminated in his service as CEO of AIG China. He then chaired the board of Heng An Standard Life Insurance Company.
In volunteer roles, Eric serves as the Greater China regional chair of the Committee of 100 and as a board director of Shanghai Make-A-Wish Charity Foundation. The Shanghai municipal government has granted Eric its Magnolia Gold Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the city. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Fudan University and an MBA from Georgetown University.
Qian Chen
Head of Greater China at Lufthansa Group AirlinesQian Chen has been appointed Head of the Lufthansa Group Airlines business for Greater China, effective 1 June 2021. Ms. Chen is responsible for directing all commercial activities of the Group’s premium airlines: Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines. This includes managing and strategically developing the joint venture with the largest Chinese airline, Air China.
Furthermore, Ms. Chen is also appointed as Board Member of German Chamber Shanghai of Commerce in China. She is also Career Mentor, School of Business and Management, Shanghai International Studies University.
Qian Chen has been with Lufthansa Group for over 14 years. She held management positions in the company’s Asia-Pacific regional airline management in Singapore and at the Group’s headquarters in Frankfurt. Among other areas, Ms. Chen was responsible for market strategy and joint venture management as well as pricing and revenue management. Furthermore, she worked several years as a business consultant together with key industry players in various aviation markets. Prior to her appointment as Head of the Lufthansa Group Airline business in China, Qian Chen was Director for the entire airline customer service management in both China and Japan.
For her outstanding contributions to China's aviation industry, Ms. Qian Chen was named as People of the Year by China Aviation (CAAC) in 2023.
Jade Lu
President at SPD Silicon Valley BankJade Lu is the President of SPD Silicon Valley Bank, primarily responsible for SVB’s Asia business, including China joint venture bank, SPD Silicon Valley Bank. SVB’s Asia operations include expanding extensive relationships with many of Asia’s dominate venture capital and private equity firms, as well as local Chinese innovation companies.
With almost 20 years working experience in banking industry, Jade joined SSVB in 2017. She served as Chief Risk Officer, Head of Corporate Banking and Managing Director of SSVB successively. From 2001 to 2017, Jade has extensive experience in two leading international banks including Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and Citibank where she has taken various senior roles and played instrumental role in the Group office, China as well as local branch’s strategic planning, business development and governance.
Jade has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Fudan University and an IMBA from the University of Hong Kong. She is also appointed member of Science and Technology Innovation Advisory Committee by Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Selina Yuan
President, Alibaba Cloud International; Vice President at Alibaba GroupSelina Yuan is a dynamic leader in the technology sector and leads the international business for Alibaba Cloud, one of the largest cloud computing enterprises in the world. As the President of Alibaba Cloud International and Vice President of Alibaba Group, she has played a pivotal role in steering Alibaba Cloud towards global expansion. Her relentless advocacy for digital transformation and cloud technologies has established her as a driving force behind the company's innovative strides in the industry and its impact on the world.
At Alibaba Cloud, Selina has overseen successful international product launches and strategic initiatives that enhanced the organization's global footprint and presence. Selina Yuan is widely recognized in Southeast Asia for her pivotal role in driving the region's cloud-enabled digitalization, significantly accelerating the adoption of cloud technologies.
Selina is passionate about women's empowerment and harnessing technology to cultivate opportunities for women in the industry. Through the 'Tech for Change' initiative launched under her leadership, Alibaba Cloud collaborates with schools, NGOs, and NPOs to foster AI talent development, train women in STEM careers, offer free online courses, and empower female programmers in marginalized communities in an attempt to bridge the gender gap in tech.
She is also a participating member of the Digital Trust Centre of Excellence (COE) Advisory at SGTech, a Singapore-based Trade Association, and the Esports Commission and Technology and Technical Innovation Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Through these roles, she reinforces her commitment to promoting digital trust, AI, and technology integration in various sectors such as sports, manufacturing, financial services, and more.
Sophia Wu
Chief Executive Officer at SHANG XIAMs. Sophia Wu is a seasoned veteran in the luxury fashion industry, boasting over 20 years of experience in luxury brand management and an additional decade in finance management.
As Chief Executive Officer of SHANG XIA, Ms. Wu leads a dynamic team, propelling the brand into a new era and elevating its status to unprecedented heights. In her previous role as Chief Operating Officer at SHANG XIA, she demonstrated exceptional leadership by swiftly reorganizing the brand’s product portfolio. Her strategic initiatives led to SHANG XIA achieving its highest sales and profit within her first year. Ms. Wu continued to excel, further advancing the brand's growth and success over the next two years.
Before joining SHANG XIA, Ms. Wu held senior management roles at several prestigious luxury brands, making significant contributions to their expansion in China. She was instrumental in establishing and growing luxury brands in the Chinese market, leveraging her keen industry insight, professional acumen, and extensive experience in network building and branding. As China General Manager for Qeelin from 2013 to 2015, she played a pivotal role in the brand’s acquisition by Kering, making Qeelin the first Chinese brand to join a global luxury group, while revitalizing its brand image and key product lines. From 2011 to 2012, she served as China General Manager for Dolce & Gabbana. At Chloé, part of the Richemont Group, she was the China General Manager from 2006 to 2011, where she transformed Chloé into a household name, reclaimed franchise operations, and achieved a global growth record for the brand in China. From 2003 to 2005, she served as Retail Area Manager for Dior.
Ms. Wu's career also includes a decade as a Finance Manager at Procter & Gamble, where she established a robust foundation in systematic brand management through financial analysis. Her extensive managerial experience encompasses strategic brand planning, merchandising, marketing, supply chain management, big data analytics, new retail initiatives, and talent development. Her strong financial background equips her with deep expertise in P&L management and internal control.
Sophia Wu’s leadership continues to drive SHANG XIA forward, blending traditional Chinese craftsmanship with modern design to create a brand that is both innovative and timeless.
Lily Guan
President at Cargill ChinaMs. Lily Guan serves as President of Cargill China and General Counsel of Cargill North Asia.
Lily joined Cargill China in 2016 as Country Lead Lawyer, leading the country legal team and providing legal advice to support Cargill’s growth in China. Since 2021, she promoted as General Counsel of Cargill North Asia. Since 2022, she was appointed as President of Cargill China.
Before joining Cargill, Lily was General Counsel for China at L’Oreal for 6 years and Mondelez for 8 years where she built up the legal teams in both companies and held added responsibilities in compliance and security work. Lily has also worked in senior legal positions in several MNCs including 3M, Metro (Retail) and Alcatel (Technology), covering food, beauty, technology, retail and other industries.
Lily holds a LLB from Shanghai’s East China University of Political Science and Law.
Lily loves traveling and food. She currently lives in Shanghai.
Dorothy Dong
President at Starr International Investment Advisors (Asia) LimitedMs. Dorothy Ying Dong is the President of Starr International Investment Advisors (Asia) Limited and the Chairman of Starr Property & Casualty (China) Co., Ltd, responsible for the business operation, investment and development strategy in China for Starr Asia.
Ms. Dong Ying has been responsible for the establishment of Starr China Investment Platform since 2007 and focused on the healthcare investment fields. She has led the team and conducted investments in healthcare, technology, and insurance sectors, as well as Fund of Funds investments for more than 1.7 billion US dollars. Additionally, she has established a strong investment and industry ecosystem, resulting in excellent long-term performance returns through different economic cycles. Since 2014, she has served as Vice Chairman of Starr Insurance China and as the Chairman since 2020 after leading the acquisition of Dazhong Insurance.
Healthcare and technology are two of the fields in which Ms. Dong has extensive investments. Her investments include Techpool Bio, Buchang Pharma, Aidea Pharma, Gushengtang, Hanxi Hospitals, Nanyan Insurance, InnoCare, AkesoBio, Abbisko, Conmed, Boan Bio, Frontera, MegaRobo, Kuaishou, Kidswant, Huisuanzhang, JOVO Energy, and some other industry leaders, and establish close cooperative relationships with the entrepreneurial teams. As well as supporting and leading investments, Ms. Dong has also established strategic alliances with general partners to create a strong investment ecosystem, including Boyu, Yunfeng, Hew Horizon, Qiming, Sherpa, YuanBio, Long Hill, Hankang, Creacion, Quan, Eastern Bell, Sinovation, Ince, Gao Cheng, and some other leading funds.
Ms. Dong has over 25 years investment experiences. She has been working in many leading groups and serving as a member of the Bord of Directors or Advisory Board of many companies and investment funds. She has strong connections and resources in healthcare, insurance, finance, and technology fields, as well as related government authorities. Ms. Dong is the Founding Director and former Rotating Chairman of the China Medical and Health Industry Investment Forum of 50 (H50) and actively promoting the development of China's medical and health industry, as well as a Tutor of Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM) and an Executive Committee Member of China Children’s Development Fund, contributing to the progress of China's education and children's rights.
Prior to joining Starr, she served as a Vice President at AIG Global Investment Corp. (Shanghai) Ltd., a division of American International Group, Inc, focusing on private equity in the PRC, and as a Director at Anglo Chinese Finance Limited. She worked as an Analyst and Fund Manager for Atlas Fund at Rochdale Investment Management Company in New York. Prior to that, she worked for HSBC Corporate Finance (Asia) Limited and Credit Lyonnais Securities (Asia) Limited. Ms. Dong received Bachelor’s degree in law from Shanghai University (Fudan Sub-school) in the PRC, and MBA degree from McGill University, Canada. She was admitted as a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and is a member of the Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts and the CFA Institute.
Sarah Wang
HRVP & Deputy General Counsel, International at AstraZenecaSarah Wang is the HRVP & Deputy General Counsel, International in AstraZeneca.
In the DGC role, Sarah leads the legal team of more than 35 lawyers in China, Asia Area, Latam, MEA, Russia/Eurasia, Australia and Japan, with a focus on China, external investigation, IP protection and business development transaction.
In the HRVP role, Sarah leads AstraZeneca’s Human Resources function for the International Commercial Region, which has 29,000 full-time employees and covers the world’s emerging markets, including Brazil, Russia, China and Australia, operating in more than 79 markets across 18 time zones.
Sarah has practiced law in both US and China, and has ample experience in healthcare, retail and merger& acquisition. She was the General Counsel of AstraZeneca China before being promoted to the current role. Prior to that, she was the General Counsel of Essilor Greater China and Legal Director of Gap, Inc. Before moving to in-house, Sarah worked at DLA Piper in its Chicago and Shanghai office, serving multinational and industry-diversified clients on a wide range of legal issues including REITs fund formation, overseas real estate investment, FDI, and international arbitration.
Sarah obtained a bachelor in law degree from East China University of Politics and Law, as well as a JD and an LLM degree from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. Sarah is a licensed lawyer in New York and Illinois and is Chinese Bar qualified. Recently Sarah was appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Shanghai Bar Association, Foreign Lawyer Committee, dedicated to promote the presence of foreign lawyers in Shanghai and foster idea exchange between foreign and Chinese lawyers.
Rosa Lee
Global Chief Human Resource Officer at AESC GroupMrs. Rosa Lee graduated from East China University of Political Science and Law with law degree, and obtained MBA from Kellogg School of Management – Northwest University & Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Having gained a breadth of leadership experience in several large multinational companies and accumulated more than 20 years’ experience in HR and business areas. During the experience, she led the team to formulate talent strategies to boost business transformation. As a pioneer, she launched the first pilot in the industry by establishing the APAC HR Chief Digital Officer & other roles under this role within her team to enable the transformation of business and talents, transforming structure to serve strategy. Since Jan. 2024, Rosa joins AESC, and takes the role of Global Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) of AESC Group Ltd.
She was recognized by Fortune China as one of 100 Most Powerful Women in Business of Year 2020/2021.
Zak Dychtwald
CEO of Young China GroupZak Dychtwald is a strategic advisor with expertise in global cooperation, the emerging East and West youth mindset, and the interactions of rising China and the world. He is the Founder and CEO of Young China Group, a think tank and consultancy which works to deepen understanding of the effects of the evolving identity of China’s young generation on the marketplace, workplace, and international politics.
Zak is also the author of the critically acclaimed Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World, which explores how the country’s young generation, born after 1990, feels about everything, from money and sex, to their government. In 2022, Zak was named an Asia 21 Young Leaders Fellow. He has been invited to speak at Harvard University, The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council Summit, Google’s Next Billion Users Initiative and the Aspen Ideas Festival, among others.
Lu Shi
Managing Director, Global Network Banking Head Banking Coverage of Citi ChinaLu Shi is a Citi veteran and has spent her entire career with Citibank. Her career journey traveled through New York, Seoul, and Shanghai. She is currently the head of Global Network Banking for Citi China where her team is responsible for originating and managing business relationships with multinational corporates in China.
In her prior roles, Lu served as co-head of corporate credit for Asia, Citibank China Chief Risk Officer where she was responsible for risk exposure management across all of Citi China’s businesses and product segments.
Prior to moving to Shanghai in 2015, Lu spent 12 years working in Citi New York in various positions. During the financial crisis, Lu was a member of Citi Special Asset and led the restructuring of several large bankruptcies’ cases.
Lu also co-chairs Citi China Diversity Council and actively participate in Asia Citi Women Network.
She holds a BS from Georgetown University School of Foreign Services and an MBA from Columbia University Business School.
Jessica Gleeson
CEO of Experiential RetailCEO of BrighterBeauty and founder of Experiential Retail is an experienced international executive with a passion for building and scaling purpose driven brands. She is a 20-year veteran of Starbucks, and held a variety of leadership roles as the company grew from 50 stores in the US to 55 countries globally. Driven by her fascination with the rapidly changing retail landscape, Jessica relocated to China and helped grow three iconic brands – Starbucks, The Walt Disney Company and Claire’s Accessories. She served as International COO for Zambero. She currently serves on the Board of Flave, GloCoach and as an advisor to Planting Hope. Recently recognized by IPWS with their Lifetime Achievement Award, Jessica works actively to advocate for placing women on executive boards, because the data shows it is just good business.
Jie Zhang
Director of Office, Strategy & Development at Design Innovation Institute ShanghaiJie Zhang is an award-winning registered architect, researcher, and entrepreneur. As the founding team of Design Innovation Institute Shanghai, Zhang is responsible for every facet of the new organization from strategic planning, content & facilities development, public affairs to office management, having built the institute’s initial programs from scratch.
Previous to DIIS, she served as the China Design Director & General Manager of world-renowned Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, where she led landmark projects totaling more than 1-million-sqm in urban design, headquarters, mixed-use, culture and regeneration. Her design work has been awarded by the AIA, IIDA, Red Dot Best of the Best, ThePaper.cn and featured by Domus, FastCompany, ArchDaily, UABB, among others.
Zhang received a BA from Yale University and an MArch from MIT. She is a frequent design juror at leading academic institutions including MIT, Syracuse University, Hong Kong University and China Academy of Arts. She also served as topical co-Chair at Urban Land Institute, co-Curator at Xintiandi Design Week, and board member at MIT Shanghai Alum Club.
Cindy Reid
Founder and CEO of Global GolfBeing one of the Top 50 Female Coaches in the USA, Cindy Reid has brought her knowledge, expertise, and over 30 years of experience in the golf industry to China to develop champion golfers who can compete on the world’s stage.
As the former director of instructor at the PGA TOUR’s TPC Sawgrass, Cindy had the opportunity to work with several professional golfers including Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Fred Fund, Davis Love, Tom Kite, Sophie Gustafson, Deb Richard, Rocco Mediate and many many more.
Cindy is a 10-year contributor to the US Golf Channel and has provided on-air playing tips for CBS Sports, USA Network, and NBC Sports. Cindy has been featured in several magazines such as Golf for Women, Golf Digest, PGA TOUR Partners Magazine, and Golf Digest – China. In addition, Cindy’s golf tips are broadcasted regularly and seen weekly by millions of people on the CCTV Golf channel and she has authored several golf instructional books including, Cindy Reid’s Ultimate Guide to Golf for Women and Get Yourself in Golf Shape which is forwarded by Vijay Singh.
Cindy has been selected as the Honorary Coach for the China–Hong Kong Executive Women’s Golf Association for the next 3 years. In addition to her golf instruction, Cindy is world renowned for her corporate golf outings as well as her motivational speaking. Cindy is a Class A member of the PGA of America and a Class A member of the LPGA teaching division. Cindy has been named one of the Top 10 Coaches in China.
美国50佳高尔夫女教练欣荻瑞，带着超过30年的职业经验和高球知识来到中国，致力于为中国培养能在世界舞台上竞技的球员。
作为TPC Sawgrass（美国PGA Tour 总部）PGA Tour高尔夫学院的前总监，欣荻瑞教了许多著名选手，比如： Vijay Singh， Jim Furyk， Fred Funk, Davis Love, Tom Kite, Frank Lickliter和Rocco Mediate 等众多世界顶尖选手。
欣荻瑞连续10年为美国高尔夫频道撰稿，还为CBS Sport 体育台和美国Network和NBC Sport节目提供现场高球指导。众多高尔夫杂志比如Golf For Women, Golf Digest, PGA Tour Partners Magazine和Golf Digest----China曾对欣荻瑞有过大篇幅的特写报道。另外，欣荻瑞录制的高尔夫小贴士定期在CCTV高球频道播放。欣荻瑞曾多次出版与高球相关的书籍，包括《Cindy Reid’s Ultimate Guide to Golf for Women》和由Vijay Singh撰写序言的《Get Yourself in Golf Shape》(《高球形体训练》)。
China—Hong Kong Executive Women’s Golf Association授予欣荻瑞三年“荣誉教练”头衔。欣荻瑞不仅在个人高尔夫教学方面很出色，而且在团休课教学方面也十分出色。她是美国PGA的A级会员和LPGA的A级教练，也获得了中国十佳高尔夫教练的荣誉。