ASH8: Virginia Tan co-founder of Lean in China (Ashley Talks)

Podcast highlights:

• 06:00 Why are there so many successful female entrepreneurs in China? China is one of the best places in the world for a woman to start her own business - we look at the reasons why
• 13:50 In China, a lot more women are participating in technology than in The West- why is that? We look at Chinese pragmatism and their tendency to be early adopters of technology
• 23:40 How can men support women in the workplace? This is never an easy subject as many men get scared off by gender politics. The participation of men as the game-changer in promoting gender equality

Podcast notes:

• 00:05 ASH8 - Ashley Talks with Ashley Galina Dudarenok
• 00:10 Today with Virginia Tan: co-founder of Lean in China, She Loves Tech, Teja Ventures
• 01:00 How did Virginia's journey with Lean in China, the first international Lean In circle outside of the US, start? A backstory on Virginia about growing up in Singapore, spending early parts of her career in Europe and the Middle East before quitting her job as a lawyer to the shock and disapproval of parents, moving to Beijing in 2013, meeting girls in a bar then Lean In China
• 03:35 What was the most influential and empowering factor in Lean In - the book by Sheryl Sandberg - that motivated Virginia to start the organisation? The trigger was in the book but it's the women she met in China that inspired her to start Lean In group
• 06:00 Why are there so many successful female entrepreneurs in China? China is one of the best places in the world for a woman to start her own business - we look at the reasons why
• 09:10 Do Chinese female entrepreneurs think differently? The combination of work ethic and the appetite for risk caused by the general environment benefits women (although it applies to the Chinese generally)
• 12:20 Working 9-9-6 (9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) in China - the legacy of the hard work ethic. If you are going to start a business you need to think big
• 13:50 In China, a lot more women are participating in technology than in The West- why is that? We look at Chinese pragmatism and their tendency to be early adopters of technology
• 17:05 Are women also active in finance? Foreign-owned companies in China say the percentage of senior female leadership in China is much higher than in other countries
• 18:25 The different relationship of Chinese women with money - China as an extremely pragmatic market and its women embracing that financial independence and economic empowerment
• 20:25 Is the future female? Will the rest of the world catch up and will there be more women returning to work and starting their business and going into tech and finance?
• 23:40 How can men support women in the workplace? This is never an easy subject as many men get scared off by gender politics. The participation of men as the game-changer in promoting gender equality
• 28:40 What advice would Virginia give to women who are looking for mentors? Virginia never looked for mentors but was fortunate enough that her clients, bosses and even friends were her greatest mentors
• 31:05 Who are the most important people in Virginia's life that push her to improve and get better? Her guy friends focus on her professional development while girl friends focus on her personal development
• 34:40 Success is relative but for Virginia, success is being able to pursue your dreams, having the freedom and autonomy to give your dreams a shot
• 36:30 How can you achieve your life goals? Know what your dreams are - a long and tiring search, the things you can live with and can't live without, then take that leap of faith and try despite the fear, but make sure you have a safety net
• 39:35 What books would Virginia recommend to anyone out there to read...