The global licensing community is guided by an incredible group of senior executives whose diverse backgrounds and creative energy drive innovation and excellence. Each month, we’re profiling one of these professionals in this ongoing series.

How do you start your day?
On workdays, if I’m not traveling to another city, I’m up at 6:45 am. I do 15 – 30 minutes of exercise at home, then get ready and choose my outfit—because sharp attire does sharpen the mind. I’m in the office by around 8:30 am, ready to hit the ground running.

What’s one item you always need on your desk?
A robust cup of black tea and a laptop—the fuel and the engine.

What unique skill or characteristic do you bring to your team?
My office is a fully transparent glass room—a literal reminder that transparency isn’t negotiable. We don’t fear challenges or mistakes; with radical clarity and factual honesty, most problems become solvable. I also encourage the team to recognize and celebrate one another’s strengths, then synthesize the best elements into superior solutions.

What is something you learned at a previous job that prepared you for your current role?
Trust yourself and trust your team. Stay ready every second, because the ground is always shifting. Never canonize past experience as unbreakable law; what worked yesterday might be obsolete tomorrow.

What is your favorite aspect of your current role?
Building a team of industry standouts—professionals who not only excel at their craft but also embrace a sense of social responsibility.

What is one thing you would change about the licensing industry?
In China, the licensing sector has long favored a B-to-B-to-C model. I advocate for an S-to-B-to-C approach—service to business to consumer—prioritizing best-in-class support for licensees with long-term, partnership-driven goals.

If you had an extra hour in your workday, how would you use it?
More time to communicate and share with the team—growing talent is the best compounding investment. And more reading to stay sharp and current.

What is one thing you need to do every day to feel accomplished?
Clear my inbox and sign off on all documents slated for the day. Inbox zero and decision zero-base, daily.

Are you a carry-on or checked bag traveler?
Carry-on all the way. Life’s too short to loiter by the baggage carousel.

What do you always have in your suitcase on a work trip?
A laptop and a charger—the portable office and its lifeline.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing?
China’s licensing industry is expanding rapidly and drawing global attention, but we’ve learned it’s far more than a simple trade of images. It demands deep domain knowledge and hands-on experience. I’ve long been passionate about talent development. In fact, I serve as a guest professor for the “Animation Brand Licensing” courses at the Shanghai Academy of Film and Art and as a lecturer appointed by the Ministry of Culture and the China Toy & Juvenile Products Association for brand licensing training. I teach industry frameworks, case studies, and practical strategies to the next wave of professionals. I truly enjoy this work—if I weren’t running licensing businesses, I’d likely be a university lecturer, continuing to contribute meaningfully to the field.

What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago?
Complete every task to a high standard. Don’t wilt in hardship, and don’t bask in praise. Lead with sincerity, move as one with your team, and share both the wins and the losses.

What are you most excited about moving forward?
Identifying more commercially compelling Chinese IPs and helping them succeed on the global stage—earning their rightful spot in the international licensing market.