Zhang Xin's Journey: From Factory to SOHO China to Purpose-Driven Filmmaking

Early Life and Entrepreneurial Roots

• 💡 Born during China's Cultural Revolution, Zhang Xin moved to Hong Kong at age 14 in 1980, experiencing a vibrant contrast to Beijing's gray.
• 🏭 Her reality in Hong Kong involved working in factories as a new immigrant with no money, where she learned about piece-work and seeking higher pay.
• 📚 She saved £3,000 from factory work and pursued education in England, studying at evening schools in Hong Kong and eventually attending Sussex and Cambridge Universities for Economics.

Building SOHO China

• 🇨🇳 Returning to an "exciting" China in 1994, she briefly worked for Goldman Sachs before meeting her husband, Pan, a real estate developer.
• 🏗️ Together, they co-founded SOHO China in 1995, driven by a vision to build iconic, lasting structures that would contribute to Beijing's history.
• 📈 The company faced challenges with its IPO, initially rejected by Goldman Sachs in 2003, but successfully went public in October 2007, becoming 170 times oversubscribed and raising $1.9 billion.
• 🏙️ After the 2008 global financial crisis, they strategically expanded into Shanghai, acquiring a portfolio of projects from Morgan Stanley.

Spiritual Growth and Business Values

• 🙏 Zhang Xin and her husband became Baháʼís, a spiritual journey that helped them navigate marital challenges and integrate faith into their professional lives.
• 🤲 They started every board meeting with a prayer, believing it offered protection and guidance, helping them avoid mistakes.

Transition to Purpose-Driven Filmmaking

• 🎬 Relocating to New York, Zhang Xin founded Closer Media, a production company focused on telling meaningful human stories through film.
• 🎥 She produced films like "Ezra," a story about an autistic family, which resonated deeply due to the authentic experiences of its creators and cast.
• 🌍 Closer Media aims to work with international talents to celebrate human virtues and tell diverse stories, including a documentary on Paul Simon.

The Power of Education

• 🔑 Zhang Xin emphasized that education "really changed my life," enabling her journey from a factory worker to her current achievements.
• 🌱 She continues to believe education is a "game-changer" and expressed inspiration from others pursuing their dreams despite disabilities.