Why I’m competing

When I told my daughters, ages 9 and 10, that I wanted to compete, they didn’t hesitate. “Yes, of course!” they said. They were more excited than I was.

That moment is why I’m here. I’m a single mom, an immigrant, and a woman who started over, and I want my daughters to see what it looks like to chase something bold at any age. I’m also doing this for every woman who has ever wondered whether it’s too late to begin again.

It never is.

Choosing family

For twenty years I led businesses in Shanghai, rising from HR Manager to General Manager, Vice President of Asia Pacific, and Managing Director. In 2016, at the peak of my career, I left my job to have children. I was in my mid-40s, and it took years of IVF to get there. At the end of 2017, I moved to the Seattle area, and I’ve been raising my two daughters ever since.

I don’t regret it for a moment. Those years taught me patience, resilience, and what matters most.

Building from the ground up

My career began in 1996, when I was the one person on the ground starting a factory’s operations from scratch. I built a manufacturing facility in four months. I turned a Japanese operation that had lost money for six years into a profitable business in ten. I learned that leadership is mostly about people, and that good systems let people do their best work.

Starting again

When I was ready to return, I did it the hard way in a new country. I took on leadership roles as a VP and a COO, then founded my own business in 2026. Starting over was humbling. It also showed me how many women are standing at the same starting line, hesitating, wondering, doubting themselves, and quietly waiting for permission to begin.

Movement has always been my foundation

I grew up as a gymnast and dancer. When I moved to the Seattle area, I found ballroom dancing, practicing competitive Latin and Standard styles. It brought back the discipline, grace, and joy I loved as a young athlete, and gave me a space to challenge myself on a whole new stage.

I train every day. Strength is not about age. It’s about showing up.