ZHANG Xin

CEO, SOHO China

Zhang Xin co-founded SOHO China in 1995. As CEO, she has led the company to become the largest developer of prime office real estate in China. SOHO China has developed over 5.5 million square meters (60 million square feet) in projects in Beijing and Shanghai, and is acclaimed for developing iconic landmark buildings. Widely credited with revolutionizing Beijing’s architectural landscape, Zhang Xin’s visionary achievements have distinguished her as a creative force for China. Born in Beijing in 1965, Zhang Xin moved to Hong Kong at the age of 14 where she labored as a factory girl for five years before making her way to England. There, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Sussex University and a Master’s degree in Development Economics from Cambridge University. After working in investment banking for Goldman Sachs and Travelers Group, she returned to Beijing to co-found SOHO China. Featured repeatedly as an opinion leader on China's real estate market and economic development, Zhang Xin’s triumphant entrepreneurship and personal story have led her to be recognized internationally as an emblem of the China's growth, and domestically as a celebrity figure with over 9 million followers on “weibo”, the Chinese version of “twitter”. As a “weibo” personality, she regularly shares her views on business, current affairs and architecture. Zhang Xin is deeply involved in philanthropy. In 2005 she and her husband Pan Shiyi established the SOHO China Foundation, a charity organization guided by the mission of advancing education as a means for alleviating poverty. In 2014, the SOHO China Foundation launched the SOHO China Scholarships, a USD 100 million initiative supporting financial aid for Chinese students at leading international universities.