Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) has wrapped up its 12th Women in Leadership Forum, bringing together more than 500 executives and 19 speakers to examine how female leaders are influencing China’s fast-growing digital economy. Held on 2 December in Beijing, the annual forum has grown into a prominent platform for dialogue on women’s leadership across business, policy, and technology.
Opening the event, CKGSB Dean Li Haitao said, “The Women in Leadership Forum has become a vital cross-sector platform where policymakers and business leaders gather to exchange insights, share experiences, and inspire new possibilities.” He noted the school’s longstanding commitment to lifting female representation in leadership, pointing out that “the percentage of women in CKGSB’s MBA has climbed to 49%, compared to just 16% in 2003,” and referenced Juanyong, the school’s Women in Leadership Program, China’s first comprehensive education platform designed specifically for women leaders.
UN Women China Head of Office (a.i.) Chu Q. Wang emphasised the economic gains linked to gender-balanced leadership structures. “When women hold more board positions, companies not only perform better in the market but also manage volatility more effectively,” she said.
During the forum, CKGSB Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Organisational Behavior Zhang Xiaomeng shared new findings from her research on AI in the workplace. “Women use AI more frequently than men, and those with higher education and longer workplace experience are more prone to accepting and using AI,” she explained. Despite 85% of respondents reporting concerns about job displacement, her research suggests that regular use of AI helps lower anxiety.
Poh-Yian Koh, President of FedEx China, reflected on leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, highlighting the strengths women bring to evolving workplaces. “In the era of AI, women’s flexibility and resilience are transforming into core strengths,” she said. “Women not only possess exceptional empathy and long-term strategic vision, but are also especially skilled at building bridges, serving as indispensable ‘interpreters’ who connect technology with humanity.”
The event concluded with a keynote by Yang Lan, renowned TV host and Chairperson of Sun Media Group, who previously hosted the Beijing Declaration 30 years ago. Delivering a rallying message, she said, “When we enable more women to realize their life potential and gain their resilience, we are actually shaping a more resilient China.”
Alongside the forum, CKGSB launched She Innovates: Women Shaping China’s Digital Future, a bilingual report profiling seven alumnae entrepreneurs working in AI, health-tech and e-commerce, and featuring Professor Zhang’s research on AI and workplace wellbeing.
