Chinese Women Connect
Chinese Women Connect was founded in 2020 by Qun Yang and has grown massively in its two years of existence. It is described by its members as a place for Chinese women to bond, connect, and grow, and a safe haven for them to speak about their shared experiences, whether they be positive or negative. The members range from college students to retirees, making it the perfect place for generations to learn from one another. Just last year, it was shortlisted for a British Diversity Award. For this month’s DVF Woman, we spoke to three members from the organization about their roles, the need for an organization like CWC, and their hopes for its future.
Chinese Women Connect was founded in 2020 by Qun Yang and has grown massively in its two years of existence. It is described by its members as a place for Chinese women to bond, connect, and grow, and a safe haven for them to speak about their shared experiences, whether they be positive or negative. The members range from college students to retirees, making it the perfect place for generations to learn from one another. Just last year, it was shortlisted for a British Diversity Award. For this month’s DVF Woman, we spoke to three members from the organization about their roles, the need for an organization like CWC, and their hopes for its future.
Qun Yang
After immigrating to the UK in 1999, Qun Yang had success in finding a job in finance but feeling confident in the workplace did not come as easily. Originally from China, she found it difficult to connect with her coworkers—even something as simple as a popular song her peers had grown up with, made her insecure since she couldn’t relate or comment. “It creates a barrier,” she said of the cultural divide, “which makes you feel like you can’t speak up.”
Though she made her way up the corporate ladder (working for some of the world’s largest banks and being named President of ICAEW of East Anglia along the way), she rarely saw other women like her in positions of leadership. A little over two years ago, this years-long observation prompted her to establish Chinese Women Connect so that Chinese women could have a place to link up, talk through these shared experiences, and form lasting relationships.
Today, CWC is a community for Chinese women in the workplace. It is a place for mentorship, learning how to dress for the job you want, bonding, speaking openly about struggles particular to the Asian community, and, of course, having fun. The community members range from 20-somethings in their first years of university to 70-year-olds with decades of experience to impart to the younger generations—one member, Qun mentioned, is an NHS professional with a passion for fitness and ballet who leads a weekly exercise group (and hasn't missed a class in almost two years). In just two years, CWC has grown massively—last year they were shortlisted for a British Diversity Award, a tremendous accomplishment for the young organization—and Qun is incredibly proud of the community they’ve all built together.
InCharge Questions
What makes you feel InCharge?
Confidence. When I have the knowledge and know-how, I am confident and feel InCharge. Dressing up nicely also makes me feel confident and InCharge.
Who is your role model?
My mother. She never gives up and completed her Ph.D. in her 60s. She is always calm and willing to help others.
What makes you laugh?
Silly jokes, especially from my children.
Katherine Cui
Katherine Cui has been in the UK for a little over 15 years. She first moved there to earn her business degree, but she moved back to China after graduation and worked as a venture capitalist there for some years. In 2011, she moved back, already married and with a baby. She found it difficult to get back into the workforce as a full-time mom and, furthermore, she found that it was almost impossible to feel like anything but a mom. To address this, she started hosting workshops so full-time moms could grow and find themselves again. The classes stopped once the pandemic began, but Katherine was soon referred to Chinese Women Connect through a friend and she was immediately drawn in by its many classes and community initiatives.
“I always felt a lack of community. As a Chinese woman in the UK, I have my family, but I didn’t feel like I was part of the larger society,” she explained. Katherine’s feeling echoes that of many women who joined CWC and now feel fulfilled by the community they’ve been able to build with and for one another. Two years after joining, Katherine manages the membership process for prospective CWC members. She’s also a self-admitted “recycling champion” who’s committed to environmental advocacy. A couple of years ago she challenged herself and twenty other women to go a year without buying any new clothes or accessories. “The more you do it, the more you want to do it,” she told us. “Before I started that challenge two years ago, I had never worn second-hand clothing myself. It wasn’t until I bought my first pair of jeans for 5 pounds that I was like, ‘This is actually okay!’ Now I get all of my running gear second-hand.”
Today, she still hosts workshops for moms and women who want to join the workforce after being out for a few years. She also teaches Mandarin to children and is working towards earning her coaching certification. Her hope for CWC is that it goes on for as long as possible so that Chinese women coming to the UK have support and a community that is ready to embrace them.
InCharge Questions
What makes you feel InCharge?
I feel InCharge when I am done with my morning exercise, when I overcome challenges such as running the half marathon, when I am wearing a nice dress, when I have makeup on… All those things make me feel good about myself and boost my confidence, hence I feel I am InCharge.
Who is your role model?
My role model is Jim Rohn. I love listening to his inspiring speeches.
What makes you laugh?
There are so many little things that make me laugh: my kids, spending time with friends, a funny movie, a nice cup of coffee, baking for family and friends, etc.
Lin Yue
As co-founder of Chinese Women Connect, Lin Yue’s mission is to change the systems she’s inherited and empower Chinese women to find their voices. For the past 12 years, Lin has worked her way up the ranks at a major investment bank. Somewhere around the start of her career she noticed that she couldn’t mirror anyone’s career since she hadn’t seen anyone like her do what she does. “I realized that there weren’t any role models and, that we, the new generation, would have to become them,” she said, citing that loneliness in the work place is a common feeling for many Asian women.
Through her professional presence, she wants to remove the pressure on minorities to be spokespeople for their culture and, instead, place emphasis on the work that they deliver and skills they bring to the table. “When you’re in the minority,” she explains, “the integration is placed on your shoulders, but when you’re the majority you can choose to care. That’s a huge structural problem that’s common in a lot of big organizations.”
At Chinese Women Connect, Lin leads a talk series called “How to Find Your Voice” so that Chinese women in the workplace can advocate for themselves, find a stronger sense of identity, and feel confident in who they are. She also plays an integral role in fundraising for the young organization and partnering with other non-profits. Her dream for the future of Chinese Women Connect is that the younger generation will go into the workforce unencumbered by cultural differences.
InCharge Questions
What makes you feel InCharge?
I feel InCharge when I gain clarity of the situation especially as we all have to navigate the complexities and uncertainties of our lives.
I feel InCharge when I have spaces for activities that enable productivity and creativity.
I feel InCharge when I know I can empower others by sharing our experiences and building commonalities.
Who is your role model?
I have been fortunate to work closely with some senior leaders over the years both professionally and personally and I consider many of them my role models – they are dynamic, articulate, strategic, think and care deeply about issues, and are unapologetically authentic. I found those qualities very inspiring.
What makes you laugh?
good sense of humour. Sometimes you want to laugh (and cry) at the same time as their actions.
*A special thank you to Qun’s alma mater, Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, for letting us use their campus.
Alistair Nicholls was the photographer for this shoot. If you'd like to keep up with his work, check out his website here and follow him on IG @alistairnicholls.
This idea of summoning ancestors is more accessible than one would think. Valarie channels the energy of her grandfather, a biological ancestor, but she also sits at the feet of Black thinkers like Dr. King, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks.
Qun Yang
This idea of summoning ancestors is more accessible than one would think. Valarie channels the energy of her grandfather, a biological ancestor, but she also sits at the feet of Black thinkers like Dr. King, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks.
After immigrating to the UK in 1999, Qun Yang had success in finding a job in finance but feeling confident in the workplace did not come as easily. Originally from China, she found it difficult to connect with her coworkers—even something as simple as a popular song her peers had grown up with, made her insecure since she couldn’t relate or comment. “It creates a barrier,” she said of the cultural divide, “which makes you feel like you can’t speak up.”
Though she made her way up the corporate ladder (working for some of the world’s largest banks and being named President of ICAEW of East Anglia along the way), she rarely saw other women like her in positions of leadership. A little over two years ago, this years-long observation prompted her to establish Chinese Women Connect so that Chinese women could have a place to link up, talk through these shared experiences, and form lasting relationships.
Today, CWC is a community for Chinese women in the workplace. It is a place for mentorship, learning how to dress for the job you want, bonding, speaking openly about struggles particular to the Asian community, and, of course, having fun. The community members range from 20-somethings in their first years of university to 70-year-olds with decades of experience to impart to the younger generations—one member, Qun mentioned, is an NHS professional with a passion for fitness and ballet who leads a weekly exercise group (and hasn't missed a class in almost two years). In just two years, CWC has grown massively—last year they were shortlisted for a British Diversity Award, a tremendous accomplishment for the young organization—and Qun is incredibly proud of the community they’ve all built together.
InCharge Questions
What makes you feel InCharge?
Confidence. When I have the knowledge and know-how, I am confident and feel InCharge. Dressing up nicely also makes me feel confident and InCharge.
Who is your role model?
My mother. She never gives up and completed her Ph.D. in her 60s. She is always calm and willing to help others.
What makes you laugh?
Silly jokes, especially from my children.
Lin Yue
As co-founder of Chinese Women Connect, Lin Yue’s mission is to change the systems she’s inherited and empower Chinese women to find their voices. For the past 12 years, Lin has worked her way up the ranks at a major investment bank. Somewhere around the start of her career she noticed that she couldn’t mirror anyone’s career since she hadn’t seen anyone like her do what she does. “I realized that there weren’t any role models and, that we, the new generation, would have to become them,” she said, citing that loneliness in the work place is a common feeling for many Asian women.
Through her professional presence, she wants to remove the pressure on minorities to be spokespeople for their culture and, instead, place emphasis on the work that they deliver and skills they bring to the table. “When you’re in the minority,” she explains, “the integration is placed on your shoulders, but when you’re the majority you can choose to care. That’s a huge structural problem that’s common in a lot of big organizations.”
At Chinese Women Connect, Lin leads a talk series called “How to Find Your Voice” so that Chinese women in the workplace can advocate for themselves, find a stronger sense of identity, and feel confident in who they are. She also plays an integral role in fundraising for the young organization and partnering with other non-profits. Her dream for the future of Chinese Women Connect is that the younger generation will go into the workforce unencumbered by cultural differences.
InCharge Questions
What makes you feel InCharge?
I feel InCharge when I gain clarity of the situation especially as we all have to navigate the complexities and uncertainties of our lives.
I feel InCharge when I have spaces for activities that enable productivity and creativity.
I feel InCharge when I know I can empower others by sharing our experiences and building commonalities.
Who is your role model?
I have been fortunate to work closely with some senior leaders over the years both professionally and personally and I consider many of them my role models – they are dynamic, articulate, strategic, think and care deeply about issues, and are unapologetically authentic. I found those qualities very inspiring.
What makes you laugh?
Amongst many other things, my children – they are very young but have a good sense of humour. Sometimes you want to laugh (and cry) at the same time as their actions.
Katherine Cui
Katherine Cui has been in the UK for a little over 15 years. She first moved there to earn her business degree, but she moved back to China after graduation and worked as a venture capitalist there for some years. In 2011, she moved back, already married and with a baby. She found it difficult to get back into the workforce as a full-time mom and, furthermore, she found that it was almost impossible to feel like anything but a mom. To address this, she started hosting workshops so full-time moms could grow and find themselves again. The classes stopped once the pandemic began, but Katherine was soon referred to Chinese Women Connect through a friend and she was immediately drawn in by its many classes and community initiatives.
“I always felt a lack of community. As a Chinese woman in the UK, I have my family, but I didn’t feel like I was part of the larger society,” she explained. Katherine’s feeling echoes that of many women who joined CWC and now feel fulfilled by the community they’ve been able to build with and for one another. Two years after joining, Katherine manages the membership process for prospective CWC members. She’s also a self-admitted “recycling champion” who’s committed to environmental advocacy. A couple of years ago she challenged herself and twenty other women to go a year without buying any new clothes or accessories. “The more you do it, the more you want to do it,” she told us. “Before I started that challenge two years ago, I had never worn second-hand clothing myself. It wasn’t until I bought my first pair of jeans for 5 pounds that I was like, ‘This is actually okay!’ Now I get all of my running gear second-hand.”
Today, she still hosts workshops for moms and women who want to join the workforce after being out for a few years. She also teaches Mandarin to children and is working towards earning her coaching certification. Her hope for CWC is that it goes on for as long as possible so that Chinese women coming to the UK have support and a community that is ready to embrace them.
InCharge Questions
What makes you feel InCharge?
I feel InCharge when I am done with my morning exercise, when I overcome challenges such as running the half marathon, when I am wearing a nice dress, when I have makeup on… All those things make me feel good about myself and boost my confidence, hence I feel I am InCharge.
Who is your role model?
My role model is Jim Rohn. I love listening to his inspiring speeches.
What makes you laugh?
There are so many little things that make me laugh: my kids, spending time with friends, a funny movie, a nice cup of coffee, baking for family and friends, etc.
*A special thank you to Qun’s alma mater, Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, for letting us use their campus.
Alistair Nicholls was the photographer for this shoot. If you'd like to keep up with his work, check out his website here and follow him on IG @alistairnicholls.