In the 11th “World’s Top 10 Outstanding Chinese Business Women Award” announced recently, entrepreneur Luo Lihui from the Southern California chapter of the United States was selected, becoming the only female entrepreneur on the West Coast to receive this prestigious award. For her, the award is not just a recognition of past career achievements, but also an encouragement for her to continue focusing on women, education, and social welfare.
Born in a military dependents’ village in Chiayi, Taiwan, Luo Lihui has come a long way from a rural girl to the international stage. Looking back on her growth and entrepreneurial journey, she believes that what truly propels a person forward is not just success in their career, but also the continuous pursuit of learning, maintaining humility, and expressing gratitude towards the land and society.
“I hope that when people think of me one day, they won’t just talk about my business accomplishments, but about how many young people I’ve helped,” Luo Lihui expressed her gratitude for the values of diligence, resilience, honesty, and kindness that Taiwan has instilled in her. This courage has enabled her to step onto the international stage and showcase the expertise and power of Chinese women to the world.
After years of operating her businesses, Luo Lihui gradually realized that the value of a company should not be limited to creating wealth but should also create positive social impact. Therefore, she established a foundation to assist young people through scholarships and mentorship programs.
She firmly believes that “education can change a person’s destiny” and can help individuals build confidence and find their life direction. She pays special attention to young women and disadvantaged teenagers, recognizing that some children easily fall into feelings of inferiority and confusion due to lack of family time, insufficient educational resources, or encounters with setbacks.
“The power of women is truly significant,” she said. Women can provide support like mothers to children when they need it most, and can also help them rebuild confidence through job opportunities, scholarships, and educational resources.
She hopes to establish a mentorship academy in the future, combining the power of more female entrepreneurs to provide opportunities for learning, work, and growth for young people.
Luo Lihui also shared her insights on business operations. She mentioned learning about corporate governance, internal control, and the spirit of diligence and pragmatism in Taiwan, all of which served as important foundations throughout her journey.
She particularly advises young women, regardless of the industry they are in, to learn about finance and corporate governance, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning. She encourages young people to make the most of their time by exploring different fields and learning from successful individuals. Even if their first job isn’t ideal, it doesn’t mean life is a failure; “Just keep learning, because you can gain a lot from learning.”
In her view, education is not just about obtaining degrees but about empowering individuals to make life choices. When more women possess knowledge, financial capability, and professional skills, they can break through existing limitations and create their own stage.
Chen Linghua, the Vice President of the World Association of Chinese Business Women, stated that this year’s “Chinese Crown Award” was highly competitive with over 40 outstanding women participating globally, and nearly 10 candidates from the United States. After initial selection, multiple rounds of assessment, the top 10 winners were finally chosen, with Luo Lihui being the only selected candidate on the West Coast of the United States.
Chen Linghua pointed out that the Chinese Crown Award differs from awards primarily focusing on business revenue or operational performance. While about half of the evaluation criteria concern business operations, candidates’ contributions to charity, family management, education, and social contributions are also significant.
“A meaningful award is not just about the trophy or certificate, but the life journey it represents,” Chen Linghua articulated. Luo Lihui’s transformation from a village girl to an international business stage signifies her long-term efforts, professional skills, and social responsibility.
She believes that Luo Lihui’s win is not only a personal honor but also brings pride to the Southern California chapter and all overseas sisters of the association. Most importantly, it sheds light on the diverse strength of Chinese women in business, family, charity, and social services.
Meng Xinyin, the President of the Southern California chapter of the World Association of Chinese Business Women, stated that Luo Lihui’s receipt of the 11th Chinese Crown Award is a shared honor for the Southern California chapter and all sisters of the association.
She remarked, “True success is not just about how far one has come alone, but also about being willing to turn back after going further, holding hands and moving forward with more people.” Luo Lihui not only wears a symbol of honor with the crown but also symbolizes the association’s affirmation of her hard work and their expectations for her continuous contributions in the future.
Sisters from various chapters of the association have also extended their well-wishes. Lin Yingzi, the President of the Orange County chapter, expressed that Luo Lihui’s award makes overseas Chinese women feel proud and sets a good example for young women. She looks forward to Luo Lihui’s participation in various charity activities in Orange County. Xue Lihua, the President of the Los Angeles Chapter, hopes that Luo Lihui will turn her personal success into opportunities for more people, continuing to help the next generation through education, charity, and the strength of women.
For Luo Lihui, these blessings serve as a new source of motivation. She stated that she hopes to leverage the collective strength of the association’s sisters to assist more young people, enabling them to see that there is much love and potential in the world.