Holland & Barrett’s Joanna Zhou on leading positive change

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, FOCUS is spotlighting female business leaders in the UK and China. Here, Robynne Tindall speaks to Joanna Zhou, China Commercial Manager of Holland & Barrett

Joanna Zhou has been looking after Holland & Barrett’s business in China – especially its cross-border e-commerce model – for more than three years. Her knowledge of China and expertise in internationalisation have helped to position the leading British health and wellness retailer to target health-conscious young Chinese consumers.

Prior to Holland & Barrett, Joanna worked in Scotch whisky, tourism, and technology industries in the UK helping British companies to expand their footprint in China. Prior to that, she called Singapore her home for a decade.

What inspired you to get into your current industry?

My decision to join Holland and Barrett and the health and wellness sector three years ago was not a hard one to make, especially since we were in the middle of the pandemic. It provided me with an opportunity to make a positive impact on society and our global consumers. It has been inspirational to know that my work helps promote healthier lifestyles, reaches consumers near and far, and changes lives for the better.

What resources have helped you to achieve more and get further in your industry?

As the famous proverb goes, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ As I was navigating my role as the China market expert in a heritage British health and wellness institution, I found it incredibly motivating to speak with industry experts to seek thought leadership and stay close to that network to learn from every business’ success and failure. There is great value in sharing and ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’.

The theme of International Women’s Day 2024 is #InspireInclusion. What does that theme mean to you? How do you inspire inclusivity in the workplace?

Every small thing counts at work, from embracing the diversity of the team in terms of race, age, ability, faith and identity, to calling out unconscious bias towards women from anyone at work or outside of work. International Women’s Day is about celebrating the achievements of women and helping to accelerate women’s equality, but this journey is not just about women. It concerns everyone. It has never been about men vs women. It is about all of us versus the imbalance of the current status quo without which, the world will be a much better place for everyone. Hence, it is important to include all of your colleagues in such conversations at work! #InspireInclusion is for everyone.

Do you feel optimistic about the future prospects for greater gender equality in the workplace?

Definitely. We are collectively more aware of the gender inequality issue more than ever. We are seeing more conversations on inclusion and diversity at all levels of organisations across the industry. For example, we are observing more flexible paternity leave policy and more discussions on baby changing facilities in men’s restrooms – empowerment of both genders at home contributes to greater gender equality in the workplace. We have come a long way but there is still more work to be done – I would see the glass as half full!

What traits do you think make a great leader, female or otherwise?

Great leader traits are not limited by gender. Great leaders are visionary individuals who empower their team, see the value in collaboration and teamwork, and inspire and lead with resilience and courage. However, all leaders are also human and might make mistakes and have their limitations. It is worth remembering that at the end of the day, kindness sits quietly above all things. Respect, empathy and caring go a long way in any circumstance, whether someone is female or otherwise.

If you could have dinner with any inspirational woman, past or present, who would it be and why?

That would be Qiu Jin, an early and fierce advocate for the liberation of Chinese women who played a crucial role in overturning feudalism in the 1900s. Her planned uprising unfortunately failed in 1907 and she died a heroine. She was later celebrated as one of the most famous martyrs of the revolution and China’s pioneering feminist.

She was featured in the British Museum’s 2023 special exhibition China’s Hidden Century. In a century of war, violence and turmoil, there is hope, resilience and the extraordinary – to me, Qiu Jin’s life was an embodiment of that.

If you could sum up your best bit of business advice in one sentence, what would it be?

Embrace diversity. If we embrace diversity in leadership positions, at all levels of the organisation, in recruitment, with suppliers, customers and all business communities, we can forge an open mind for wisdom, creativity and innovation. And that is something that genuinely fuels sustainable growth.