Born in the 1960s - Liu Ying, 50
Print Edition
Liu Ying, 50, projects a rather low-key image for such a successful businesswoman.
She is the general manager of the investment department at Shanghai International Group, the city’s largest government-backed financial investment company, which manages assets of more than 1.11 trillion yuan (US$179 billion).
“We are lucky to have been born in the 1960s because we went through an era when young people had plenty of opportunities, though it was often hard in terms of material wealth,” Liu says. “We lived through the most exciting days when Shanghai took its first steps to open itself to the world and began to experience the benefits of cross-border cooperation.”
Liu, who graduated from Fudan University as a law major in 1984, participated in many negotiations related to foreign investment, including those involving the construction of Shanghai’s first Metro line and the establishment of the city’s first foreign-invested company 3M.
“Those were all memorable experiences during which I received help from many capable seniors who were so eager to share their knowledge and experience with the younger generation,” Liu recalls.
At that time, the country was in urgent need of professionals because the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976) had created a huge talent chasm. It was also an era that offered unprecedented opportunities for smart, diligent people like Liu.
Liu spent a couple of years in Canada and later in Hong Kong as a Chinese legal consultant to expand her international exposure and learn world legal and business practices. There was never any doubt in her mind that she would return to China’s mainland to pursue her career.
In 2004, Liu became one of the founders of China International Fund Management Co (CIFM), a joint venture between J.P. Morgan Asset Management Ltd and Shanghai International Trust Co, Liu was executive vice president of the venture, one of the highest-ranking Chinese in the firm.
“The eight years that I spent with the company enabled me to learn a lot, from risk control and personnel management to financial operations,” Liu says. “They were very open with me, possibly because I am a rational lawyer, upholding justice and sticking to the principle of win-win solutions.”
But the work was hectic, leaving little time for Liu to relax and enjoy her life. So she finally chose to leave and join the Shanghai International Group (SIG). Her days are now even busier than before, she says. “There is time to start work, and there is no fixed time to get off work.
As a delegate to the Shanghai People’s Congress, Liu has been a core adviser to the city government in its plans to turn Shanghai into a global financial center.
“There are many challenges,” she says of those plans, “such as how to integrate China’s supervisory system into the needs of Shanghai’s financial sector, which is interwoven with so many other industries, and how to nurture and attract professionals with global experience to the city.”
What should Shanghai do to address these challenges? The key is to innovate and transcend traditions, Liu says. It’s a philosophy adopted by many of her generation, who have helped spearhead China’s breathtaking transformation into a modern economy.
Approaching the age of retirement, Liu says she dreams of opening a street corner café one day. In her imagination, she sees herself welcoming her girlfriends and customers with a smile, making them a cup of fine coffee and instilling in them a positive mood for the day.
It may remain just an idyllic dream for Liu, whose knowledge and experience are so treasured in the city that it’s hard to envision her stepping down.
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