On Friday, March 7, the Marco Polo Hotel was host to Shenzhen’s first International Women’s Day event, organized by Bonnie Horibata and Sangeeta Ghose of BSV Events & Publications. This half-day celebration marked International Women’s Day, which each year on March 8 celebrates women and their strengths around the world. This honorary day gets more recognition in China than it does on average in the US, and usually women in China get half a workday off when the holiday falls during the workweek. The US and other countries celebrate events throughout March, as Women’s History Month was built around the international day founded in 1911.

Shenzhen’s international event was a morning of inspiration and support for each other’s professional and creative endeavors. A panel of speakers included Hilary K. Robie, an American architect with AECOM, Betty Jin of Uber Asia, and Heidi Olson of the Sunshine Academy. Local products and organizations were displayed by women entrepreneurs, and I was fortunate to be included representing China Tea Leaves in this wonderful group of women.

A brunch rounded out this positive morning of celebrating our beautiful strengths of compassion, collaboration, and creativity. This was a special time to share our personal experiences in China and different perspectives with each other, and I look forward to this day becoming an annual tradition. Read more here about the event on Shenzhen Daily.