Kaitlin Zhang's Interview with Digital Business Women eMagazine
This interview was originally published on Digital Business Women eMagazine on 18th December 2018.
In December 2018, I was interviewed by Digital Business Women eMagazine about my work and career. I also shared the business challenges I have had along the way, how I overcame the challenges and how I balance my life.
Tell us about you and your business
Oval Branding is a cross-border digital marketing agency specializing in technology and financial services. The company works with UK technology firms to establish their brands in China and support them with raising capital in China. The company also works with some of the top Chinese venture capital firms and financial institutions.
What is your company’s mission?
Our mission is to build a bridge between China and the UK by providing top quality branding and marketing services. Our corporate vision is to empower people. Through branding and marketing, we want to bring the best ideas to the world.
What services do you offer?
We have helped UK technology firms in industries such as CleanTech, EdTech, HealthTech, gaming etc. enter into the Chinese market. In addition, we also work with some of the top Chinese venture capital firms and private investors to build their brands outside of China and have supported fundraising efforts in excess of $200 million USD.
What is unique about your business?
We focus on building brands for cross-border businesses between China and the West (mainly focusing on the USA, Canada and the UK). This leverages my unique cultural background and professional experience having worked in all these places. We have also expanded the team to include members from all these countries to deliver the best service to our clients.
Have you ever turned down a client?
We focus on the tech and financial services sectors. We can help UK tech businesses enter into the Chinese market or help Chinese finance firms establish their brands outside of China. We have turned down clients that are not in our areas of expertise, such as in fashion, luxury consumer goods etc.
What's your productivity secret?
Less is more. Unwavering focus on the essentials and the disciplined pursuit of less.
What do you wish you knew before you started your first business?
One the most challenging part of being a business leader is hiring the right team. I wish I knew how to hire slow and fire fast.
What did you learn from your biggest failure?
One of my biggest failures would be choosing the wrong people to work with. When evaluating a potential candidate, business partners, and even clients, it's important to listen to my gut feeling. Every time I ignored my gut feeling, I have lost an opportunity to be the best I can be.
How do you find inspiration?
I dedicate at least 2 months each year traveling, reading and thinking. I use this time to learn new things and reflect on my life and business. Without this self-reflection, I would not be as successful in my business as I would like to be. Living in London, I also enjoy contemporary art exhibits because it challenges me to think outside the box.
To what do you attribute your success?
Everyone's definition of success is different. To me, success means loving those in my life, adding value to the world through my work and taking care of myself and my family. I am thankful for all those people who supported me in my journey. I am also thankful for my Christian faith. We can never be successful by our own efforts.
If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Never ever stop learning.
What's your favorite quote?
People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love.
— Claude Monet, impressionist artist.
About Digital Business Women
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