A night to remember: Inside the 2023 SupChina’s Women’s Gala

On May 18, SupChina’s annual Women’s Gala — a premier, signature social event focused on amplifying voices of women working in and with China — marked its seventh year. 

In the intricately decorated ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental overlooking New York City’s Central Park, a diverse group of nearly 400 people gathered for dinner, award presentations, live entertainment, and electrifying conversations. The night was a celebration of visionary women leaders and rising talents shaping Chinese and American business, culture, and society. 

The atmosphere was charged with excitement throughout the evening as attendees mingled and networked, catching up with old friends and making new ones. The evening before, we hosted the SupChina Women’s Virtual Conference featuring a keynote from Anne Tse, the president and CEO of Greater China at PepsiCo, a fireside chat with Mattie Bekink and Chelsea Clinton, and three star-studded panels on healthcare, business and technology, and climate technology. One of the panels, themed around business and technology, featured Lili Zheng, a partner at Deloitte, as the moderator and Catherin Pan, the global vice president of DuPont, as a panelist. 

This year’s outstanding honorees included Stella Li, the executive vice president of Chinese EV manufacturer BYD and the CEO of BYD Americas; Yale professor and best-selling author Amy Chua; Dora Fugh Lee, a renowned Chinese-American artist whose works are featured in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of Asian Art, and other major museums worldwide; and internationally acclaimed concert pianist Yuja Wang, who recently took the stage at the sold-out Carnegie Hall to perform a five-hour Rachmaninoff marathon.

To recognize and empower early-stage women professionals who are making their mark in the U.S.-China space, the gala launched the Rising Star Awards four years ago. Since then, a slew of inspiring talents from various walks of life have received the honor. This year, the recipients of the award are Vic Lee, the co-founder of nonprofit organization Welcome to Chinatown; Zinan (Crysti) Chen, the co-founder and managing partner of Uniwill Ventures; Rebecca F. Kuang, the award-winning, best-selling author of the Poppy War trilogy and Babel: An Arcane History; Dr. Sisi Sung, a distinguished academic and researcher who works with international corporations to elevate female leadership; and Dr. Ruby Wang, a medical doctor, entrepreneur, and author. 

Congresswoman Grace Meng, the first Asian American to represent New York in Congress, wrote in a letter that she commended The China Project (formerly known as SupChina) for bringing together “leaders and visionaries for an open dialogue about the continuing empowerment of women in business, technology, culture, and the environment.”

Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston and the first Asian-American woman to occupy the post, shared in her letter that as a daughter of immigrants from Taiwan, she was grateful to The China Project for “creating this space as a platform for Asian women leaders.”

“At a time when the most pressing challenges we face are global — from poverty and political instability to climate change and public health — this conference creates an opportunity to celebrate the many incredible women working to strengthen relationships across borders, cultures, and communities.”

The sentiment is echoed by Congressman Ted W. Lieu, who serves California’s 33rd Congressional District. A former active-duty officer in the U.S. Air Force, Congressman Lieu wrote in his letter that he applauds The China Project’s mission to “inform and communicate important global news in order to connect a global audience.” 

In his letter, Andrew Yang, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate who today co-chairs the national Forward Party, described the event as a “game-changer for fostering meaningful connections, exchanging ideas, mentoring the next generation, and learning from those who’ve blazed the trail.” The guests and honorees at the gala “represent the power of embracing our unique identities and the incredible impact of women’s contributions to society,” Yang wrote, while encouraging everyone in attendance to “continue inspiring the world” with their exceptional talents. 

Prior to the main program, the evening started with a networking cocktail session that was well attended and lively. Auction items were available for viewing and bidding, including a mixed media artwork by world-renowned Chinese fashion photographer and artist Chen Man, “Window of My World,” a photograph by award-winning National Geographic explorer and photographer Michael Yamashita, a 10-day Yunnan tour with Songtsam Travel, and a traditional Chinese painting by honoree Dora Fugh Lee.

The social hour was followed by a delicious three-course dinner consisting of a variety of mouthwatering selections and opening remarks by Anla Cheng, the founder and chair of The China Project. “Despite the rise in geopolitical tensions, I am heartened to know that all of us here today want to see more friendship and connections between the two countries,” Cheng addressed the crowd. “Many have told me that this gala is the time when you ‘are empowered and inspired, and store up your energy, strength, and courage for the year.’ We aim to do just that.” 

A video was played to refresh the participants’ memory of the online conference on Day 1, which attracted hundreds of attendees — both men and women — who learned trends and forecasts through a vibrant mix of panels and keynotes. 

The room was filled with gratitude and appreciation as the honorees and recipients of the Rising Star Award took the stage to be celebrated for their accomplishments and thank those who have aided in their successes. 

The grand gala also featured a live auction and special performances by acclaimed soprano Fang-Tao Jiang, cellist Qianci Liu, and pianist Bryan Wagorn. 

Bob Guterma, the CEO of The China Project, was present and delivered a speech introducing the company’s mission and explaining how the gala would help to achieve the goals. “At The China Project, our mission is to help the world understand China better. A large part of fulfilling our mission is covering the complex, difficult issues and driving the deadlines day in and day out,” he remarked. “But an equally important part of fulfilling our mission is to go beyond the headlines to celebrate what can be celebrated and to learn what is worth learning.”

The unforgettable night concluded with Anla Cheng thanking the people and organizations who contributed to the event, including sponsors, supporters, and action donors. When the event came to an end, the attendees left feeling inspired, eager to stay in touch, and excited to keep the momentum going.

Still reveling in the afterglow of the festivities, many attendees sent in their notes of appreciation and praise in the following days. David O’Brien, the vice president for external affairs at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, wrote, “Once again, I search for the words that could describe what I saw, and I feel as though none are fully adequate…Thank you for allowing me to be witness to this wonderful gathering.” Curtis S. Chin, the chair of the Milken Institute’s operations in Asia, congratulated The China Project for a “wonderful event,” while Lesley Ma, the global chief information officer at NSF International, thanked Anla Cheng for her “continued inspiration and support of women.” Daniel Liu, first vice president at East West Bank, complimented the event for providing an opportunity for him to “be surrounded by such amazing people from different sectors.” 

The gala was a resounding success and it once again proved the value of building a supportive community where women working in or with China can find motivation and inspiration to pursue their passions and ambitions, a cause that The China Project finds meaningful and has been fully committed to. 

The China Project is incredibly honored to dedicate an evening every year to this mission, and we want to thank everyone who attended the event and made it as special of a night as it was. We are also grateful for the many generous sponsors who have contributed, including BYD, FD Gallery, Deloitte, Dorsey & Whitney, EY, Pillsbury, Freepoint Commodities, Evergreen, KCY Family Office, and the Shirley & Walter Wang Foundation. 

See you next year!