CEO of the Week: Zhang Xin, the woman who built Beijing

SOHO China is a Chinese developer of buildings with a focus on the commercial and office spaces. They also have some mixed-use and residential properties in their portfolio.

The term “Smart Office, Home Office” (SOHO) refers to the company’s decision to combine residential apartments and office space in one building to promote a relaxing and productive environment.

SOHO China specializes in developing residences in the principal business districts of Shanghai and Beijing.

The firm is well-known for its avant-garde architectural designs, which include pieces by notable architects like Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid and Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.

The company has created approximately five million square meters of commercial space; numerous of its structures have received accolades and recognition for their architectural merit.

SOHO China is “the only pure premier office developer in China” and “one of the country’s most high-profile real estate firms,” according to Fortune and The New York Times.

The brain behind China’s successful real estate venture is 57 year-old Zhang Xin, who is the co-founder of SOHO China.

Who is Zhang Xin?

1. Zhang Xin was born in Beijing. After her parents separation, at the age of 15, she moved to Hong Kong with her mother
2. In order to save for an education abroad, she worked for five years in small factories that made garment and electronic products
3. Zhang Xin completed her bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Sussex in 1987 and master’s degree in Development Economics in 1992 from Cambridge University
4. After her master’s, she started working for the investment bank in Hong Kong, which was under Goldman Sachs
5. She co-founded the company ‘Hongshi’, which later became SOHO China, with her husband in 1995
6. In 2008, the Times Group described Zhang Xin and her husband as ‘China’s most visible and flamboyant property tycoons’
7. In 2011, she acquired $600 million dollar stake in New York City’s Park Avenue Plaza, followed by 40% stakes in the General Motors in 2014
8. The same year, Zhang and her husband launched a $100 million dollar charitable initiative, the SOHO China Scholarships, to fund disadvantaged Chinese students at top institutions globally
9. Zhang Xin was listed in Forbes ‘World’s Most Powerful Women’ and Financial Times ‘Top 50 Women in World Business’ in 2008 and 2011, respectively
10. She was named among The International Power 50 of the Most Powerful Women by Fortune in 2011
11. Zhang moved to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic and resigned from SOHO China in September 2022
12. As of 2024, her net worth is around 120 crores USD, according to Forbes