the Executives · A Dialogue with Majid

Jingjin Liu – From Auto Industry to Gender Equity Leader | Founder of ZaZaZu & Elevate Group

With Jingjin Liu

About this episode

In this episode of “The Executives,” Jingjin, a serial entrepreneur and women’s empowerment advocate, shares her journey from automotive director to launching ZaZaZu and Elevate, focusing on breaking barriers for women in business.

Listeners will learn about her first €5M company built alongside a full-time job, the link between personal confidence and professional negotiation, why women often pitch conservatively, the impact of gender lens investing, and her mission to empower 5 million women.

Chapters cover her background, founding and exiting her first company, the challenges of startups, the vision behind ZaZaZu and Elevate, examples of transformation, confidence in various settings, gender gaps in pitching, imposter syndrome, diversity in hiring, common mistakes in supporting women, negotiation tips, gender lens investing, future plans for Elevate Group, and a final message to all.

Episode chapters

  1. 01:48 Who is Jingjin? Beyond LinkedIn
  2. 04:45 Ice Cream, Superwomen & Identity
  3. 06:14 Breaking Barriers & Her First Company
  4. 10:53 The Emotional Reality of Exiting
  5. 15:29 Challenges of the First Startup
  6. 17:32 Redoing the same problem as a startup
  7. 18:47 What is ZaZaZu & Elevate?
  8. 20:57 Example of successful transformation
  9. 23:58 Bedroom to Boardroom: Advocacy & Confidence
  10. 27:09 Gender Gaps in Pitching & Fundraising
  11. 29:13 Imposter Syndrome & Leadership
  12. 35:57 Diversity, Hiring & Team Design
  13. 40:59 Mistakes Companies Make Supporting Women
  14. 45:30 Negotiation Tips for Career & Home
  15. 49:14 Gender Lens Investing & Global Scale
  16. 50:59 What’s Next: Elevate Group Expands to Europe
  17. 52:37 Final Message to Men & Women