A trailblazer in every sense of the word, Yue-Sai Kan has long been celebrated for her groundbreaking achievements and commitment to promoting a better understanding of Asia and the World, and empowering women and the less privileged. In 1972, she created the first TV series introducing Asian cultures to American audiences called Looking East. Then in 1984, she was invited by PBS to host the first live broadcast from China for the 35th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China jointly with CCTV. She would then become the producer and host of One World in China, giving Chinese audiences exposure to the outside world with a weekly viewership of 300 million. Her book, The Most Famous Woman in China gives an intimate glimpse into her extraordinary life from her humble beginnings to her rise as one of China’s most influential figures, and will be available for sale and book signing.

Joining her on stage will be Asia Society Global Trustee and Vice Chair, Lulu Wang, Founder and CEO of Tupelo Capital Management, and a longtime supporter of initiatives which build understanding between the U.S. and Asia.

Speakers

Yue-Sai Kan is an Emmy-winning television host and producer, successful entrepreneur, fashion icon, bestselling author and humanitarian. People magazine called her “the most famous woman in China” and TIME magazine proclaimed her “the Queen of the Middle Kingdom.” In 1972, Yue- Sai created the weekly television series Looking East, the first of its kind to introduce Asian cultures and customs to American audiences. One World aired on China’s national television network CCTV, with a weekly viewership of 400 million. It was then the first time a non-Chinese citizen hosted a TV series in China and made her a household name. With her broadcast in both China and the United States, she was then the most watched woman in the world!

Lulu C. Wang is the CEO and Chair of Tupelo Capital Management, which she founded in 1998. Prior to that, Ms. Wang was a director and executive vice president of Jennison Associates Capital Corporation for 10 years. While at Jennison, she managed major funds for endowments, pensions and mutual funds. Before joining Jennison Associates in 1988, she served as senior vice president and managing director at Equitable Capital Management, responsible for portfolio management, research, and trading of public equities. She serves on the boards of Rockefeller University, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Asia Society, and Columbia Business School. She is also a retired director of MetLife Insurance and a trustee emerita of Wellesley College. She has been honored for her achievements by New York Public Radio, China Institute, Wellesley College, Columbia Alumni Association, Columbia Business School, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rockefeller University, Asia Society, Girls Inc., The Economic Round Table, and Ernst and Young. She earned a BA from Wellesley College, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and an honorary doctorate from Rockefeller University. In her free time, she gardens and with her husband, collects and rallies vintage cars. They also collect American paintings, furniture, and folk art.