Anna Jin Xiang Zhao
Anna Jin Xiang Zhao is a scholar who, in 1997, became part of the second group of students from mainland China to be selected for prestigious international education opportunities. At just 15, Anna’s teacher informed her about the chance offered by the William SD Louey Educational Foundation. William Louey, at the time, was identifying top students from the top Chinese high schools to support their studies abroad. With this, Anna earned the opportunity to study at Millfield School in the UK and later went on to attend Cambridge University.
Anna has spoken about how at the time, it was rare for someone from mainland China to study abroad, whereas now it is common. For Anna, the experience was extremely valuable and completely changed her life. Not only did she, among many other scholars, receive a top tier education at Cambridge University, but also the chance to learn from William Louey’s own philosophy. Louey taught Anna that it is not important to pay her tuition back, but to pay it forward.
Receiving the William Louey scholarship changed my life forever. I achieved things that I never thought I could achieve before.
Over the past 20 years, Anna has stayed true to Louey’s philosophy by dedicating herself to philanthropy. She established her own foundation, which supports talented students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees at Oxford. Additionally, Anna collaborates with the China Oxford Scholarship Fund through the Wang Family Foundation. Together with her husband, they select and sponsor students from Greater China and Hong Kong each year, enabling them to study at Oxford.
After completing her education, Anna moved to Hong Kong, where she joined Goldman Sachs. However, it was Louey’s values that shaped her outlook on life and gave her the desire to contribute positively to society. She often speaks of his influence, recalling his words about making the world a better place as repayment for the opportunities he provided.
As one of the founders of the Pay It Forward scholarship, Anna is now in a position to continue Louey’s legacy. She and her husband annually award a scholarship to an exceptional student, allowing them to pursue advanced degrees. Her charity primarily supports students in science and medicine, fields she feels passionate about. Anna takes a hands-on approach, regularly staying in touch with the scholars, similar to what she learned from William Louey.
Anna’s dedication to education and philanthropy also extends to her family. She hopes to instill the values of generosity and service in her children from an early age. Outside her philanthropic efforts, Anna enjoys investing in financial markets and time with her children. She sees her contributions not only as a way to give back but as a legacy for future generations—one that she hopes will inspire others to “make the world better.”
Follow Anna Jin Xiang Zhao on LinkedIn here.