A few days ago, Qian Jin, a freshman of HEMBA class of 2023, was selected as the most influential business woman in China in 2023 - Future List. Just after New Year's Day last year, Sotheby's officially announced Qian Jin's latest position - managing director of Sotheby's China. Although a newcomer to Sotheby's, Qian Jin has more than 15 years of business development and management experience in a variety of industries. Prior to joining Sotheby's, she was the number one employee in the China team of the global fashion shopping platform Farfetch.
Throughout Qian Jin's struggle, some unique feminine traits are undoubtedly highlighted: professional, tenacious, and fond of challenges. We also had a curious conversation with Qian Jin, and we were able to explore the story behind this business woman and her original intention of choosing to enter the HEMBA classroom.
01 The first exhibition in the warehouse
On January 4, 2022, Sotheby's announced that Ms. Qian Jin will be appointed Managing Director of China, based in Shanghai, effective immediately, and will be responsible for leading the Sotheby's China team and enhancing Sotheby's market position in China.
But as we all know, in the first half of last year, the world was going through a special period. There are no "three fires for new officials to take office", Qian Jin only remembers that during that time, it was more of a state of "running" at home. "The Hong Kong headquarters will have two big auctions every year, before the spring auction in April, in fact, there will be a preview in various important markets in Asia, and the time of the Shanghai preview is mid to late March", Qian Jin recalled, at that time, the headquarters attached great importance to this spring auction, sent many important lots to Shanghai, in order to ensure that the preview can be held on schedule, every morning when he wakes up, Qian Jin has to ensure that every employee, every ** business can work as usual, each lot must be sanitized, and countless communications and countless plans must be done every day.
Luckily, it turned out to be worth it. When the spring auction preview held in the warehouse opened, Qian Jin saw collectors from all over the world rushing to the auction against all odds, wearing masks and quietly admiring the rare lots and communicating in a whisper. "At that moment, you will have a sense of sympathy, and you will also have a sense of mission, that is, you must bring more precious treasures from all over the world to collectors and enthusiasts in the mainland."
02 The actions of "outsiders".
After joining Sotheby's, Qian Jin made frequent moves: led Sotheby's to take the lead on the road of digital transformation and was the first to launch an online auction business; On this basis, Sotheby's Buy Now (instant collection) mini program was launched to broaden the auction categories and different forms of customer groups; In May this year, Sotheby's Shanghai officially unveiled its ...... on the banks of Suzhou Creek
In Qian Jin's own opinion, this is all an "outsider's action". "Sotheby's Buy Now, for example, came into being because I learned that there was a group of customers in the market, including myself, who were not currently in the circle, needed to meet the needs of the times. Qian Jin added that at present, more and more categories are joining the auction industry, in addition to art, luxury goods include jewelry, watches, bags, and even trendy toys and home furnishings. Behind these trends also means that the customer base is growing, but the behavior of these new customers is also very different. "This gives us a new proposition, that is, how to link with these new customers, especially those who have not experienced the auction, he often does not know how to make the first price, if the first price is exceeded, whether to continue or when to stop." Therefore, the launch of Sotheby's Buy Now hopes to help this part of the guests buffer and meet their immediate consumption needs, and also break the limitations of space and time.
Qian Jin said frankly that the identity of an "outsider" has brought her more imagination space, and to a certain extent, it has also given her more courage and determination to complete some new things.
For Sotheby's, which has a history of nearly 300 years, the name is like thunder, but not many people really know it, and more think it is very mysterious. But now, Qian Jin and her team hope that everyone will find it.
Sotheby's Space, which opened in May this year on the banks of the Suzhou Creek in Shanghai, is the final presentation of this project, which is also intended to fulfill the above original intention. "Do we need a new space? Where is the location of the new space? How does this new space reflect our positioning and vision for the future? Qian Jin recalled that it took nearly a year from thinking about these questions to finally opening the space.
First of all, Qian Jin and his partners hope that this space is not only a workplace for employees, but can also be built into a multi-functional ecological platform, where some previews can be done, and more academic functions can be carried out, so that people from different circles can be linked together to show everyone the more open face of Sotheby's.
Secondly, the location of this space did not choose the more magnificent Huangpu River, but the more quiet Suzhou Creek, which also took a fancy to the market gas and fireworks on the bank of Suzhou Creek. "This choice itself is also in line with our philosophy, and we want to connect with more people. When we move here, we also hope to bring about the artistic atmosphere of the entire riverside."
03 Breaking the circle lies in taking the initiative to challenge
Although Qian Jin is humble as an "outsider", her frequent actions and a series of honors after joining Sotheby's still fully demonstrate her ability to "break the circle".
Qian Jin is good at breaking the circle. Before that, she had a long working experience of bringing overseas companies to the mainland. In 2015, she joined the global fashion shopping platform Farfetch as the number one employee in the China team, which means "veteran" and "no way out". At that time, with the outbreak of the Internet industry, cross-border business also emerged, but some domestic platforms were still anxious to crack down on counterfeiting, which discouraged many foreign brands. As a deep fashion enthusiast, Qian Jin met Farfetch investors by chance and realized that this platform might be a channel for foreign brands to enter the mainland.
And the experience of farfetch, in Qian Jin's view, is more like a start-up. "Because it came into China, it was completely a 0-1 process. I have to learn to define what my role is, to figure out how to build a cross-border operation model that is in line with the luxury category, so that everyone can become our consumers without obstacles, and there is no homework to copy."
From the original consultant to the business leader, Qian Jin said with a smile that he learned to "eat the cake he painted". "My personality is very fond of all kinds of challenges, but it also means that you have to be the last person responsible, which also forces me to think more, you have to learn to think carefully in addition to breakthroughs, avoid or face risks."
Now at Sotheby's, it also gives Qian Jin the feeling of starting a business. In her view, every innovation and breakthrough is like giving birth to a newborn, being able to put many of her ideas into it, and then reach a high degree of balance in many collisions.
Of course, in order to better break the circle, Qian Jin has always put himself in a state of continuous learning, learning industry knowledge, learning from colleagues around him, and learning how to become an excellent female leader. Before actually leading the team, Qian Jin was not aware of the big differences between men and women, but when she really became a manager, she obviously felt that in different scenarios, male and female leaders will have different advantages and disadvantages, and she has to learn to make some adjustments and avoid weaknesses.
In addition to such a busy work, Qian Jin chose to study at CEIBS in June this year. "CEIBS trains socially responsible entrepreneurs, and I see the need for it at both Farfetch and Sotheby's. And my sense of responsibility is that I hope that Chinese art and collections will be seen on the world stage, and that the best things in the world can be brought to the Chinese market."
At the end of the conversation,Qian Jin shared one of her favorite quotes: the best way to predict the future is to create it - * The best way to the future is to create the future. In Qian Jin's view, uncertainty is a good thing for him, because it represents more possibilities. And in the process of creating the future, sometimes it doesn't feel like a surprise, because you're in it, and you're the one who created it.
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