We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jiaqi Zhou. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Jiaqi, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
In our fast-paced routines, we’re often carried forward by deadlines and responsibilities, forgetting the small moments that quietly brighten our days. Some people find peace in a morning cup of coffee, others regain calm during an evening walk. For me, the greatest source of energy comes from stepping out of my usual rhythm and exploring the little surprises hidden in the city.
I love going out, discovering new spots, visiting unique shops and scenic corners, and meeting interesting people along the way. Those unexpected conversations, warm smiles, and genuine stories always remind me how wide and beautiful the world still is. You don’t need a long trip — sometimes just stepping outside is enough to rekindle a spark.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jiaqi Zhou, and I come from the warm, vibrant city of Zhongshan in Guangdong, China.
My career path has been anything but linear—spanning media, e-commerce, and now the financial industry. I started in media, where I learned how to craft stories and communicate with clarity. Later, I moved into e-commerce, diving deep into user behavior and digital strategies. Today, I work in the financial field, focusing on brand marketing and strategic planning—a transition that has felt like a personal breakthrough across industries.
In my current role, I specialize in shaping brand narratives, designing marketing strategies, and translating complex financial concepts into meaningful, accessible value for consumers. These cross-disciplinary experiences have strengthened my belief that good marketing is not just promotion—it is insight, empathy, and the ability to understand the pulse of the times.
Outside of work, I am also a passionate content creator. I run my own channels on Xiaohongshu, Instagram, and TikTok, with a combined following of over 20k. I love discovering charming corners of the world—unique cafés, hidden boutiques, unexpected views—and meeting interesting people along the way. Every conversation and every encounter gives me fresh energy and reminds me how much beauty exists in ordinary moments.
To me, brand marketing and content creation are two parallel paths: one helps me understand the world, and the other helps me express it. As I continue to grow in both directions, I hope to bring more authenticity, inspiration, and creativity to the people who follow my journey.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
The earliest moment I remember feeling truly powerful came from a cross-industry leap—and the decision behind it.
I was transitioning from media into e-commerce, a field that felt entirely unfamiliar. Many people around me weren’t sure whether I could adapt, and honestly，I wasn’t either. But I committed to learning quickly, observing closely, and pushing myself into responsibilities that felt slightly beyond my comfort zone. I eventually took on the full planning and execution of a brand campaign, and when it launched successfully, something shifted in me.
I realized that the sense of power didn’t come from the outcome itself, but from the choice I made—to step into the unknown, to trust my instincts, and to take full responsibility for the path I selected.
Ever since, whether it’s moving into the financial industry or embracing new roles, I’ve been more willing to take that first step. Because I now understand: real power doesn’t come from others granting it to you—it comes from choosing your own direction, and committing to it wholeheartedly.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
If I were to name the wounds that shaped me, they would be the quiet ones—the moments when I felt misunderstood, underestimated, or gently pushed away from the path that truly belonged to me. They weren’t dramatic, but they lingered, like a soft ache beneath the skin.
Healing didn’t arrive in a single revelation; it unfolded slowly, carried by the rhythm of ordinary days.
It came when I stepped beyond the familiar and discovered I could still find my footing.
It came through the small triumphs that whispered, “You’re stronger than you think.”
It came from meeting kind souls, seeing new landscapes, and connecting with strangers through stories and creation.
With time, those old wounds grew lighter, almost translucent.
They stopped feeling like pain and became something else—
a quiet testament to resilience, tenderness, and the courage to choose myself again and again.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Is the public version of me the real me? I would say it is, but it is not the entirety of who I am. What people see publicly is genuine—my values, my attitude, and the moments I choose to share—while the quieter, more private layers of me exist only with people I truly trust. I’ve always preferred to present the joyful and beautiful side of life, because what I choose to share is what I choose to record. I want to keep a version of myself that feels true and bright so that one day, when I look back, even if I no longer remember the exact place or the small details, I will still recognize the way I looked when I was happy and remember the warmth of that moment. To me, authenticity isn’t about revealing everything; it’s about ensuring that whatever I do reveal is sincere and meaningful. So yes, the public me is real—just not the whole of me.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Probably the quiet investments I make in myself — the habits, the curiosity, and the small choices that don’t look spectacular now but shape who I’m becoming. Learning new skills, building my creative voice, nurturing genuine connections, and allowing myself to explore different fields all fall into that category. These things won’t bring instant results, but they build a kind of long-term resilience and clarity that only time can reveal. I’m planting seeds for a version of myself I haven’t met yet, trusting that the effort I make today will someday meet me where I want to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redpanda_aaa?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiaqi-zhou-redpanda/?locale=zh_CN
- Other: xiaohongshu(The Red):https://xhslink.com/m/4nNw3lblQti
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@redpandaisme123?_r=1&_t=ZT-91jd5p3pMFS
Image Credits
Credit to Jiaqi Zhou
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