Danma Niu was born to a nomadic family in Gansu. Her journey as a community leader began at just 19, when she brought running water to her village for the first time. Driven to create more opportunities, she embarked on a seven-year journey to Australia to gain the skills and knowledge needed to support her community further.

Upon returning home, Danma, her sister and the village women decided to found Yakma with a clear purpose: to create sustainable livelihoods for local women that otherwise would have little or no employment prospects.

Danma believes that business can be a profound force for social and environmental good. Yakma does more than create premium, natural yak milk soaps and candles; it builds pathways to economic independence for local women. Many of them have never gone to a school, however, at Yakma, they have the opportunity to earn, learn and grow together to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. Yakma’s work is fostering a stronger, more resilient community, proving that compassion and commerce can grow hand-in-hand.

Guo Xiuling, female, of Han ethnicity, was born in March 1971. She serves as the Technical Director of Jinshan Shajuan Fashion Technology Co., Ltd.

Over the past three years, she has long worked in the snow-covered plateau areas of Tibet and Qinghai at an altitude of 5,000 meters, dedicated to reviving local traditional craftsmanship. She has brought Shanghai’s technology and innovations to uninhabited regions and border areas, helping Tibetan women improve the quality and drive design innovation of their “pulu” (a traditional Tibetan woolen fabric) craftsmanship. Additionally, she has arranged for these women to receive training at factories in Jinshan.

With 33 years of experience in the cashmere industry, she has freely shared all her professional skills and knowledge with these Tibetan sisters. Thanks to the orders she brought back for them, the income of these craftsmen has significantly increased.

She is the first “Shanghai Craftsman” to go to Tibet for industrial assistance. She established the first “Shanghai Craftsman Tibet-Aid Workshop” in Suogai Village, Gyantse County, Shigatse City, Tibet. In just one year, she has set up 8 workshops on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, providing free skill training for rural women.

Guo Xiuling is also a recipient of honors including the “Shanghai Craftsman”, “Shanghai May 1st Labor Medal”, and “Shanghai Quality Gold Award”. Having been engaged in the cashmere industry for 33 years, she has led Chinese brands and intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship to enter Paris Fashion Week and the global market with outstanding quality.

Kay Xu, an innovative educator with an entrepreneurial spirit, dedicated to cultivating sustainable futures and thriving communities through experiential learning.

Kay started her WeDiscover journey in 2015 to provide cross-cultural, experiential learning programs focused on sustainability, innovation, and social entrepreneurship. She is committed to helping Chinese and international young talents gain experiences that transcend cultural boundaries. Kay has organized a wide range of sustainability events, including corporate trainings, youth workshops, environmental education activities, and sustainability forums. An advocate for sustainable living, she works with the sustainability community to promote health for the mind, body, and planet. Kay also served on the core organizing team for the BEYOND Expo.

International Technology Innovation Conference in May 2025 in Macau, focusing on international outreach. Since 2019, Kay has been the co-founder of the Founders Breakfast, a popular weekly.

community event every Friday morning that gathers startup founders, corporate representatives, industry leaders, and experts to learn, share, connect, and grow. Driven by her passion for sustainability, she launched another platform, Climate Commons, on Earth Day 2025 to foster dialogue on climate-related topics.