My Story:
My full name is Guanrong Li, but I go by Sherry, a name I chose the night before I boarded the plane to the U.S. I was born and raised in China, and came to US alone for undergraduate studies. I am a first-generation immigrant.
My parents are small business owners in China. Growing up, I was actively involved in their business, distributing flyers on the street and cold calling potential customers. Inspired by their perseverance and tenacity, I hold the same values in my own career. Witnessing their employees’ loyalty – many having worked with them for over 20 years – taught me that taking care of employee is crucial to business success.
Career
I began my career at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in New York, an opportunity I worked tirelessly to secure. At Nasdaq, I quickly advanced and became a trusted advisors for over 100 Asian companies on the process of going public. I hosted major international IPOs and their Bell Ceremonies in NYC Times Square and built a strong network with investors. Recognizing technology as the driving force for innovation, I joined SAP, world’s largest software technology company. At SAP, I held various leadership roles in strategy, operations, marketing and partnerships. I am particularly proud that I helped build best-in-class financial management software for SMBs, and accelerated the growth of 10 startups by advising on their sales and product strategies.
Leadership
I serve as a business advisor to SMBs across various industries and hold an MBA from Kellogg Business of Management, Northwestern University. Throughout my career, I have been recognized for my leadership and commitment to entrepreneurship. I have shared insights as a thought leader at NYSE Trading Floor and on The Future of Supply Chain Podcast.
Additional
My husband David and I are proud parents of two little boys. We are passionate about early children education and have published a Children’s bilingual book aimed at introducing Chinese language and culture to kids.