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Xiaochen Zhang (Chinese: 张小辰) is a scholar researcher, TEDx Speaker and book author. She has worked at Google and ByteDance (TikTok), Amazon before pursue academic research in Educational Technology.

Personal life

Susan was born in Zhengzhou, China. At the age of 19, Susan moved to Wollongong alone to finish the duel degrees in Bachelor of Computer Science from both Zhengzhou University and the University of Wollongong (UOW). After a decade working in the Tech industry as well as a top scholarship recipient for Women in Leadership, she was selected into the Executive MBA program jointly from Columbia University, London Business School and the University of Hong Kong. Susan currently reading PhD in Information Technology at UOW, with research interests in Educational Technology, MOOC, E-learning and Edu-KOL. Susan currently resides in Sydney.

Education and Work History

Susan received her duel B.A. in Computer Science from Zhengzhou University and the University of Wollongong in 2010. She continued her studies and received Master of Information and Communication Technology in 2011. While transitioning career from Software Engineer to Various leadership roles in companies large and small, Susan completed her Executive MBA degree jointly offered by Columbia University, London Business School and the University of Hong Kong, where she served as President of China Club. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Information Technology at UOW with a laser focus on Educational Key Opinion Leader at the intersection of E-learning Technology and Pedagogy Transformation.

Between 2011 and 2023, Susan's career has taken her to dizzying heights in Australia, China and the United Kingdom, where she has worked at Google, ByteDance (TikTok), Amazon and now Canva.

Early Career as a Founder

When she was studying in Australia as an International student, many fellow classmates and global friends came to her with all kinds of questions about China, language and culture. With her passion for languages and arts, she started from tutoring for mandarin assignments, to crafting her own ‘Conduct Business in China’ class for the local small business owner.

In 2011, Susan founded Dragon Translating and Interpreting Service, with trusted clients ranging from universities, international companies and government agencies. In 2016, she opened the London branch to cater for UK needs.

A Decade Working in Tech

In 2014, Susan joined Google Sydney to manage the 'G Suite'(Gmail, Drive and Calendar) in APAC and quickly advanced to the role of Business Development Manager for Google Arts & Culture, overseeing the launch of key national projects to digitise and preserve Australia’s cultural heritage for a global audience. Promoted to Google UK as a lead creative technologist, she made an international name for herself delivering innovative data-driven solutions and global award-winning campaigns utilising advanced AI technologies.

On a fast trajectory to the highest echelons of Google, Susan surprised everyone when she resigned in 2018 to join a startup then unknown outside China. At ByteDance, she led the company’s international expansion and monetisation, guiding its meteoric rise to become the world’s most valuable startup and beat Google and Facebook at their own game. She built global strategic partnerships with government agencies, creative communities, museums and digital platforms, and championed corporate social responsibility and impact through partnerships with NGOs.

Susan’s boundless energy is matched by her determination to step outside her comfort zone to create a brighter future. She is a passionate driver for China-Australia linkage, founded her own company to forge strong China-Australia links, assisted UOW’s 2015 rebrand in the Chinese market, and was a Technology Evangelist for Australia China Millennial Project.

She is a published author, a dynamic inspirational speaker in international forums including TEDx, Vivid Sydney and the London Business School Asia Business Forum, and a valued mentor for young entrepreneurs around the world. Susan was also selected as a delegate to the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Summit in both 2014 and 2018, in 2019 the Australia China Alumni Association named Susan the Young Australia China Alumni of the Year and in 2022 Susan lauded the Australian Ambassador's Award for Women in Leadership.

International Talks and Keynotes

2020 | Life Outside My Comfort Zone, Webinar at CUKRUN

2020 | Book Talk, Google UK

2019 | Keynote Speaker, London Stock Exchange

2019 | Panelist, China Business Forum hosted by LBS (London Business School), London, UK

2019 | Panelist, China Development Forum hosted by LSE (London School of Economics and Political Science), London, UK

2018 | Keynote Speaker, IEEE TALE Conference, Wollongong, Australia

2018 | Keynote Speaker, International Marketing and Innovation Summit, Shanghai, China

2018 | Host, 'Talks at Google' Program, live on YouTube

2017 | Moderator & Panelist, 2-day China AI Summit, Beijing, China

Topic: The opportunities and Challenges Combining AI in different industries

2017 | Innovation Technologies Tech Talk, Eton College, Windsor, England

Topic: Do Cool Tech that Matters

2017 | Speaker & Panelist, Vivid Sydney, Australia

Topic: Urban Tweaks - Prototyping Creative and Livable Cities

2017 | Keynote Speaker, International Entrepreneurship Conference HEC Montreal Business School, Canada

2017 | MC Host, The 1st China(Shenzhen) UK Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition

2016 | Speaker, Agile London Community

Topic: 4 Agile Myths - Applied to life

2016 | Speaker, 11th Asia Business Forum hosted by London Business School (LBS)

Topic: Asia Entrepreneurship and Innovation

2015 | Speaker, TEDx Telstra Sydney

Topic: Tipping Points

Media Releases

2022 Australian Ambassador's Award for Women in Leadership Judges' Commendation

2021 UOW Young Alumni Award

2021 Linkedin Featured Post, Inspiring Women #10. “Enjoy every moment – especially the struggle” – Susan Zhang on living outside the comfort zone

2021 London Business School full interview - Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility

2021 LBS International Woman's Day Featuring Release

2021 Balancing the Grind with Susan Zhang, Country Development Manager at Amazon

2020 Published translated story 'The Scarecrows on Parade' from English to Chinese, Story Weaver

2020 WestPac Young Tech Scholar Program, The Careers Department, Listen on SoundCloud

2019 Illawarra Mercury - Winner of Australia China Alumni of the Year Award

2019 'I'm from China' series documentary by UK PandaTV - 木兰IT记

• Watch on YouTube
• Watch on 哔哩哔哩
• Watch on 腾讯视频

2019 Guest Speaker at the LBS China Business Forum

2019 Australia SBS Radio interview

2017 UOW 'Making an Impact' series

2017 Video interview on Working at Google London as Creative Technologist

2017 30secs Facebook video on Working at Google, Speaking at Vivid Sydney and more

2016 Speak at Agile London Event

2015 TEDx Talk at Sydney, Australia

2014 Technology Evangelist, China Australia Millennial Project Australia

• Star Delegate for Westpac Thinktank - Digital Disruption. Our banking solution ‘Yimi App’ has been featured on Australian Financial Review, Wall Street Journal and The Australian

2013 TED Translator

2011 UOW Digital Year Book

Books and Publications

• Life Outside My Comfort Zone: Hup Draak! ISBN-10: 1794103422

From China to Australia, from international student to global knowledge worker, from restaurant to Google, from C++ programmer to book author, from Burning Man to Antarctica, in this book Susan revealed those untold stories while she is living outside her comfort zone.

• How Learning Evolved from Offline Classroom to Online Platforms with its Amplifier, Edu-KOLs: A Systematic Literature Review
• E-Learning Meets Educational Key Opinion Leaders (Edu-KOLs): A Close-up Look on Exuberant Platforms and Their Success Ingredients