Vicky Song celebrated at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women International Summit

Qingdao crew member Vicky Song, who famously became the first Chinese woman to circumnavigate the globe, gave an inspiring address to influential woman from across Asia yesterday when she made an appearance as a guest speaker at the prestigious Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Woman International Summit, at the Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong.

On sharing her personal experience in front of a powerful audience of business leaders and influencers, Vicky, who was a 2013-14 Ambassador crew member for China’s ‘City of Sailing’, Qingdao, says: “It was a great honour to be invited to such a prestigious event and have the chance to join so many influential and inspiring women to share and listen to others such motivating leadership lessons. I certainly felt very proud to be recognised in this way."

When asked on stage by Fortune Magazine's Senior Editor, Pattie Sellers, about what kept her going during the Clipper Race, known as one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges, Vicky said that her mother, who was fighting liver cancer, vowed never to give up, as long as she promised not to give up either.

Vicky’s mother was there in London in July to see her finish the race but sadly died two weeks ago.

Vicky added: “I hope that my Clipper Race story continues to inspire other people around the world, and at home in China to try sailing, push their boundaries and dream big. It’s possible to achieve anything if you set your mind to it.”

Click here to read Fortune's article on the Most Powerful Women International Summit

Qingdao Sailing Association announced yesterday that the selection process is now open to Chinese nationals to follow in Vicky Song’s footsteps and win one of 14 bursary places to be an Ambassador crew member on board the Qingdao team yacht. Click here to read more.