co-authored by Joanna Stevens and Emily Laurence
On Friday 6 March, AWNY hosted speaker and dream weaver, Jenny Jing Zhu, to celebrate International Women’s Day in an event that was both inspiring and deeply personal. A huge thank you goes to Alexia Crawford for facilitating the evening, and her company, 8westervelt, for sponsoring the event.
The evening, hosted at the American Australian Association, began with a short film, Dream Weaver, adapted from Jenny’s memoir of the same name, which has screened at numerous international film festivals.
Jenny’s journey began in a small village in Shandong province, in eastern China. Raised with the encouragement of her grandmother and inspired by the determination of her mother, Jenny grew up believing that curiosity and hard work could open doors far beyond her circumstances.
Her grandmother, a skilled weaver, left a lasting impression on her life and worldview. Jenny reflected on the analogy often shared by her grandmother: “Life is like weaving — when the thread breaks, you tie a knot and keep going.”
In her early twenties, Jenny moved to Beijing where she worked a variety of jobs, including as a hotel maid and in a dry-cleaning shop. These early experiences, she explained, shaped both her work ethic and her entrepreneurial instincts. At 26, and with very little English, she moved to New York City. Her first job was as a nanny — a role she joked suited her well at the time because, like the infant she cared for, she didn’t speak English.
Determined to study design, despite not having the requisite portfolio, Jenny headed to Canal Street to buy art supplies and assembled one herself. That leap of faith paid off when she was accepted into design school, setting her on the path to founding the successful home décor company, Lush Decor.
Jenny spoke candidly about the challenges she faced along the way, including a period when, due to a licensing issue, she was forced to leave her own company, under police escort. As an immigrant facing the threat of deportation while raising a young son, it was, she said, “a nightmare”. Yet, it was also a turning point. Jenny fought through the courts and eventually regained her company. “It’s often through the darkest times,” she reflected, “that we realize how strong we are.”
Throughout her journey, Jenny says she has been guided by the spirit of her grandmother. Referring to her grandmother’s traditionally bound “three-inch lotus feet,” Jenny remarked, “If she could keep going, then I can keep going too.”
Today, Jenny continues to champion women through the Dream Weavers Foundation, created to empower women to dream beyond their circumstances. Its first initiative, Dream Weaver Stories, invites women to share the highs, the lows and the bold leaps that shape their lives.
For our AWNY members, we are all immigrants and whilst we may well speak English, there are many hurdles to challenge us along our journey. The messages that Jenny shared resonated strongly. The importance of determination, resilience, and the belief that dreams can be woven into reality with enough courage and perseverance.
No matter how many times the thread of life breaks, you tie a knot and keep weaving.
It was a fitting message for International Women’s Day.