Editor's note:

The road to being a successful female entrepreneur — be it a restaurant owner, a designer, a gallery owner or a retailer — can be bumpy. In this series, "She Power," we talk to women from different countries and different backgrounds about their experiences and stories of setting up businesses in Shanghai. One thing these amazing women all have in common — they all yearn to build a brand that does good, that gives purpose and fulfillment, and even a palpable sense of joy.

Maria Pastorelli is an Italian executive and team coach who has called Shanghai home for the past 15 years. A passionate advocate for meaningful dialogue, she brings her love of stories — whether in books, films, or everyday conversation — into both her personal and professional lives. Fluent in several languages, she works at the intersection of cultures and communication. Through her roles with Bridge Consulting and Global Impact Teams, she supports multinational companies in strengthening cross-cultural leadership and team collaboration. A TEDxNYU Shanghai speaker and active champion for women's recognition, she also leads the Global Women Entrepreneurs Network and supports local initiatives such as Mentor Walks Shanghai. Maria brings warmth, curiosity, and a global perspective to everything she does.

Before we talk about your Bridge Consulting and Global Impact Teams, please introduce yourself.

I'm Maria, Italian by origin and a longtime resident of Shanghai, where I've been living and working for the past 15 years. I love a good story — whether found in a book, film, or TV series — and occasionally dabble in writing myself. And yes, I'm unapologetically excited about food.

I speak English, Italian (though I sometimes forget words in my own mother tongue!), and Chinese. I understand more French than I speak, and I'm brushing up on my basic Japanese.

I've spoken at TEDxNYU Shanghai on the power of conversations in navigating differences in business. I'm also a passionate advocate for women, leading the Global Women Entrepreneurs Network (WeChat ID: G.W.E.N. Community) and supporting local initiatives like Mentor Walks Shanghai.

Professionally, I work as an executive and team coach, cross-cultural facilitator, and keynote speaker. I hold a PCC credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a Systemic Team Coaching Certificate from the Academy of Executive Coaching and I am an Organization Development Certified Professional (ODCP) from the Institute of Organizational Development.Through Bridge Consulting (https://bridgecoaching.online), I focus on building cross-cultural leadership in multinational companies. With Global Impact Teams (http://www.giteams.com), I help international teams enhance collaboration, performance, and engagement. Over the years, I've partnered with Fortune 500 companies across sectors from manufacturing and automotive to beauty, chemicals, retail, and telecommunications, supporting everything from leadership development to remote teamwork and change management.

Why, after living in Shanghai for a few years, did you decide to strike out on your own to build up your own company?

After getting my degree in Cross-Cultural Communication in Italy I came to Shanghai in 2010 for what was meant to be a six-month Chinese language course at Fudan University — and like many others, I never really left.

I began my career at SBA, an organizational development consultancy still active in Shanghai today. That first opportunity opened my eyes to a whole new world I hadn't even known existed. I was lucky to be closely mentored and trained by the company's late founder, and that's where my interest in consulting, training, and coaching began.

After a few years, I wanted to explore different industries and joined a small Italian startup. It didn't quite work out. I was laid off after just a year in the summer of 2016. It was my first time being let go, and I initially tried to return to consulting, applying to the Big Four and several boutique firms, but nothing felt like the right fit. With a bit of savings to tide me over, I decided to take a chance and go out on my own.

I started picking up small training and facilitation workshops, supported by clients and colleagues I had stayed connected with through the years. I lectured at MBA programs, worked with local school teachers, and even tried developing a cross-cultural program for children, where I quickly realized working with kids wasn't my calling!

Over time, word-of-mouth referrals brought in more and more projects. That's when I felt confident enough to officially commit to being in business for myself. It hasn't always been easy, but it's still one of the best decisions I've ever made.

In 2021, I formalized my first company, Bridge Consulting, after spending seven months stranded outside of China in 2020 and returning to a business landscape that demanded a more structured and proactive approach. Then in 2022, because one venture apparently wasn't enough, I co-founded Global Impact Teams, an entirely remote business where my co-founder and I help global leadership teams work better together.

What makes Shanghai's business environment so remarkable?

The pace at which things happen here is incredible. While I sometimes wish there was a bit more room for reflection, the truth is you can achieve just about anything you set your mind to in Shanghai.

Compared to many other places, including Italy, the international exposure, the chance to connect with a diverse audience, and the opportunities to work across cultures make Shanghai a truly unique place to be, especially as an entrepreneur.

That said, navigating the complexities of running a business as a foreigner, even with the ability to read and write Chinese, can be challenging. That's why, in 2018, alongside a group of fellow business owners, I founded the Global Women Entrepreneurs Network. Our mission is to support women entrepreneurs by offering a community and resources to grow both personally and professionally from concept to long-term success.

One of Shanghai's greatest business superpowers is the strength of its communities, built by people who choose to call this city home, however temporary. Communities such as IPWS, Mentor Walks, Shanghai Coaching Circle, Founder's Breakfast, China Crossroads, and many more are what make this city not only more vibrant but also a much easier place to form meaningful, lasting connections.

What were you trying to bring to the local community?

Through my work with multinational organizations, my goal is to bridge — yes, that's where the company name comes from — perspectives across cultures and backgrounds. I help foreign leaders understand how things work in China, and support China-based leaders and teams in collaborating more effectively with their counterparts across APAC and Europe.

Even though technology has made communication faster and easier, working across cultures still comes with mindset barriers. Often, what makes the biggest difference isn't just talking about the work, it's having honest, intentional conversations about how we work together. That's where someone like me steps in, to facilitate those conversations and help teams find what actually works for them.

With G.W.E.N., my focus is on building a safe, supportive, and practical network for women entrepreneurs, whether they're just getting started or are already household names in the city.

What are the biggest challenges in setting up a business here? How do you stay motivated?

Setting up a legal entity was easier than I thought. If I'd known, I would've done it years ago. That's part of why G.W.E.N. exists: to share practical insights on running a business in China, where processes can change depending on the situation.

Running a business, though, that's a whole different story. Reputation and network aren't just important; they're everything. Most of my work with multinational companies comes through word of mouth from happy clients, so delivering real value is always my top priority.

As for what motivates me to be my own boss, it started as a way to support myself while doing something I enjoyed and was good at. Then it became about making it through the pandemic. And now, my focus is on high-impact, long-term projects, balancing meaningful client work with carving out more time to grow the G.W.E.N. community, both in China and beyond.

What was the moment that made you most proud?

A truly proud moment for me was stepping onto the NYU Shanghai stage in 2023 to give my TEDx talk. However, the most meaningful moments come every time a client shares how their leadership, collaboration, and overall achievements have been positively impacted by our work together.

A recent standout moment occurred when someone who attended a public workshop I led in 2019 shared that they completely transformed their career and business plans as a result of the insights gained in that session. That's something I will carry with me for a long time.

What are you working on?

Currently, I'm juggling a few exciting projects, with the top three being:

Developing a leadership program for women leaders in APAC, with a global focus, for Bridge Consulting.

Expanding our partner network in APAC and Europe for Global Impact Teams.

Organizing monthly networking lunches in Shanghai for G.W.E.N., and planning a series of online workshops to provide women entrepreneurs with actionable skills to grow their businesses.

Who is a female-role model who inspires you?

My mother is probably my biggest role model and possibly my most enthusiastic cheerleader. She's one of the reasons I ended up in China and I take a lot of personality traits (mostly positives) from her. While the others are too many to list, I find inspiration in any strong woman who has built a life for herself, speaks up for her accomplishments and uplifts other women while she rises.

Do you have any advice for women entrepreneurs?

There are many things I would do differently. From starting earlier to seeking more advice from those who've been through it before. But above all, my biggest lesson is: "Don't do it alone." It's possible to go solo, but it's much harder. I built a community because I felt alone in my journey, and I'm certain that with the right support, my path would have been easier and more enjoyable.