L-R Smile Xu, Stephanie Ho, Zhou Dao and Simin Feng pictured at the Change With Conversation panel discussion held at Mission Hills Golf Club at the Aramco China Championship, the final event on the PIF Global Series in 2025. 

Golf Saudi continued its commitment to advancing women's sport through its flagship thought leadership platform, Change With Conversation, held this week during the Aramco China Championship at Mission Hills.

A key feature of the PIF Global Series, the latest edition brought together influential voices from the worlds of sport, media, and business to discuss how representation and substantive storytelling can shape the future of women’s sport in China.

The Power of Representation: Media’s Role in Shaping Perception

The panel, titled The Power of Representation: The Media’s Role in Shaping Perception of Women in Sports in China, featured a diverse group of experts:

• Smile Xu, Business Owner & Golf Advocate
• Stephanie Ho, Ex-Professional Golfer, Singer, and Media Celebrity
• Zhou Dao, Media Director, World Table Tennis (WTT)
• Simin Feng, Former LPGA Player and Business Graduate

The discussion focused on the evolving role of women in sport, the importance of visibility, and the media's responsibility in shaping public perception and driving growth.

Gill Zhou: “Celebrate the Journey, Not Just the Podium”

A highlight of the event was a compelling post-panel interview with Gill Zhou, former Global VP of IBM, ex-President of Condé Nast China, and Chair of Shenzhen Fashion Week.

Zhou offered a powerful perspective on how media can elevate women's sport by focusing on the full spectrum of athlete experiences.

“Do we just promote the winners, or do we actually promote those who aspire to be a winner?” Zhou asked. “Every player has a beautiful story, [they] have their own life experiences.”

She stressed the importance of storytelling that moves beyond competition results, highlighting the value of perseverance, growth, and personal transformation.

“Life is not just about the winning and losing,” she added. “It’s about how much you participate and how much you learn from that to become a better being.”

The Change With Conversation panel discussion, pictured in the 18th hospitality held at Mission Hills Golf Club at the Aramco China Championship, the final event on the PIF Global Series in 2025.

Three Themes for Change: Access, Storytelling, and Digital Empowerment

The panel explored three key themes that align with Golf Saudi’s global strategy for developing the sport:

• Access and Affordability: Golf Saudi’s grassroots programs, which offer free access, equipment, and coaching, were highlighted as a successful model for growing the game in China and internationally.
• Storytelling with Substance: Speakers urged media to spotlight not just champions, but the character and resilience of those striving to succeed. "Every player has a story worth telling,” said Smile Xu.
• Empowered Digital Presence: Stephanie Ho emphasised the transformative power of social media, noting it’s essential for “discovering new audiences and giving players the tools to tell their own stories.”

Golf as a Modern Cultural Platform

Gill Zhou also highlighted the immense potential for women’s golf in China to become a platform for cultural expression, innovation, and sustainability.

Drawing on her experience across fashion and media, she encouraged a vision of golf that reflects modern Chinese identity. “Golfing for AI. Golfing for sustainability. Golfing for culture,” she said. “Let’s make women’s golf not just a sport, but a stage for modern Chinese identity.”

Golf Saudi: A Global Catalyst for Dialogue

The Change With Conversation series continues to serve as a vital platform for cross-border dialogue, bringing together diverse global voices to explore the future of sport.

At the Aramco China Championship, the conversation successfully focused on the power of representation and the combined role of media, athletes, and institutions in shaping a more inclusive and dynamic future for women in golf.