The voice of Giada Zhang – CEO & Mountain lover

If you had to find a definition for your approach to the mountains, what would it be?

Undoubtedly mountain lover.

And as a mountain lover, what are your favorite mountain activities?

I have to admit that I like everything: I hike, trek, ski and ski-tour, but always with a “slow” approach! I look at the mountains more as an exploration, both as a discovery of the nature around me and as “listening” to my body and my limits. I was born in Italy, but I am of Chinese origin. In my family, there was no custom of going skiing during the winter vacations. The “ski week,” as we put it, was not for us! I only discovered the pleasure of going to the mountains as a teenager through trips with friends. The “boost” then came from the pandemic… before that period, as soon as I had the opportunity, I traveled around the world. I liked discovering places and cultures far away from me. The restrictions to travel in 2020, on the other hand, were an opportunity for me to learn about the beauty of Italy and the many places close to home that I had never explored.

What makes your relationship with the mountains special?

As a child and during school, I had the feeling of always being 10 steps behind others, language for instance, which I now experience as an invaluable asset, was often an obstacle. So I always had to work harder than others, in my studies as well as in my work, and this definitely brought up in me one trait that, for good or bad, characterizes me: competitiveness. This is a side of my character that totally disappears when I am in the mountains. Why? Because the mountains have taught me that before the confrontation with others, there is the confrontation with ourselves. When we are faced with the majesty, almost mystical, of the mountain, there is no judgment, no confrontation, the only challenge is with ourselves. The mountain is also a major source of energy for me. In Chinese culture there is the concept of Qi (氣), which means “inner energy.” You can generate it through the right nutrition or by benefiting from the nature around you. When I am in the mountains I love to experience what LaMunt calls Mountain Me-Time. Those are the moments when I recharge my batteries and interiorize all the energy I need to transmit into the workplace and team.

Your first memory in the mountains?

My first “summit.” As a child when I was in China. During a trek in the Huangshan Mountains with my aunt, I discovered the majesty of the mountains and the people who live there. I had been particularly struck by the faces of the local women. The skin was not “porcelain,” as I used to see in the city, the tan, wind marks and facial expressions made those faces extremely more fascinating than any beauty I had seen before. Moreover, I remember very well the feeling once I reached the top: the beauty of stopping time, a luxury that is still under-appreciated in today’s China.

What has the mountain taught you?

The slogan of “Eroica”, the historical italian cycling race, summarizes what for me is the essence of the mountains, as well as of my approach at work: “the beauty of hard work and the taste of achievement”. This is what I feel every time I hike: the beauty of the hard work at every step, at every obstacle and the taste of the achievement when I reach the goal is something incredible! It’s a feeling I also feel when I work: it is precisely the hard work of each day that allows me to measure myself and understand that I am growing.

Why did you decide to join our crew?

LaMunt is a brand made “by women for women” in a market segment that is still very masculine today. The idea of being part of a crew of women with different profiles and experiences, but with a strong passion in common, not only seemed to me to be a beautiful opportunity for personal growth, but I also see it as an opportunity to reflect on how we women can team up, compare and take energy from our experiences as a group. After each event together, I go home with a crazy positive energy and with the strength given by those who know they are not alone, as is often the experience you feel when you embark on an entrepreneurial journey.