Zhou Qunfei: From factory worker to China’s second-richest woman

In the pantheon of Chinese billionaires, there are tech titans, real estate moguls, and brand builders. And then there is Zhou Qunfei, a woman whose story is so raw, so improbable, it feels like a modern-day fairytale. The 55-year-old founder of Lens Technology is the second richest woman in China, with a staggering $15 billion (110 billion RMB) fortune, according to the 2025 Hurun Rich List. Her wealth surged 75% ($6.8 billion) from 2024 to 2025 following Lens Technology’s Hong Kong IPO in July 2025. But what makes her story truly remarkable is not merely her wealth but her ability to build a global empire from the ground up. Her journey demonstrates how foresight, relentless discipline, and hands-on leadership can turn a small workshop into an international industry powerhouse. The hunger years: A foundation of grit Long before negotiating contracts with Apple and Tesla, Zhoui’s days were spent raising pigs and ducks to help her family survive. “I had to constantly think about where my next meal would come from,” she told CNBC. Born in 1970 in Xiangxiang, Hunan, Zhou grew up in extreme hardship. Her mother passed away when she was just five, and her father had been blinded in a factory accident before her birth. To support the family, Zhou often helped her father sell bamboo baskets in the streets. By the age of 15, she dropped out of school and set off for Shenzhen, becoming a migrant worker at Aoya Optics (澳亚光学工厂), a factory producing watch glass. While her peers spent their evenings resting, Zhou devoted herself to learning. She attended night classes at an adult education school run by Shenzhen University, earning certificates in accounting, computer operations, and customs declaration, and even obtained a B2 license for driving large vehicles. She also taught herself screen printing and Cantonese, preparing for a life far beyond the factory floor. These early struggles forged in her a relentless work ethic, sharp problem-solving skills, and the ability to learn on the job — lessons that would shape every step of her entrepreneurial journey. The factory floor education: Learning by doing By the age of 20, Zhou had already demonstrated remarkable initiative. When her factory’s expansion stalled, she stepped forward, promising to take full responsibility for the project. “If this fails, it’s on me,” she told her boss. Within three years, Zhou not only stabilized operations but also transformed the factory into the company’s most profitable unit. Her ability to manage both processes and people earned her a promotion to the youngest factory manager in the company at just 22. During this time, Zhou learned a critical leadership lesson: authority is not granted but earned through initiative, competence, and the courage to speak up. She became known for turning challenges into opportunities, whether it was improving workflow efficiency or innovating production methods. This hands-on, problem-solving approach laid the groundwork for her future ability to scale Lens Technology into a global powerhouse. The $2,500 bet: From apartment workshop to global supplier In 1993, at the age of 22, Zhou took a bold leap, using her life savings of 20,000 HKD ($2,500) to start a family-run workshop in a modest three-room apartment. With six relatives working alongside her, she began with screen printing and gradually expanded into watch glass production. For four years, they lived and worked in that small space, driven by Zhou’s relentless pursuit of quality and perfection. This intense, hands-on period laid the foundation for the manufacturing expertise that would later define Lens Technology. By the early 2000s, as mobile phones began to proliferate, Zhou saw an opportunity and pivoted the business toward mobile phone glass. In 2003, she officially founded Shenzhen Lens Technology Co., Ltd., marking the start of a new chapter. Her commitment to innovation and uncompromising standards quickly paid off: she secured orders from Motorola, HTC, Nokia, and Samsung. A pivotal moment came in 2007 when Lens Technology became a supplier for Apple’s first-generation iPhone touchscreens. Zhou and her team leveraged their expertise in chemically strengthened glass to produce durable, high-precision touchscreens that met Apple’s exacting standards. This partnership helped transform Lens Technology from a small family workshop into a key supplier for the global smartphone market. By 2015, when Lens Technology went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, its revenue had surged past $2.4 billion (17 billion RMB), catapulting Zhou to national prominence. Yet, reliance on Apple carried inherent risks. By 2016, iPhone sales had slowed, and the company’s net profit fell sharply. Anticipating the danger, Zhou diversified the client base to include Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi, and Oppo, reducing Apple’s share of revenue to under 50% by 2024. Her ability to innovate while managing risk cemented her reputation as a visionary leader and set the stage for Lens Technology’s continued growth. The suicide attempt: A leader forged in crisis A jealous rival conspired with a raw material supplier to squeeze her out of the market. The supplier demanded full payment upfront, a move that would have bankrupted her. Zhou sold her house and everything she owned, but it wasn’t enough. Desperate and alone, she stood on a train platform in Hong Kong, ready to end it all. “I was desperate,” she recalled. “I stood on the platform at Hung Hom Station in Hong Kong, almost jumped off, delirious, thinking that when I am gone, all the trouble will be gone too.” A phone call from her daughter pulled her back from the brink. The thought of her family and the employees who depended on her gave her the strength to keep fighting. In a last-ditch effort, she sent a “911” email to Motorola, explaining her predicament. Motorola came to her aid, and the crisis was averted. It was a harrowing experience, but one that shaped her into the leader she is today — one who understands that true strength is not the absence of fear, but the courage to persevere in the face of it. Breaking new ground: Diversification and robotics Lens Technology did not stop at smartphones. Under Zhou’s leadership, the company expanded into automotive electronics, AI technology, and humanoid robots. By 2024, automotive electronics contributed 8.5% of revenue, with collaborations involving over 30 global car brands, including Tesla, BYD, Mercedes, and BMW. In 2025, the company invested in Hunan Zhiqi Future AI and Robotics Research Institute, establishing a foothold in humanoid robotics. Lens Technology now undertakes production of multiple robot models, including the Lingxi X1, with expected mass production exceeding 10,000 units next year. This forward-looking strategy positions the company for long-term growth while reducing reliance on consumer electronics. Lessons for leaders Zhou’s journey offers invaluable lessons for leaders from all walks of life: Perseverance is your superpower: Zhou’s grit turned crises into opportunities, revealing strength in adversity. Master your craft: Her deep expertise in materials and manufacturing opened global doors. Lead from the front: Her hands-on leadership inspired loyalty and performance. It’s okay to ask for help: Strategic outreach saved the company in moments of crisis. Never forget your roots: Humility and connection to her beginnings remain central to her leadership. The bottom line Zhou’s story rebukes the notion that success is the product of privilege or pedigree. She is living proof that it is possible to rise from the depths of poverty to the highest echelons of wealth and influence. Her empire was not built on a single brilliant idea or disruptive technology, but on the simple, unglamorous work of making things, perfecting a craft, and an unwavering refusal to give up. She is the “touchscreen queen,” a true industry titan forged in the fires of adversity. She offers a powerful reminder that in the end, the most valuable asset a leader can possess is not a brilliant mind or a charismatic personality but an unbreakable spirit. Ashley Dudarenok is a Chinese entrepreneur, author, and media personality, recognized by Thinkers50 as a “guru on fast‑evolving trends in China.” She is the founder of ChoZan, a China‑focused research and digital transformation consultancy. Ashley and her team help multinationals learn from China through tailored China innovation tours, research, and boardroom briefings. She is a keynote speaker, author of three bestselling books, runs a popular newsletter, and shares her insights with a B2B community of over 500,000 China watchers across LinkedIn and YouTube. Her latest endeavor is The Hidden Switch, a show spotlighting billion‑dollar founders from emerging countries who are reshaping the world.

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Zhou Qunfei: From factory worker to China’s second-richest woman