Award Winning Chinese Businesswomen Li Xia on Solar Power and Sustainable Entrepreneurship
On November 7, 2024, Li Xia, the founder and CEO of Shenzhen Power Solution, shared her incredible journey with an online audience during an inspiring guest lecture. Hosted on Microsoft Teams, the event brought together students, staff, and external guests eager to hear from the social entrepreneur who has spent over a decade bringing solar power to communities in need.
Li Xia, who has been honoured with both the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum's "Social Entrepreneur Award," spoke passionately about her company’s mission to provide off-grid solar solutions to people without access to electricity. Through her company, Power Solution, Li Xia has helped transform the lives of nearly 50 million people across 63 countries, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her work has provided families with clean, safe lighting, replacing the dangerous use of candles and kerosene, and improving health and quality of life.
In her presentation, Li Xia introduced her innovative “candle killer” product—a solar-powered light source—and explained how it’s helping families in off-grid areas. She also shared her vision of "not just brightening up rooms, but also brightening people's minds," by showcasing a solar-powered tablet system designed to give children in underdeveloped parts of Africa access to education.
The lecture included a lively Q&A session where Li Xia discussed the challenges of working with African governments, her appreciation for the positivity and warmth of African people, and her exciting plans to design a solar-powered refrigerator, among other topics.
Li Xia’s work at Power Solution is a powerful example of how innovative thinking and a commitment to social good can go hand in hand. For the attendees, it was a chance to learn from one of the leading voices in sustainable entrepreneurship and gain a deeper understanding of how renewable energy can make a real difference in underserved communities.
If you missed the lecture, don’t worry! We’ve uploaded the full session to our YouTube channel, and you can watch it here.