Vivian Kao
Faux Christmas Tree
 When Vivian Kao (’94, Marketing) was in charge of one of the largest artificial Christmas tree sellers in the world, she wasn't afraid to add a little color. In fact thanks to Kao, Hong Kong-based Boto International Holdings Limited will sell psychedelic pink varieties this holiday season. Yes, pink.
"It is definitely important for Boto to offer a full range of trees to the market, whether they include basic designs or unique designs using new technology," says Kao, the company's
recent chief executive officer who remains on its board of directors.
Boto's new pre-lit trees will have specially made fiber-optic needles that also glow in lime green, purple and even tangerine. Such glitzy innovation has paid off for Kao and Boto shareholders in the past. Under her leadership, the company earned more than $150 million last year, up from nearly $135 million the year before.
She now hopes to have similar success with a new company, VK Consultancy Service, which she started in May. The company helps manufacturers in Hong Kong, Macau and China establish marketing plans.
As Boto's CEO for nearly five years, Kao was credited with embracing creativity
and enlarging
Boto's research and development staff. The company sells 6 million artificial Christmas trees and hundreds of thousands of holiday accessories,
as well as patio furniture to key retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.
"It is not necessary to change your value system and behavior to fit in other people's worlds," says Kao, who while at Boto was responsible for 8,000 employees in five countries.
Kao says having the chance to learn in an American educational system gave her the confidence to make tough business decisions.
"It encourages students to be open-minded to different cultures and it motivates students to be creative and outgoing," she says. "I was very shy before I moved to the United States (to go to school)." |
