b'LAURAFrom Beauty Queen to Global SUN Business Leaderby Ruby Wang LAURA SUNis a dynamic business leader who embodies both resilience and vision. As the CEO of Cetisa global hospitality technology company with / Ruby Wang a market presence in over 300 countriesshe over-sees operations that serve the worlds most recognized hotel brands. Her path to the C-suite is anything but conventional, spanning from her early days as Miss Qingdao to decades dedicated to raising a family in the United States. Today, she blends cultural insight, global business acumen, and an unwavering commitment to LAURA SUNinnovation to shape the future of hospitality technol- Cetisogy. In this exclusive conversation with Ruby Wang300of the BW Group, Laura reflects on her remarkablejourney, the lessons learned along the way, and herCEOmission to inspire the next generation of leaders.You were once crowned Miss Qingdao. Since LauraBW GroupRuby Wangthen, youve spent many years raising a family inthe U.S. Can you share a bit about that journey?LS:I am the youngest of three and left China at 18,seeking independence, challenge, and the American dream. I landed in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, whereboth of my children were born. While we loved the community, we wanted a better environment for LS: our kids, especially weather-wise, so we moved to 18- Newport Coast, California, when they were toddlers.As a mother, I took a different path than the typicalChinese Tiger Mom. I prioritized sports and social development over academics. I believe emotional intel- ligence is foundational. If kids develop confidence,teamwork, and character, academic success will nat- urally follow. I immersed them in community eventsfrom politics to volunteering, so they felt a sense ofbelonging and developed into well-rounded individ- uals. It worked. Both of my children thrived sociallyand academically.BALLIET + WANG LUXURY LIVING 55'