Meet Annie Zhou – Asian-Australian Leadership Awards U25 Rising Star Winner
Meet financial literacy champion Annie Zhou (Year 12), who today was named U25 Rising Star Winner in the Asian-Australian Leadership Awards.
Annie’s incredible achievements reflect her passion for entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
She is the founder of MoneyWise, Australia’s first youth-led initiative providing free financial literacy education. The initiative arose from a class entrepreneurial assignment, which Annie turned into a real-life opportunity, delivering over 100 free workshops to date and reaching more than 14,000 students in marginalised and low socio-economic communities.
Annie is also a published author – her book for young people on financial literacy, Money Made Simple, has reached over 52,000 students internationally and is now available in libraries and schools across Australia.
On top of all this, while completing her Year 12 studies, Annie launched her youth podcast ‘Brighter Futures’, featuring an inspiring line-up of leaders, creatives and entrepreneurs who share their stories. Created to empower and inspire other young people to pursue their passions, step out of their comfort zones and learn about the opportunities they could explore beyond school, Annie’s podcast can be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music, with over 50,000 listeners in more than 20 countries and over 3000 followers on Instagram.
Passionate about the field of Economics, Annie was selected in Year 11 to participate in a six-month Mentoring Women Program run by the Victorian Department of Finance and Treasury to learn more about the work undertaken by economists for the Victorian Government. She was also awarded a Certificate of Distinction in an Australia Wide Economics Olympiad organised by the University of New South Wales.
Annie says of her experiences and conversations:
“I’ve noticed a common theme among successful business leaders, educators, politicians and researchers alike: the importance of having the confidence to step outside of your comfort zone and the courage to be true to who you are, even if it means being different.
Many of my guests have shared that they also struggled to take that first step toward pursuing an idea, stepping into a leadership role, or advocating for change. Hearing their journeys has shown me that self-doubt is normal, but having passion, authenticity and a long-term commitment to their vision have been the driving forces behind becoming brilliant at what they do.
Also, success isn’t achieved in isolation – it’s about surrounding yourself with the right people who challenge you, inspire you and help you grow. This sense of community and shared purpose has been pivotal in their leadership journeys.”
Last night, Annie was humbled to be interviewed on ABC News about her extraordinary commitment and passion.
Congratulations, Annie!
