Ying Zhang
- Email: bn21y5z@leeds.ac.uk
- Supervisors: Professor Chee Yew Wong, Professor Jonathan Winterton
Profile
Ying Zhang is a postgraduate researcher at Leeds University Business School. Choosing an unconventional path—from China to the UK, from industry to academia, and from MBA graduate to postgraduate researcher—has shaped her approach to challenges, equipping me with a unique blend of practical insight and academic rigor.
With over 12 years of experience in the life sciences industry in China, she worked in multiple customer-facing roles, gaining deep insights into business operations and stakeholder engagement. Seeking to expand my perspective, she pursued an MBA at University of Leeds, which ultimately led her to a new chapter in higher education.
After completing her MBA, she joined the University of Business School as a part-time Research Assistant, shifting her focus from the corporate world to academia. Over nearly two years of research experience, she developed the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct in-depth studies on forced labour issues in supply chains. Her outputs include one publication in The Conversation, a published submission to the UK Parliament’s call for evidence on “Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains,” and two research blogs.
As a highly educated migrant encountering challenges in labour market integration, she has intentionally converted her vulnerability into motivation to pursue a postgraduate research pathway. Now, her research project focuses on the integration of cross-border labour mobility and labour exploitation in product supply chains.
Research interests
Her research interest lies in forced labour in supply chains. Forced labour is not only a form of extreme labour exploitation but also an endemic part of contemporary supply chains. When sustainable supply chain management focuses more on governing forced labour risks and adopting a more caring stance toward people, the concept of labour supply chains can provide a unique lens through which to observe the flow of labourers.
Qualifications
- MBA, University of Leeds
- MSc, Biology, Northwest A&F University, China
- BSc, Biology, Northwest A&F University, China