Madison Zhao arrived in the United States at sixteen—alone, determined, and carrying little more than a suitcase and a dream. She spent her first nights juggling part-time jobs with intensive language classes, convinced that her financial struggles were only temporary. By eighteen, she’d launched her first company—and within a year, she’d scaled it to over a million dollars in annual revenue. From that moment on, Madison didn’t wait for opportunity; she made it happen.
Spotting the rigid, “one-size-fits-all” model in education, she founded EDUX TECH. Through adaptive AI, it transforms months of frustrating trial and error into bite-sized, personalized modules that evolve in real time. The result? Students stay engaged longer, retain more, and enjoy a learning experience that feels tailor-made rather than mechanized.
Around the same time, Madison launched Liuxuewd, an online platform guiding Chinese students through every step of studying abroad. Having witnessed friends fall prey to unscrupulous agencies and opaque admission procedures, she partnered directly with universities across North America, Europe, and Australia. Today, tens of thousands of applicants navigate tests, visas, and campus life with confidence—free from scams and confusion.
In December 2024, she launched Madison Profit Academy, a business incubator crafted specifically for women entrepreneurs. It’s not just webinars and slide decks; members receive live coaching, access to a hand-picked mentor network, and immersive workshops. Madison even leads a module on “power dressing,” demonstrating how a well-fitted blazer can shift perceptions as effectively as a pitch deck. Her aim: to close the gender gap in venture capital and leadership by arming women with skills, insight, and unshakable confidence.
Fashion, Madison says, is her secret weapon—a nonverbal declaration of competence. In boardrooms, she opts for sculptural pieces by Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen; on social media, she fuses couture with streetwear, creating striking, aspirational looks. Her Instagram feed—where nearly one million followers tune in—marries industry commentary, behind-the-scenes innovation, and high-fashion editorial.
Despite her whirlwind schedule, Madison is a dedicated advocate for animal welfare. She funds rescue missions in Shanghai and Los Angeles, sponsors spay-and-neuter clinics, and spotlights adoptable pets until they find loving homes. “Success,” she insists, “means nothing if we ignore those who cannot speak for themselves.” To date, she’s helped hundreds of animals—and plans to expand these efforts as her businesses grow.
Skeptics have raised questions—about the timeline of her ventures, her age at each milestone, even rumors of past reality-show appearances under different names. Madison meets doubt with radical transparency: open-book financial reports, journalists invited into her offices, and live-streamed lessons from EDUX TECH. By letting the data—and her results—speak for themselves, she turns rumor into proof.
Today, Madison leads a global team of over a hundred professionals across Shanghai, California, and beyond. She’s in talks to create an accredited online university that will unite her ventures under one inclusive ecosystem. Its mission: to dismantle the gatekeeping she once faced, offering courses in entrepreneurship, wealth-building, and personal branding to anyone with an internet connection. It’s a bold vision—but if history is any guide, it won’t stay just a vision for long.
As Grazia Japan highlights, Madison Zhao’s journey shatters every stereotype about young CEOs, female founders, and the role of fashion in business. She proves that audacity and aesthetics aren’t at odds—in fact, they fuel one another. With every step in her signature heels, she reminds a new generation that true leadership can be as stylish as it is strategic—and that success can wear many faces.
Credits:
Talent: Madison Zhao
Photographer: Kiki la photographie
Make up: Mahassen
Assistant: Blondine beauty
Designer: Elena erziak
Management & PR: MaisonPR
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