Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

AFTER residing in Shenzhen for nearly five years, Kirsty McCarthy embarked on a new career path as a professional organizer, assisting individuals in tidying and organizing their spaces, venturing into entrepreneurship just before turning 50.

As a business owner, president of the Shenzhen Women’s International Club (SWIC), and a mother of two, McCarthy confidently proclaimed, “I will do it all right.”

The British woman, who moved to the U.S. in 2005, has always embraced challenges and quickly adapts to her new circumstances. When her husband received an employment opportunity in China, they didn’t hesitate to seize it, relocating to China in 2018.

Looking for an opportunity to secure employment for herself, McCarthy sought online training courses to become a certified KonMari consultant, which offers virtual courses to business owners from all over the world to become qualified consultants and offer their clients guidance in transforming their homes and lives using specific methods.

“I finished all the courses in about one year to gain the certification as a professional organizer. This is what I enjoy doing and I believe this work will go side by side with my interior design background,” McCarthy said. Her expertise lies in helping her clients get rid of the unnecessary stuff and keep only what they truly need, essentially helping them redesign their spaces.

For McCarthy, “being well organized” extends beyond maintaining a tidy room — it is a vital element of managing and optimizing one’s life and time effectively. “I can prioritize and dedicate my efforts according to my preferences,” she said.

McCarthy explained that she can choose to allocate 70% of her efforts to one task and 100% to another. “I also make time for sports because I enjoy exercising.”

McCarthy had an inclination to serve SWIC and was promoted to president at the start of the new SWIC year in August.

While other women relocated to China with the same open-mindedness she had when transitioning from England to the U.S. in 2005 for work, McCarthy acknowledged that her transition to Shenzhen presented more challenges due to the cultural and language differences, which took some time to adapt to.

However, McCarthy found solace and companionship through SWIC. An expat friend introduced McCarthy to SWIC and she attended one of their coffee gatherings just a few months after arriving in Shenzhen. “That’s how I discovered this incredible community of women, whether they were working or not. It became easier knowing that others had experienced the same challenges, even if it was years ago. Sharing with them and seeking their guidance was invaluable,” she recalled. “The community members also provided useful recommendations.”

Since then, McCarthy has become an active participant in the SWIC community and served as a board member for the club’s advertising initiatives, utilizing her strengths. McCarthy holds deep appreciation for the support she has received from the community and is driven to give back in any way she can.