Passion, Design & Global Business: The Woman Behind Harlowe Lighting – Cined Focus Check Ep108

In this episode, we sit down with Helena, founder of Harlowe (previously Hobolite) and CEO of AEC Lighting Solutions, calling in from her Shanghai office fresh off a trip through Europe. Helena’s story is anything but ordinary: raised in the Chinese countryside, self-taught in art from age five, trained as a mechanical engineer, and now running a globally recognized premium lighting brand with 26 years of manufacturing heritage behind it.

We talk about: The origin story of Harlowe and what makes it different in a saturated market, and how Helena balances engineering precision with a designer’s eye, navigating a male-dominated industry as a female CEO. She also gives us her take on the role of AI in the future of content creation — and why human storytelling still wins. Raising a son as a single mother while running a global business, Helena and Johnnie also discuss patents, product innovation, tariffs, and building for the long game. Whether you’re a filmmaker, a gear enthusiast, or someone building something of your own, this conversation is packed with insight, honesty, and inspiration.

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To learn more about Harlowe, head on over to their website, as well as our previous coverage of their products.

(00:24) – Introduction

(01:08) – What is Harlowe? The Brand Story

(04:41) – Helena’s Childhood & Falling in Love with Art

(07:46) – Breaking Down the Business: Engineering Meets Design

(08:44) – Women Leading Companies in China

(10:59) – Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry

(12:41) – The Design Philosophy Behind Harlowe

(15:12) – Competing Against the Big Players

(17:52) – Behind the Scenes: Where Ideas Come From

(21:35)  – Win-Win Collaborations & Business Model

(22:22) – Patents: Are They Worth It?

(24:40) – Global Tariffs & Running an International Business

(26:59) – The Future of Content Creation & AI

(31:22) – Balancing Family Life as a Single Mom & CEO

(34:33) – Will Her Son Take Over the Business?

(36:01) – Hobbies: Painting, Calligraphy & Neuroscience

(37:02) – Helena Turns the Tables – Questions for Johnnie

We hope you enjoyed this episode!
Do you have feedback, comments, or suggestions? Write us at podcast@cined.com.