In 1990, Tong Zhu arrived in the United States from Chengdu, China, with just “$21 in my pocket and lots of love from my family and friends.” Over the next three decades, Tong climbed the career ladder, from her first job in the United States as a waitress, to the head offices of the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) unifies the resources of the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma, focusing their efforts on competing outside of Washington, rather than with each other. Even though both ports remain independent government units with their own elected officials and staff, the NWSA manages the cargo infrastructure of both ports, including terminals, business assets, and property, so both organizations can earn more. The presidents of the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma serve as co-chairs of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, which manages assets separately from the two ports.
In 2023, the NWSA supported more than 50,000 jobs and nearly $14 billion in total business output between the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma. Tong is the Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer for the Alliance. In this role, she ensures that the port partnership operates efficiently.
Tong’s job is to manage the massive portfolio of property and assets shared by the two ports. She oversees three teams: business development, marketing and business services, and real estate and asset management. On any given day, Tong and her team could negotiate a 30-year contract for terminal space, work to find lost cargo, or develop international trade strategies that raise incomes for everyone in the region. It’s a lot to manage, but Tong credits her team with the skills and tenacity to make it all work.
Tong’s Journey
Despite growing up in inland Chengdu, she shared that she’d always had a fascination with the ocean and found working on the waterfront to be a natural progression for her career built on international relationships. By the time the NWSA formed in 2015, Tong was already steeped in the world of maritime administration. She had worked for both the Port of Tacoma, where she was the Chief Commercial Officer, and the Port of Seattle, managing international relations. At both organizations, she worked to bring more international business to Washington via our water highways—an important function of port governments.
Her detailed knowledge of both ports made her uniquely qualified to lead within the NWSA as the organization formed and as the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma shifted from competing for business deals with international trade partners to collaborating and sharing resources. Tong’s work for the NWSA changed the terms of business for Washington’s two largest ports and pushed competition for shipping space outside of Washington, rather than within.
“I was fortunate to have good mentors and friendship and friends along the journey, lifting me and helping me to get to where I am today,” said Tong.
Tong shared that her path to the C-suite wasn’t defined by a single turning point. Instead, it was a series of deliberate choices fueled by a powerful work ethic. She approaches every role with passion and unwavering commitment.
Beyond her work ethic, Tong identifies her mother, who recently passed away, as the most impactful person in her life. Tong’s mother was a trailblazer herself as a civil engineer in China in the 1940s. After a 34-year career with the world’s largest state-owned construction company, Tong’s mother retired as the second-in-command.
“She was a mom to me, so I never really sought career advice from her. And I wish I had,” said Tong. “I just have memories of her going to construction sites and holding a hard hat, rushing in, out, getting carsick on her way to a site, but I never asked her [about] her struggles, and how she managed to become number two of this massive company.”
Tong’s Legacy
Building on her mother’s example, Tong also works to mentor and lead other women in her own organization. Her role has her in direct supervision of four senior managers and directors, who supervise 14 analysts, managers, and specialists. “To me, leadership is not just about titles. It’s about demonstrating competency, authenticity, and genuine care for your team and your people,” she explained.
Tong demonstrates her care for her team by speaking highly of their abilities. She says that her wide-ranging work would be impossible without their dedication.
“I hope that my legacy will be one where I helped others to realize their full potential,” she said. “It’s not just about me. It is also about people. I want them, each single one of them, to reach their potential as well. If I can look back and say that I played a role in developing a strong, inclusive team, that would mean a lot to me.”
Since 2022, Tong has sat on the board of trustees for Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood. She is also a member of the executive committee of the Washington State China Relations Council and has previously served on the boards of directors of the Japan America Society of the State of Washington and the Evergreen Building Products Association.
“I would say to a young woman, maybe coming from less fortunate circumstances, don’t let that hold you back. You can do greater things. There are great things waiting for you. Don’t give up.”
Want to learn about how other Women on the Waterfront found their roles? Read on for stories of tugboat captains, port commissioners, fishers, and more.