It’s almost the weekend, and that means it’s time to put your feet up and wind down with a few fun, quick-fire questions.
This ‘Time Out’ features Ivan Zhou, owner and CEO of Leeds-based Pegasus World, one of the fastest growing textile and real estate companies in Yorkshire.
What is the first thing you do to get the weekend started?
On Friday evening, it’s a trip into Leeds from our HQ at Logic Leeds business park, about 20 minutes from the city centre. My usual destination is a great steakhouse like Gaucho. If my weekend starts on a Saturday, then a brilliant British breakfast at Plonkers Bistro in Cumberland Street, York, hits the perfect spot. Then I’m ready for whatever the weekend throws at me.
What is your hobby?
I can’t really say work, can I? I try to switch off if I can, but it’s not always possible. Golf, travel, and jogging are my three favourite pastimes away from the day job. I also enjoy walking my dog Lily, a Japanese Akita.
What is your favourite movie?
That’s a difficult one, but I love Forrest Gump, the story of a simple man at the centre of some of the most exciting years in US history. Tom Hanks is superb in the title role.
If you hadn’t been successful at what you do, what would you be doing instead as a career?
I love what I do, and wouldn’t ever consider any alternatives, but I have always been fascinated by the law. So, maybe, a barrister?
If you could have any superpower what would it be?
I would love to have super diplomatic powers, which I would use to enable the UK and China to understand each other so much better and become friendly allies, based on mutual trust. At the moment, their relationship is fraught. It is important to remember that China has a population of 1.4bn, which presents challenges when it comes to governing. Maybe the UK needs to understand that a bit more. The UK and China have much in common and my “superpower” would enable that common ground to flourish.
What is your favourite genre of music?
I have very eclectic taste from jazz to blues to rock music – and I love the piano, too. My favourite musicians are probably Miles Davis and Queen, who are not usually mentioned in the same sentence!
If you could travel to any moment in time where would you go?
The Swinging Sixties in the UK and the US. I was born in 1980, so I completely missed out on the seismic changes in culture, music, fashion, and politics in the 1960s. It was the decade when old-fashioned barriers were broken down and people dared to follow their dreams. I’m a great believer in following dreams.
