Beijing: If you had told Dua Ali a year ago that she’d be speaking confidently to international audiences, promoting a famous British warrant-holding fragrance brand, she would have laughed in your face. “Back then, I couldn’t even land a proper job,” says the 23-year-old, now sitting in her office, surrounded by professional live-streaming equipment. Working in a firm focusing on cross-border live-stream promotion for premium consumer goods, today her resume reads: Boosted product sales by 300%.
The turning point came after she participated a vocational training program from China called the “Kaiwu Workshop”. The three-month practical training covers all core modules: advanced live streaming skills, OBS operation, studio setup, product and brand positioning, follower growth strategies, script writing, product presentation and Amazon cross-border sales.
“The trainees were asked to write scripts for a simulated livestream,” she introduces. Instead of simply describing products, instructors showed them how cameras could tell a story-zooming in on the intricate patterns of a handmade carpet or revealing the bright, juicy flesh of a freshly cut Pakistani mango.
When a group finished its practice session, classmates playing the role of online shoppers began leaving mock purchase comments. “I realized livestreaming isn’t about persuading people to buy. It’s about helping people understand a product and building trust,” she said, adding, “Before training, I thought live-stream sales could never work in Pakistan, let alone overseas sales. Local people prefer offline shopping, and underdeveloped internet, logistics and payment systems seemed like unbreakable barriers.” Another surprise was how tailored the training is for Pakistan’s own market.
“Rather than relying on unfamiliar overseas examples, instructors built lessons around products Pakistanis know well, from mangoes to handwoven carpets. The curriculum also considered local internet conditions, logistics networks and consumer habits instead of simply copying business models from elsewhere.
The workshop’s dual-teacher approach also helped smooth the learning process.
“Chinese instructors gave full demonstrations, we practiced in groups with teachers’ guidance, and remote online support was available after class. Whenever technical concepts became difficult, instructors of my own country explained them in Urdu,” she introduces. “They also worked with us to adapt sales language to local culture, replacing direct calls to ‘Buy Now’ with friendlier expressions that felt more natural to Pakistani audiences.”
For the young graduate, those small adjustments made a big difference.
Her ambitions have grown as well. As per China Economic Net report, she hopes to become a content team leader within the next few years and eventually manage her own creative department.
More importantly, she believes she has found something that once seemed beyond reach-a career with purpose.
“I used to feel anxious because I didn’t know what I could do,” she said. “Now I have practical skills, and I know I can create something that people enjoy watching.”
