Linda Dong

Linda Dong is the founder and president of Play Culture, a Hong Kong-registered company that develops and manages family entertainment experiences across Asia. She leads the business’s work with international intellectual property owners to develop location-based entertainment for children and families.

Dong’s background includes economics and finance, with early-career roles at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund before she joined her family’s real estate business in China. Her work on the Mall of China project in Chongqing introduced her to the attractions industry and led her to focus on branded entertainment.

Under her leadership, Play Culture opened Nickelodeon Playtime in Shenzhen in December 2020, bringing Nickelodeon properties into an indoor family entertainment centre. The company subsequently developed Peppa Pig Play Cafés in Hangzhou and Chengdu, combining themed dining with play attractions based on the preschool series.

Dong has highlighted the importance of understanding an IP’s stories and target audience when developing attractions, as well as adapting designs to local cultural expectations and operational requirements.

In 2025, Play Culture secured exclusive rights to develop Nickelodeon-themed play centres in 11 Asia-Pacific countries. The expansion builds on the company’s existing work turning established children’s brands into family entertainment destinations.

A person who nominated Dong said: "Linda truly embodies what it means to be an immersive innovator: a visionary whose curiosity, craft, and care shape unforgettable experiences for families around the world."