With 20 years of experience under her belt, Lily Wang fully immersed herself in the Tobacco World in 2005, starting with the founding of Cigar Ambassador magazine in China. This venture later expanded to include a store, a club, and a festival under the same name.
Driven by her entrepreneurial vision, a decade later, Lily took her company into the agricultural sector within one of the Free Trade Zones of the Dominican Republic, where she realized her goal of producing tobacco and, eventually, her own line of cigars.
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More Than a Business, It’s a Passion
After leaving behind a career in finance and investments, Lily Wang became the director and editor of her own media outlet in 2005. Through this platform, she aimed to spread and promote the Tobacco Culture in China, a passion that had captivated her years earlier.
Her entry into the industry was never about money or the cold mechanics of business but rather a genuine interest sparked in 2003 by the warmth, aromas, and creamy flavors of a Partagás D4, which ignited her passion for premium tobacco.
In 1994, Lily had the opportunity to visit Cuba and the Dominican Republic, where she got an inside look at the industry. However, being too young to start smoking at the time, her interest didn’t fully awaken.
According to her, she has never tried a cigarette, but during her years in finance and investments, opportunities to observe someone smoking a cigar were plentiful. “In fact, there’s a movie that portrays the idea that if you’re in the investment business, you have to smoke cigars –especially ones with a red band, like the Partagás D4, which in Chinese culture symbolizes luck.”
Attentive to the market –as she has always been– and with a product that was gaining traction among the population, Lily began receiving emails from new enthusiasts captivated by Cigar Culture and all it entailed. However, there was a common question: Where to smoke and where to buy.
To meet this growing demand, the Cigar Ambassador store and club were established in 2006, with branches in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Macau. This business diversification led to the creation of the Cigar Ambassador Festival in 2012, an annual event dedicated to promoting and strengthening Tobacco Culture in China.
Her unique entrepreneurial vision led her to take the next step in 2014 by venturing into tobacco cultivation and processing, with facilities located in the Free Trade Zone of Tamboril, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. From there, her company conducts business with other tobacco-producing countries such as Nicaragua, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, and, of course, China.
Tobacco Knows No Gender
For Lily Wang, the tobacco industry is genderless, and there’s no reason to believe it’s an exclusive activity for men. This is evident in the growing number of female enthusiasts present in cigar lounges, trade shows, events, and social media, as well as the increasing number of women leading brands and companies in the field.
As an example, she points to the cosmetics industry, where even though the products are typically used by women, the CEO can be a man. She notes that this dynamic is also seen in the fashion and food industries, two other areas traditionally associated with women.
“There’s no reason to think a tobacco company can’t be run by a woman,” she adds, emphasizing that while the CEO of a cosmetics brand might not use the products they sell, she personally smokes cigars –a competitive advantage.
For Lily, knowing your product is fundamental. To create the best blends in the Cigar Ambassador catalog, her palate has explored the flavors of diverse tobaccos from all the world’s producing regions. “You can’t achieve the best if you haven’t experienced most of the possibilities.”
In this sense, she highlights that as the CEO of her brand, she has the obligation to test her products, smoke daily, and stay attuned to the market as a consumer.
Time: The Best Investment
In 2016, Cigar Ambassador began producing its own cigars under the brands Tobacco Queen (made in the Dominican Republic), Luz de Masalla (made in Nicaragua), and Leyenda de Copán (made in Honduras). However, it wasn’t until 2024 that they began commercializing them.
This is an example of how, in business –and especially in the Tobacco World– patience is key to achieving success. “For a cigar to be of high quality, it needs to go through an aging process, and that’s what we did over all these years. During that time, I received many offers to buy them, but I always declined.”
Lily’s entry into the industry as a producer was marked by years of trial and error. “It was 10 years of experience that cost a lot of resources. You could say I bought that experience over a decade, but that’s normal in business, especially in one as traditional as tobacco.”
She explains that this uniqueness might be why most tobacco companies are family businesses, as achieving success often requires the effort of multiple generations. “Tobacco won’t become a business overnight.”
From Woman to Woman
Lily Wang is aware of the responsibility she carries as the leader of a company like Cigar Ambassador. Proudly, she shares that during the next edition of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show, her brand will sponsor PCA Women, an event dedicated to women in the industry.
In this regard, she highlights the role of women in the Tobacco World, where fields and factories employ thousands of women. “That’s why I need to express my respect for these women, who also stand out as smokers within clubs.”
She also acknowledges the natural talent women have for distinguishing aromas and flavors, a skill that has earned them a special place in the industry. In her personal experience, she notes that while she could once identify cigars like Cohiba or Arturo Fuente by their distinct flavors, years of training her palate have now enabled her to identify the origin and variety of the tobacco itself.
Finally, she reaffirms that this business isn’t about money and shares that year after year, she attends Procigar galas and other events like the Festival del Habano in Cuba or Puro Sabor in Nicaragua to participate in auctions. “Through charity auctions and community initiatives, I have sought to contribute in meaningful ways, recognizing that gratitude should always be accompanied by action.”
Not Fashion, but Passion
For Lily, smoking a cigar isn’t a trend but a lifestyle –a way to relax after a long day of work, always accompanied by coffee, a spirit, Chinese tea, or even water.
She emphasizes that enjoying a good cigar shouldn’t be about following a trend, creating a look, or posting a photo on Facebook or Instagram. Instead, it requires a genuine passion for tobacco and this artisanal product: the cigar.
“As you age, your tastes become more refined. In my 30s, I might have chosen a Chanel jacket just because it was Chanel, or a Cohiba simply because it was a Cohiba. But now, I look for comfort in clothing beyond the brand, just as I seek aromas and flavors in a cigar, regardless of the name.”
Gratitude and Reflection on 20 Years of Cigar Ambassador
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Cigar Ambassador, a journey that has taken her across the world’s major tobacco and cigar-producing countries. Over these two decades, Lily have had the privilege of learning from some of the finest tobacco experts in the industry, receiving invaluable guidance and insights that have deeply shaped her understanding and appreciation of this craft.
After 20 years of relentless dedication to the tobacco industry, Lily Wang shows no signs of slowing down. What bold moves will she make next? “Stay tuned…”
