Exploring the common traits behind successful women, their sharpness and determination in business.
Five years ago, Zong Fuli of Wahaha decisively ended a twenty-year endorsement collaboration with Wang Leehom when she was newly appointed as the head of the public relations department. Fast forward five years, after the passing of her father Zong Qinghou, she became the sole heir of the company and once again stood at the center of public opinion. Though Zong Fuli’s business acumen has gradually been recognized, people prefer to weave humorous stories about “the 42-year-old who inherited 50 billion.”
In China’s internet industry, where there is a relatively higher number of female executives, female CEOs are often seen as behind-the-scenes assistants. Dai Shan is considered Jack Ma’s outstanding protégé, Zhang Nan is Zhang Yiming’s most trusted right hand, and Gu Pingping is seen as the female incarnation of Huang Zheng. These women were deeply involved in the operations of their companies from the early days, yet media coverage of them is scarce, often linking their names with male leaders when mentioned.
In reality, compared to male CEOs, women CEOs in the top echelons of China’s business world are scarce. It’s not an exaggeration to say their encyclopedia entries are just a few pages long, with very little coverage about them. These women, like heroines, remain low-profile, and whether in China or globally, the corporate world seems to still be dominated by men.
However, it is encouraging that in recent years, the trend of women entering the power centers in major internet firms has gradually become popular. Data shows that in mainland China, the proportion of female chief executive officers has slightly increased, reaching 6.7%.
Xu Ran rapidly advanced at JD.com, rising to the position of CEO in five years and, six months later, started directly managing the company’s core retail business. Dai Shan, a senior employee at Alibaba Group who started in e-commerce customer service, is now CEO of one of the company’s most profitable divisions. At Meituan, the key business of community group buying is now managed by Guo Wanhuai.
In this era, founders like Qu Fang of Xiaohongshu, Wei Wenwen and Zhang Nan from ByteDance have become shining stars in the industry. Wei Wenwen was promoted to the president of Douyin e-commerce in just four years, and Zhang Nan has successively served as the CEO of Douyin and ByteDance. These talented female leaders, through their excellent organizational, coordination, and communication skills, have secured their positions in a highly competitive business environment.
As the internet industry continues to evolve, industry giants are experiencing a strategic shift from defense to offense. In this transformation, leading companies are looking for generals who can lead the charge. Among them, the position changes of certain female executives have undoubtedly caught the market’s attention. Let us delve deeper into the common characteristics behind these successful women.
How can female CEOs in leading companies stand out on the fiercely competitive business stage? Regardless of gender, successful individuals who become an indispensable force in the industry often possess certain invaluable qualities.
Facing challenges head-on is the fundamental principle behind their actions. They do not waste time on the formalities at the beginning of their tenure but pour all their energy into practical tasks. For instance, Xu Ran faced a slowdown in the company’s performance growth shortly after joining JD.com. Although “Dong Ge” was the direct leader of the reforms, Xu Ran—a senior executive with a background in finance—also played a central role. Over the next five years, she presided over almost all of JD’s mergers, restructurings, and listings, such as the acquisitions of Dada and Deppon, as well as JD Group’s secondary listing in Hong Kong, all of which testified her excellent leadership abilities.
At Alibaba, Daisy also wrote her own legend through her exceptional performance. Amidst Alibaba’s struggle with sluggish growth, Daisy took over from Jiang Fan and pushed forward with unfinished tasks, marking another milestone moment after 2017. She bravely carried out structural reforms, merging Taobao and Tmall, sparking the “from trading to consumption” strategy. As a significant source of the company’s profit, Daisy became one of the most powerful women in Alibaba and an exemplar of career advancement.
Starting from the most basic customer service role, Daisy climbed up to the position of CEO of Alibaba Business Group through experience in sales, marketing, human resources, finance, and other departments. Her growth was like a “living chess piece” in Jack Ma’s hands, exerting influence wherever the company needed her. Daisy once said that she was willing to respond to the company’s needs without consideration for personal gain or loss.
The career of Gu Pingping (Abu) at Pinduoduo is also noteworthy. Over 15 years, she grew from an intern into a key figure comparable to the CEO. During the transformation period, she not only played a key role in important departments like marketing and recruitment but also proposed and refined the group-buying model and introduced gamification elements, solidifying Pinduoduo’s competitive position in the market.
Returning to the initial question, how to become a successful female CEO?
In the Chinese Internet field, their success does not rely on power strategies or tricks, but on a deep understanding of business models, bold leadership of key projects, and the ability to adapt and show resilience in the face of challenges and changes.
In the business realm, women leaders have shown extraordinary talent and strength. They find a unique balance between traditional gender roles and modern leadership demands, sometimes even breaking gender barriers, demonstrating a leadership style that approaches gender neutrality.
Facing the constant challenges of the business world, these female leaders exhibit an art of leadership that is both strong and flexible. They know how to mobilize resources and rally forces, emerging at critical company moments to lead the team against adversity. Some female CEOs exhibit unparalleled fighting spirit and professionalism. Coupled with their sincere communication and genuine empathy, they not only establish strong team trust but also demonstrate resolute leadership when it matters most.
Of particular note, the management style of female leaders often maintains a high degree of alignment with the company culture or the founder’s style. They not only implement the founders’ visions but also display remarkable patience and loyalty. However, it is worth noting that despite their outstanding performance, their self-assessment often reflects humility. This phenomenon may be related to the impostor syndrome, a common feeling among high-achieving women, where many successful women in male-dominated fields often doubt their own abilities.
Summarizing the success stories of female leaders, it’s not hard to find some commonalities: they have become a strong pivot in the leadership level, and at the same time, they have found a unique way to stand between societal gender perceptions and business achievement. Just like the flower name chosen by Dai Shan, “Su Quan,” these female leaders are like highly skilled and brave heroines from Jin Yong’s novels, building their own legends in the business world with a spirit of matching men in every respect.
In the fictional world of literature, Su Quan first appeared as the wife of the leader of the Divine Dragon Sect, a prestigious identity. However, as she chose to leave Divine Dragon Island with the protagonist Wei Xiaobao, her life trajectory took a dramatic turn.
Su Quan’s character is gradually shaped into a powerful and strong woman in the story, playing an irreplaceable role in Wei Xiaobao’s life. Her character has become so ingrained in people’s hearts that when mentioning her, people no longer rely on her relationship with Wei Xiaobao to define her.
Like Su Quan, these women may have already transcended the limitations of establishing their identities by depending on others. When mentioning these powerful females, there is no need for the aid of other relationships: their own names have already become symbols representing the strength and legendary charisma of Chinese women.
Such low-key yet powerful female CEOs in China, with their actions and accomplishments, elucidate independence and strength, their stories and achievements enough to inspire every woman to advance towards their dreams.
