Interview with Guo Yanshuang, Head of the Devices Department, FGI Technology Center

Seize the opportunity and grow amidst uncertainty

From hardware engineer and component engineer to now leading a team of 12, Guo Yanshuang said, "The company gave me an opportunity, so I thought I'd give it my all." She proactively stepped out of her comfort zone and quickly transformed her mindset: from focusing on individual tasks and working alone to coordinating teamwork; from a craftsman's mindset of delving into technical details to a management mindset that balances planning, coaching, and collaboration.

To quickly adapt to the job requirements, she immediately delved into management knowledge and honed her communication skills, fully activating the team's vitality and pursuing a synergistic effect where 1+1>2. The team members ranged in age from those born in the 1970s to those born in the 2000s, with significant differences in thinking and high communication costs. "In the past, I always tried to assign tasks according to my own methods, but the young people didn't appreciate it." So she began to adjust: listening more, asking more questions, and encouraging young people to participate in the design of solutions. "To make them feel that this isn't just a task assigned by the leader, but a project we're working on together."

The Components Department is a platform-based department; it doesn't directly manufacture products but supports all product lines. Their goal is simple: to select the most cost-effective, stable, and versatile components. However, reality is harsh—located in a small town, information is limited, and they lag behind their industry peers in accessing new technologies. This problem troubled her for a long time. After careful consideration, she and her team took the initiative: attending various industry exhibitions to capture the latest component developments; proactively connecting with high-quality suppliers to gain in-depth understanding of product performance and industry trends; and inviting industry experts to provide on-site training, turning every exchange into a learning opportunity to fill gaps and strengthen capabilities. "We are not without gaps, but we are constantly narrowing them."

Embrace differences and let women's power shine

Her team consists of four women, making it one of the departments with the highest proportion of women in the technology center. In the male-dominated technology field, she does not shy away from the objective challenges that come with gender, nor does she fail to make the most of the unique natural advantages of women, allowing every bit of their strength to be fully unleashed.

The company's high-voltage electrical products are bulky, and the testing process carries certain risks, often involving business trips and underground work. Physical differences in strength and a fear of high-voltage testing become the first hurdle for many women entering this field. "When I first joined the company, I had no idea that IGBT short-circuit tests could cause the machine to explode. I just stood there watching, clueless. Looking back now, I was truly ignorant and fearless," Guo Yanshuang recalled with a smile. "It wasn't until I personally experienced destructive testing that I truly understood the importance of respecting technology and safety. Later, I became more timid, but I became more rigorous and thorough in my work—as long as the initial protective measures are in place and the plan is thoroughly reviewed, I still encourage everyone to go for it."

At the same time, she readily accepts and leverages the unique strengths of women: meticulousness allows her to accurately grasp details and loopholes in her work; strong communication skills enable her to quickly resolve team conflicts and build consensus; and a strong affinity makes it easier to build rapport with external stakeholders. She has a greater advantage in maintaining good departmental relationships, controlling work details, and facilitating external communication. "Our department has a lot of external communication, meeting suppliers from different countries and cultures. Women often find it easier to build rapport in these situations."

Guo Yanshuang's growth was also deeply influenced by her female seniors in the company. "When the company was just developing frequency converters, the conditions were tough and the workload was extremely heavy. The female teachers went to the site to debug time and time again. Their hands-on skills are still among the best in the industry today." Her tone was full of admiration. "Those female teachers who have retired worked under conditions ten times tougher than now, but they always rushed to the front line without a single complaint. They never talked about grand principles, but their every word and action was the best example, influencing not only us younger women, but also deeply touching the male colleagues around them."

Focusing on the present, moving steadily forward amidst change

The company's products are expanding into emerging fields, placing higher demands on economic efficiency, supply chain responsiveness, and delivery speed. She and her team are shifting from reactive to proactive anticipation: conducting extensive research on mainstream brands in the early stages of product selection, promoting compatible designs, and reducing reliance on single suppliers; and advancing domestic substitution to mitigate the risk of supply chain disruptions caused by changes in international trade policies.

She didn't set lofty goals for herself, but she had a simple vision: not to fall behind in the company's rapid development. She is learning product manager thinking tools, exploring industry analysis models, and striving to make technical decisions more scientific and systematic.

She didn't set lofty goals for herself, but she had a simple vision: not to fall behind in the company's rapid development. She is learning product manager thinking tools, exploring industry analysis models, and striving to make technical decisions more scientific and systematic.

She is not an exception among female technology managers, nor is she a labeled role model. She is an epitome of countless working women in this era who stick to their posts and pursue value. She is just Guo Yanshuang—an ordinary person who is deeply rooted in technology, grows in management, and finds her rhythm between family and career.

And this is perhaps the most authentic and precious aspect of this era.