Female leaders in the spotlight at 'Meet Her' campaign

Dong Jun / SHINE

Female leaders are finding a strong voice in the business world.

Shanghai Daily launched a campaign “Meet Her” in June following the success of last year’s “The Women· Reform· Leadership Forum,” and 14 outstanding women, selected for their roles as business leaders and influencers, were featured during celebrations of the publication’s 20th anniversary at Shanghai Tower on October 28.

The “Meet Her” campaign honored outstanding companies and women for pursuing gender equality and female leadership.

The campaign was sponsored by the research development office of Shanghai’s intellectual and moral promotion committee and Shanghai Women’s Federation, and organized by Shanghai Daily. It is supported by Shanghai Daily MNC Communication Club and Shanghai Female Entrepreneurs Association.

Focusing on women's outstanding achievements across industries and fields, the program is intended to empower women’s careers and leadership and push forward gender equality in business.

“Individual differences are much larger than gender differences,” said Weng Wenlei, vice president of Shanghai Women’s Federation. “It is not your gender that makes you a leader but your own characteristics.”

Weng thinks willpower, perception and ability to compromise lead to success.

“Female leaders will play more and more important roles,” says Wang Yanshui, deputy head of research at the intellectual and moral promotion committee office. 

“Good leaders are good, regardless of their gender,” said Liu Qi, deputy editor-in-chief of Shanghai Daily. “Women and men have different advantages in the job market.”

Liu thinks male leaders tend to focus more on results while female leaders pay more attention to the process. 

The winners were Katherine Weng, president of Mary Kay (China) Ltd; Elena Gong, vice president of Global Human Resources at Delphi Technologies; Sophie Sun, managing director of Merck China Innovation Hub and vice president of Merck Strategy and Transformation China; Holly Lei, president of Covestro China; Zhang Kai, CEO of Manulife-Sinochem; Sherry Fu, founding director of the University of Manchester China Center; Xu Lan, chief Information officer of Michelin Asia-Pacific and chief administrative officer of Michelin China; Claire Chiang, senior vice president of Banyan Tree Holdings Limited and chair of the China business development; Ada Xu, chief marketing officer of Europ Assistance In China; Wench H. Andersen, senior vice president of global operations, China & Korea at Kongsberg Maritime China Ltd; Mei Xue, Party secretary and general manager of Shanghai Tower Business Operation Co; Gan Zhiyi, director of Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum; Amy Hong, head of human resources at UOB China; and Diane Yao, director of strategic clients and markets of Deloitte China.

Dong Jun / SHINE