Meet the Women

Su Xiaoyan

Changshu, China

Profession
Manufacturing
Business
Changshu Zhuohui Optoelectronics Technology Co. Ltd
Country
China
partner school
Tsinghua University-HEC
I was amazed by the program courses, our faculty from Tsinghua and HEC, and my classmates. Thanks to the 10,000 Women program, it was an unforgettable experience.

Business Overview

I established my business in 2009 and we research, develop, produce and sell energy-saving lighting products. We have 45 employees, and over the years, we have produced more than 65,000 LED lights and filed more than 100 patents in research and production. We have our own research and development unit and a factory for product development and production. 

Challenges

We are well positioned in product R&D and production capacity, however, our biggest challenge is expanding our market share. We are competing with the world’s leading brands in lighting products such as Philips and GE, so a blue ocean marketing strategy is critical.

The other critical challenge I face is access to capital, which is imperative to expand my business in order to compete. 

Results

10,000 Women has helped me grow my business and broaden my vision as an entrepreneur. Originally, I was an engineer focused on energy-saving lighting. I had very little exposure to management education. The 10,000 Women program has been the most important business education opportunity for me during this journey of as an entrepreneur.

Since my graduation in January 2011, I have:

  • Built an excellent research and development team
  • Increased my revenue by 66%
  • Increased my staff size by 18%
  • Increased my profitability by 40%

Future Goals 

My goal in the next 3 years is to triple my annual production and to establish a branch office outside of Jiangsu province.

Having learned how to write a strong business plan in the 10,000 Women program, I intend to use this and my growth record to seek funding opportunities.