No country in the world can claim to have achieved gender equality. Viewed by some as second-class citizens, women have been on the path for equal rights for more than 200 years. While it has been a bumpy road, there have always been great women making history, pushing forward social progress with their remarkable talents, and inspiring generations to come with their example.

From Emmeline Pankhurst to Clara Zetkin, these women gave their sweat, tears, and even their lives in the fight for equal rights. From Rosamond Soong to Mother Teresa, they promoted world peace and fought for justice; From Marie Curie to Youyou Tu, they have helped push the cause of human science to a new level.

The first International Working Women's Day was held on March 8, 1911. It has been 100 years since then. With the progress and development of society, generation after generation of outstanding female representatives have altered the course of history with their courage, wisdom, charm, and personality. Facing change and going against the prevailing trends, they have become the role models for women of later generations.

On this Women's Day, we interviewed several women and alumni representatives of the GK program to find out what kind of guidance and strength their role models gave them.

Margaret Han, Class of 2021

Co-founder

Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology Co., Ltd. (DOBOT)

Management Style: Goal Orientation, Combining Strength and Flexibility, A Pursuit of Excellence

Inspirational Role Model: Angela Merkel. As the first female chancellor in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, she is a firm but gentle political heroine. When she took up her position, she inherited a country facing internal and external difficulties. Although the environment surrounding her administration did not create much optimism, she has been a rock of stability, fearless in the face of challenge and advancing with the times. Her leadership qualities, combining feminine subtlety with the bold edge of a reformer, make her an admirable example of leadership.

What she says: Life is a process of continuous experiences and evolution. Whether it is pursuing career advancement, focusing on family, or deepening professional knowledge and practice, we are all contributing towards a better world.

Audrey Li, Class of 2017

Director, Beijing Haowei Chase Investment Co., Ltd.

VP, Ekpac China

Management Style: Treasuring your loved ones, Valuing professionalism, Learning with humility

Inspirational Role Model: Mother Teresa. A Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mother Teresa devoted her life to Catholic charity. She once said we cannot do great things, but we can do small things with great love. Give the world the best you have anyway. Her story deeply inspired me to realize that leadership does not depend on one's position or power, but on one's impact. It is a kind of light and strength shining out from the inside, which inspires hope and confidence as well as causing happiness and joy. That is the power of true leadership.

What she says: Female leaders need to work harder than others to prove themselves to customers and employees to break past stereotypes of female bosses. In my opinion, this dedication is precisely the advantage of female leaders.

Sandy Ma, Class of 2018

Head of Media - Greater China

GlaxoSmithKline China

Management Style: Responsibility, Sincerity, Combining Strength and Flexibility

Inspirational Role Model: Sheryl Sandberg. Sheryl is the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and the first woman to serve on the company's board. She has led the transformation at Facebook and she is widely admired for her vision, courage, and honesty. Her advice to women in the workplace in her famous TED talk "Why we have too few women leaders" was one of introspection, saying that in many cases, we overstate external limiting women's development. She argued that most women were afraid, worried, or lacked belief in themselves, giving up before trying. She used her actions to encourage women to overcome their fears, to stand up, and to achieve what they want.

What she says: Happiness is more important than perfection. We can decide what's important, focus on what really matters, and strive to do our best.

Vinnie Ying, Class of 2019

CMO

XGIMI

Management Style: Purpose, Creativity, Empathy

Inspirational Role Model: One of my female bosses. Thinking big and insightfully are the first characteristics I think about her. She can seize the opportunities present at any moment and make long-term strategies. The trust and authority she places in her team not only makes the team a success, but also makes brings out talent in the future. Always open to new things, with a sense of fun, and focused on targets the occasion demands in her private and professional life, she is always ready to innovate and reinvent.

What she says: Learn everything around you, become experts in your fields, learn what you can, and let your ambitions burn away your obstacles.

Julie Zhu, Class of 2021

General Manager

Central China Real Estate Limited

Management Style: A readiness to take anything on, Valuing close connections, Taking care of the big picture so that little issues resolve themselves

Inspirational Role Model: Inspirational Role Model: Moxin Song. Moxin, the founder of the Camelia App, is a vivid entrepreneur with her own clothing brand. She recommends all kinds of women's life products on a daily basis. What she presents to her clients and team is a female leader with great aesthetic taste, strong professionalism, good personal image management, who is ready to embrace the new, rather than just the image of a hardworking entrepreneur. Her glamour and leadership are things I value.

What she says: Sinncere efforts will always bring you growth and rewards, whether or not they are tangible. The saying "A good sculptor uses a blunt knife" tells us to grow even if our attempts are clumsy.

For women, this has been a time of stress and challenge, but it is also a time of brilliance and splendor. On a wider stage to display their talents, they find more ways to realize their worth.

The women of the GK program are already outstanding leaders in different organizations, but they still strive to follow their own role models. Through their studies at the GK program, they understand today’s changes in the context of global changes. They not only help transform and enhance enterprises, but also better themselves. They are powerful in a male-dominated business society and fearless against the constraints of traditional ideas, facing challenges in the despite the uncertainties that still exist. They search for and wish emulate the light of progress not only for themselves but for women around the world.

Finally, we would like to wish all women a happy international women's day! We hope to meet you at the Guanghua Kellogg EMBA Program in the near future and move forward along the path of progress into the future.