CTE is celebrating International Women’s Day
Interview with women leaders – Xie Hui

#WomenWhoLeads – Interview with Xie Hui

With over 20 years’ working experience in telecommunications, Mrs Xie is the deputy director of mobile business in China Telecom (Europe) based in UK.

Q: Tell us one thing that you have learnt that’s important in the work? 

As most people I started at grass-roots level and I can still remember the days we used to work in the field with direct marketing campaign, it was hard but also lots of fun. So I think when you love your job, you will be willing to take extra efforts and naturally getting better at it.

Q: Over the years, have you encountered any barriers to your success or growth?

Well I wouldn’t really think them as barriers because we shouldn’t be setting limits for ourselves, instead we should treat them as valuable lessons to learn. It’s true that being a woman in this business is tough and there are so few of female leaders that we can see. In many occasions I’m the only woman in the room… which can be quite intimidating, but I’m positive that things will change for better. Sometimes you just need to ignore the clichés or stereotype and be yourself.

Q: How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?

I often refer to thinking out-of-the-box in times of difficulty, such as think of every challenge to be an opportunity so things would look differently. What else can I do to solve the problem? Is there any new approach that I can try? This is also what I’ve been telling my team: don’t set limit to yourself. Since the pandemic my department has taken a hit, but I would tell my team not to panic nor to stop trying. Maybe we don’t have the solution for now but I do believe that once we get it through it would be a huge step ahead then those who didn’t.

Q: What skills do you believe are inherent to women and how do they add value to a business?

I think there’s great strength within women and that’s something truly unique to us. I often feel the responsibility to care and nurture each member of my team so they can fully realize their potential. As a leader when you put efforts in investing your team, to create space for their development, they will be more motivated to commit to the job.

Q: For those young women who want to take a role in leadership but are afraid to fail, what suggestions do you have? 

There’s a Chinese idiom “以柔克刚” meaning “Conquering the unyielding with the yielding” which to me is the perfect interpretation of how female can advance in their career. Often time in the workplace people have different opinions, how to convince others to accept your ideas? Take a comprehensive and strategic approach will make people more willing to listen. In some situations, you will be surprised how taking 1 step back can lead to 2 steps forward.

Q: Define a great leader—what are some traits you think great leaders possess?    

For me a great leader should have strong self-motivation and self-discipline, as in Chinese we say “A fine horse dashes without a horsewhip”. Leaders are usually the ones employees look up to, so it’s particularly important to be a good role model. On top of that, great leaders are often excellent visionaries who can see the potential and lead others to it by taking risks, listening and assuming responsibilities.

Q: Throughout your career, who has been a big inspiration to you and why?

I was fortunate enough to have met my first mentor – an outstanding female as my manager at the beginning of my career. She had created a great working environment where employees can take pride in what they do. And she always told me “give it your best because all that hardship will eventually become your wealth” –  and she is right! Being a woman and a mother herself, she also showed me how to balance work and life. She used to bring her children to work with her. For me it’s a very creative approach that benefits to both of them. Not only she got to spend more time with her kids but her kids were given to opportunity to see their mother’s professional competence therefore a positive influence for their own development. So now I would do the same. At China Telecom we have this “Family day” every month, I would bring my young daughter to the office to meet other kids which was really fun and educational as well.

Q: How do you balance your work and personal life?

I would say that health is the key to having a balanced life. A good health can support your daily activities and contribute to overall happiness in life. So I keep the habit of doing exercise on a regular basis. Prior to pandemic I would go jogging with my daughter everyday so she also learns the importance of it, and we really enjoy it.

Q: What would you tell your younger self 10 years ago from now?

That’s a really interesting question! 20 years’ ago I obtained my MBA here in and went back to China for work. I’d never have thought that I could have the opportunity to come here to broaden my professional experience. So I guess I want to thank my younger self for never giving up until achieving my goals.

Q: If you have to choose an animal to describe your leadership style, which one would you choose and why?

It’s funny that this year happens to be the year of the Ox, because I would think myself as the leader of an ox herd with two priorities: first of all, I am responsible for the well-being of my team; secondly I need to lead them to water and resources so they can thrive in the workplace.     

Read more stories of women at CTE here.

About China Telecom (Europe) Ltd.:
China Telecom (Europe) Ltd. (CTE) provides integrated telecoms and communications services as a local solutions provider for Chinese companies and a global solutions provider for multinational corporations. CTE’s unrivalled knowledge of the Chinese market, and regional offices across Europe, make CTE an ideal partner for European and Asian businesses looking to work in Europe, China and Asia. To find out more about CTE business, go to www.chinatelecomeurope.com.