It is a common experience for an educated individual to be prepared to criticize their home country, yet feel uncomfortable when someone of another nationality makes similarly sharp observations. On the EMBA discovery expedition in Shanghai, as the only Chinese national from the
class, Lucy experienced a complex mix of emotions when her classmates raised concerns over contentious issues surrounding China. These included intellectual property, labor rights and accusations of imitation.
Although Lucy considers herself open to constructive criticism, she felt uncomfortable. “I’m a challenging person,” she reflects, “but when I heard someone else, not from my nationality, start to challenge, I felt… ‘Oh, this is my country!’” Despite respecting her classmates, Lucy felt a natural sense of defensiveness, knowing that some of these claims were oversimplified or inaccurate.
Stefan Michel, the Dean at this time who was leading the trip, quickly noticed Lucy’s inner conflict and invited her to address the group at the end of the visit. “People suddenly realized, ‘Oh, we forgot! Lucy, she is Chinese’.” As she stood before her classmates suddenly the whole room was completely quiet.¨
She gave a short talk and shared her pride in China’s rapid social and economic progress, highlighting the strides that had transformed the nation over the past few decades. She described the challenges and the remarkable resilience of the Chinese people while also acknowledging that there were complex realities and divergent perspectives to consider.
In that moment, her classmates gained an awareness of the complex position Lucy had been placed in, while Lucy gained a new understanding of the value of resilience, learning to broaden perspectives while engaging openly with contrasting views.
Having built an exceptional career in a global industrial engineering and technology company – Lucy spent over 18 years at Siemens, rising to become Senior Vice President from a background in mechanical engineering in their buildings division in Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “I apply my engineering mindset to tackle business challenges, breaking down complex issues into logical, structured components to simplify them.”
“Leadership style is personal. You can’t copy it”
Lucy transformed a business segment into a fast-growing, profitable business, known not only for its performance but for a people-centered culture. “As a Chinese person, I believe that kindness is not a weakness. It’s a powerful leadership style that fosters empathy, empowering employees to reach their full potential.”
She describes her decision to pursue an Executive MBA at IMD as pivotal in her career. At the time, she was a regional business development manager. Taking on the IMD EMBA program was a commitment to building a more profound understanding of executive leadership and the global business landscape. It was transformative, equipping her with the business insight and self-confidence to rise as an Asian woman in a competitive, global arena.
One of the most powerful experiences in her EMBA journey came during an exercise with the Swiss Army Forces, where she and her classmates endured mentally and physically demanding tasks over nearly three days. Rotating roles every six hours, they faced complex missions that required each participant to lead, support, and observe from different levels of responsibility.
The exercise demanded more than role-playing; it required deep self-reflection and the courage to confront personal strengths and limitations. “You learn how to lead, how to support, and how to motivate. It’s like you are standing in front of an amplified mirror to learn who you are,” she says.
During her EMBA mastering stage, Lucy also met her first leadership coach from IMD, whose influence shaped her leadership approach. After graduation, she began working with executive coach Thomas Gelmi, who has been her leadership coach ever since. “Every leader should have a
lifetime coach,” she says. “There are always blind spots. Having someone who can see what you can’t is invaluable.”
Her coach has helped her develop her unique leadership style. “Leadership is personal,” she says. “You can’t copy it. You have to develop it from within. Reflection and self-awareness are instrumental because you cannot lead others well until you lead yourself well.”
After transitioning from Siemens to ABB, Lucy received valuable advice from her coach on adapting to a new culture. He offered her a powerful perspective: “Imagine you’re playing a game you know well—the rules, techniques, and skills are all familiar. Now, you’re joining a new game with different rules and strategies. The faster you adapt to these changes, the sooner you’ll make an impact.”
Lucy has proceeded to flourish, gaining promotion to become a strong influencer in the building automation industry with a specialization in smart buildings. Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), have revolutionized how we interact with our
living and working spaces, helping transform buildings into optimized spaces of energy efficiency, comfort and convenience, minimizing waste and contributing to more sustainable operations. She has championed smart buildings that go beyond just operational efficiency—focusing on creating healthier environments that promote occupants’ quality of life and productivity.
Her approach brings focus. She ensures R&D is closely linked to product development, sharpens team performance, and streamlines organizational structures by reducing unnecessary layers, and encourages innovation. Through strategic cost optimization and increased productivity, she achieved double digit revenue growth and added 300 basis points improvement to EBITA in one 18-month period.
While globalization has encountered fissures, the significant number of Chinese executives in the West – and indeed westerners in China – serves to confirm the commonality of the human experience. We may criticize each other, and perhaps robustly if we are honest in our views. But we must never stop learning from each other.
“I apply my engineering mindset to tackle business challenges, breaking down complex issues into logical, structured components to simplify them”
