In 2001, the parents of the current generation started Jiaxing Yongfa Electronics Co., Ltd. from scratch; in 2013, Xia Xiaoli took over the baton from her parents and assumed the responsibility of further developing and starting the company again... In just a few years, Tongxiang girl Xia Xiaoli transformed from an overseas returnee to the person in charge of the company's development. What stories and experiences did she and Yongfa Electronics go through? What feelings and insights did she have after taking over the company from her parents?
"My journey of taking over the management of the company can be considered a second entrepreneurship, starting from a small core team and building our own space," Xia Xiaoli smiled as she talked about her "second entrepreneurship" journey. Although difficulties, problems, and troubles kept coming, fortunately, she had a core team that supported her and helped her create a blue sky. "I am grateful to this team for their hard work, and I am grateful that I have the chance to grow with this team. I also hope that this 're-startup' model can give us a direction for the company's future development." Xia Xiaoli said frankly.
After completing her studies abroad, the post-80s new generation and her entrepreneurial experience answer: Why did you choose to study abroad when you were younger? What role did your overseas experience play in your personal growth and the development of your business?
Answer: After completing my undergraduate studies, I chose to study at Monash University in Australia for my graduate studies. Looking back, this was actually a challenge for a girl who had never left the country at the time. But for me personally, the most important aspect of this experience was that it trained me to be self-sufficient and developed my character. On the other hand, my overseas study experience has enabled me to become proficient in a foreign language, which will be very helpful for our business in the future when we engage in foreign trade. Actually, when I chose to study abroad, I had already mentally prepared myself to return and take over the business, including choosing a finance and accounting major, etc. I think that my early educational experiences are not only my own valuable wealth, but also have played a significant role in propelling me forward in my career as a business manager. From this perspective, it is just as important as the things I have learned in the development of my business.
Q: Your study abroad experience has given you more confidence, and these experiences are not only personal wealth but also important wealth for the company's future development. Looking back now, what do you think is the most valuable?
A: After returning from studying abroad, from 2010 to 2011, I spent over a year interning at several companies in Shanghai, mostly hoping to listen, observe, and learn more. Because in other companies, due to different standpoints, ways of thinking, and perspectives, one naturally considers many different things. For example, once, by chance, I went to one of our company's client companies to interview and work there for a while. This company's business is mainly retail, which is quite different from us as a manufacturer. The biggest difference is that we have to deal with end customers every day. During this experience, I learned many valuable things. For example, how to interact with consumers, what the end customers' needs for product attributes are, and these minute details that a manufacturer like us would not easily encounter without market research. This experience can also be said to be training my reverse thinking.