Dong Mingzhu, Chairperson and President of Gree Electric Appliances, a deputy to the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th National People's Congress (NPC), a National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter, and a delegate to the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th National Women's Congress of China [Photo by Zhang Jiamin/Women of China]

Dubbed an "iron woman," Dong Mingzhu is one of China's best-known and toughest businesswomen, according to her legendary life story. She began at the bottom, but she worked hard, and she worked her way up the corporate ladder to head a leading home appliance manufacturer in China. 

In 1990, Dong quit her job, in her hometown (Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province), so she could seize business opportunities in Zhuhai, a city in South China's Guangdong Province, which had long been at the forefront of China's reform and opening up. 

After she joined Gree, as an entry-level salesperson, she quickly showed her ability. Eventually, she was assigned to East China's Anhui Province. In 1992, her sales performance reached 16 million yuan (US $2.22 million), which made her the company's top salesperson. Subsequently, she was transferred to Nanjing, where the air-conditioner market was nearly saturated. However, she signed an order worth two million yuan (US $277,778), and her personal sales soared to 36.5 million yuan (US $5.1 million) that year. 

Before she was named president of Gree, Dong was promoted several times, due to her outstanding performance. Throughout the years, she has devoted her heart and soul to the company's development. Gree, led by Dong, has benefited a lot from China's reform and opening up, and during that time the company has made breakthroughs in proprietary technologies. Gree has emphasized scientific research. The company now has more than 50,000 researchers and technical workers. Gree has established 16 research institutes, and it has applied for more than 110,000 patents. 

Dong has helped transform Gree into a technology-based home appliance giant. In 2023, Gree ranked 331 on Forbes' Global 2000 list, an international ranking of the world's biggest, most powerful, and most valuable publicly listed companies. Dong has made the list of the world's most powerful women in business, released annually by Fortune magazine, several times. 

"During the past years, I have contributed to the high-quality development of China's manufacturing industry. I will give full play to women's advantages in scientific and technological innovation, and in promoting the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry," says Dong.

(Women of China English Monthly December 2023 issue)