WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP:

Fanny Zou

The Women In Leadership series by Bureau Veritas Certification compiles a variety of interviews from our female managers, providing a platform to speak on the challenges and opportunities they have faced throughout their careers. Join us each month to hear the stories of some of our many #WomenInLeadership.

For the past 26 years, Fanny Zou has worked in Testing Inspection and Certification (TIC). After receiving her Masters in HR management, Fanny joined her first TIC body in 1995, where she worked for 10 years before joining Bureau Veritas. She reflects on her career so far, sharing her thoughts on work-life balance, contending with time differences and how to be a strong leader.

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Fanny Zou
Fanny
Zou

Certification General Manager

Bureau Veritas China

The future belongs to women who can break the mold.

What does your typical work day look like?

My days are anything but typical! As Certification General Manager, I am in charge of sales and operations for a broad region that includes mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. My team is 400-strong: I work closely with managers to help us meet KPIs and also ensure sustainable development for our division.

I regularly visit clients in person. I would say that 20% of my time is spent visiting clients to learn from them firsthand about their needs and how we can best support them. I really value the opportunity to hear from our clients about market trends and changes.

I am also in contact with other divisions and teams around the world. I lead by example and encourage collaboration and teamwork, both within my team and, more broadly, with our international colleagues. Bureau Veritas is a big family, and we do our best work when we put our heads together to come up with solutions.

How has your career evolved over time?

I’ve been with Bureau Veritas now for 16 years. I started in a different role, and joined Certification four years ago. I love what I do because we bring real value to clients. By enabling them to manage their risks in terms of quality, health and safety, sustainability and more, we help them succeed. I am proud to work in TIC.

I’ve also seen a fair amount of change in the TIC sector. For one thing, there are more and more women in leadership positions, and more opportunities for us. Another change is that clients in China are increasingly interested in risk management, making certification a more attractive service.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your role today, and how do you overcome them?

In order to work around time differences, I often put in long hours. I interact with colleagues everywhere in the world, including the Service Line in Paris. When we have global meetings, we’re in the office late into the night so we can talk with our colleagues halfway around the world. However, the benefits of such a global network makes the unusual schedule worth it.

Another challenge many women face is balancing work, life and kids. In 16 years with Bureau Veritas, I have learned that the key is to be engaged in every aspect of your life. As I mentioned before, my job includes a lot of travel—it would have to, with 25 branch offices in China alone! Luckily, I love what I do, and it isn’t hard to be present and enthusiastic.

What do you think women specifically need to know to be strong leaders?

I would say this to any woman who wants to make her mark in her workplace: sometimes women take a more detail-oriented approach and this can seem like a disadvantage. But I say, the devil is in the detail, and our careful attention to detail is actually an advantage. The future belongs to women who can break the mold. Be brave, step up and you will be rewarded.