Betting on a Startup: CHRO Willa Wang

Posted by Echo Han on Mar 22, 2023 11:15:53 PM

When Willa Wang decided to come on board as Chief Human Resources Officer for Geek+ in 2019, her friends and former colleagues politely told her to think carefully. 

“‘There’s no need to start again,’ they said,” as the then- senior executive at Lenovo had a very successful life already planned out. Everyone around her wanted to know why Wang would leave a high-ranking position with an international brand after working there for 15 years, for a then little-known fledgling robotics company. 

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Wang said at Lenovo her journey could be characterized as a progression from one to infinite, whereas at Geek+, she started from scratch and embarked on a journey from zero to one. “It brought a sense of freshness and a strong feeling of accomplishment I didn’t get from a big company.”  

Upon joining Geek+, Wang expressed to CEO Yong Zheng that she aspired for this new position to be both her second and final career move. “I hoped that Geek+ will become one of ‘Fortune Global 500’” she said. “I still feel the same.”  

Four years later, CHRO Wang continues developing and executing human resource strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization, specifically in the areas of talent acquisition, talent management and culture. 

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Why Geek+? 

Wang was intrigued by the fact that all of the company's founders had experience working for global companies, and that Geek+ was expanding its presence around the world. This global perspective and ambition aligned with Wang’s goals and aspirations, and she felt that working at Geek+ would provide her with exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth. 

  

But working for a startup, as Wang came to find out, isn’t always easy. When she accepted the position, the leadership team was made up of what she calls intelligent science guys, men with degrees from top universities who were also, according to Wang, well set in their ways. The biggest challenge they faced was to create some common ground for people from various backgrounds, including Hongyan Liu, CFO of the company and the other woman in the C-Suite. 

 

Board meetings were quiet at the beginning, Wang says, but by implementing new strategies and activities, the leaders were able to transform them into a more collaborative and engaging environment.  By fostering a culture of openness and encouraging constructive feedback, the leaders created a team where members felt comfortable sharing their ideas and challenging each other. 

Geek+ Leads the Way in Transparency and Openness 

One of the ways Geek+ demonstrates this commitment is through its Friday lunch meetings, where employees from different departments and levels of the company come together to share their opinions and ideas. These meetings create an open forum for discussion and collaboration, and give employees a chance to voice their thoughts. 

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company organized virtual round table meetings with its global teams to share information and best practices. These meetings brought together employees from different countries and cultures to discuss and to share ideas. 

 

With Geek+’s global strategy, the company has seen rapid growth in recent years, expanding its operations to Europe, the Americas, and beyond. 

 

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Working in Technology as a Woman 

In her daily life off the clock, Wang says she loves to explore technology with her family.  They watch robot videos, she talks about different robotic technologies with her son, and she says she was surprised the first time she used ChatGPT. 

 

"Technology is something that has always explored unknowns, it stimulates people’s curiosity,” said Wang. “I’m proud to be part of it.” 

 

It is a well-known fact that working at a technology company often means being part of a predominantly male group. To survive and thrive in this male-dominated sector, Wang has adopted a two-part philosophy, which sounds as complex as the situation she finds herself in. 

 

 “Don’t think of yourself as a woman but be a woman at the same time.” 

 

The first part “don’t think of yourself as a woman,” means to Wang that women should not allow their gender to hold them back or limit their potential in any way. The value of a woman’s contributions, her decision-making abilities, and work output should never be considered less valuable than that of their male counterparts, says Wang. 

 

The second part, “be a woman at the same time," celebrates the unique strengths that women bring to leadership roles. Wang believes that women are more likely to prioritize empathy and emotional intelligence in their leadership approach, which can be powerful in motivating and unifying a team. Their intuition and creativity can be equally valuable in driving success.  

 

Wang encourages women to recognize and embrace their unique abilities and make the most of them. As a female leader, Wang says she understands the value of bringing diverse perspectives and approaches to the table, and she strives to foster a workplace culture that promotes inclusivity, celebrates individual strengths, and fosters confidence, no matter the gender or race of the employee. 

 

"Building trust with others relies not on what one claims to do, but on the actions they take, the empathy they show, and the willingness to feel and acknowledge the pain of others,” she said. 

 

To Build One Geek+ 

    Through her ability to foster a common sense of management, while cultivating a shared dream and understanding between colleagues, Wang has played a crucial role in the growth and development of Geek+. When she first joined the company, there were only 500 employees, but through her leadership and guidance, the company has tripled in size.  

 

Additionally, under her direction, Geek+'s international business has expanded significantly,  Wang's contributions have helped build a cohesive and successful team at Geek+. Through this effort, the company's DNA is becoming more sophisticated and mature. Wang's leadership and dedication to excellence have played a pivotal role in ensuring Geek+ remains at the forefront of innovation. 

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