Dong Mingzhu: China’s Industrial Matriarch
How Gree’s chairwoman redefined Chinese manufacturing through resilience, innovation, and leadership.
✍️ Dr. Sarah Lee – Industrial Policy Specialist focusing on Chinese manufacturing
The Face of Industrial Leadership
In China’s male-dominated corporate landscape, Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, stands out as a rare figure: tough, outspoken, and unrelenting. Known as the “Iron Lady” of Chinese manufacturing, Dong has built Gree into one of the world’s largest home appliance makers — while reshaping what it means to lead a traditional industrial company in a digital age.
Her career, spanning over three decades, mirrors the story of China’s industrial rise: from export-driven manufacturing to technology-led global competition.
From Saleswoman to CEO
Dong’s story is often told as a tale of grit. She joined Gree in 1990 as a salesperson at the age of 36, rising through the ranks to become president in 2001 and later chairwoman. Her aggressive sales tactics and insistence on quality over volume transformed Gree from a provincial factory into a global brand.
Her rise challenged traditional gender norms, making her not only an industrial leader but also a symbol of women’s empowerment in Chinese business.
Innovation as Survival
Under Dong’s leadership, Gree invested heavily in R&D and self-reliance, ensuring the company wasn’t just assembling products but owning core technologies. This included advances in air-conditioning compressors, robotics, and renewable energy equipment.
Her mantra — “Without innovation, there is no future” — reflected the reality that Chinese manufacturers must compete not just on cost but on technological sophistication.
Confronting Global Competition
As trade wars and tariffs hit Chinese manufacturers, Dong became a vocal advocate for industrial independence. She emphasized moving up the value chain, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, and investing in smart manufacturing.
Gree’s global expansion has focused on branding as much as production, positioning its products in developed markets while maintaining scale in emerging ones.
Leadership Style
Dong is famous for her uncompromising style. She is direct with employees, unafraid of confrontation, and often clashes with competitors publicly. This persona has earned her both admiration and criticism. Supporters see her as a no-nonsense reformer, while detractors say she is overly rigid.
Yet few deny her effectiveness. Under her tenure, Gree’s revenues soared into the hundreds of billions of yuan, making it a model of industrial success in a sector often overshadowed by flashy internet firms.
Industry 4.0 and Finance Integration
Today, Dong is steering Gree toward Industry 4.0 transformation. The company is automating production lines, integrating IoT into appliances, and testing AI-driven predictive maintenance systems.
On the financial side, Gree has begun experimenting with digital supply chain financing. Some subsidiaries have explored blockchain-backed settlement tools for cross-border trade, ensuring suppliers get quicker liquidity. While low-key, such tools hint at how digital finance is creeping into traditional manufacturing ecosystems.
These integrations show Dong’s pragmatism: innovation isn’t only about products but also about the financial rails that sustain production.
A Rare Role Model
As one of China’s most prominent female executives, Dong Mingzhu is also a role model for women in business. She has consistently urged more women to pursue leadership roles in industry, arguing that resilience and adaptability are gender-neutral qualities essential for success.
Her visibility matters in a corporate landscape where women remain underrepresented in boardrooms and executive positions.
Outlook: The Industrial Matriarch’s Legacy
At 70, Dong shows little sign of slowing down. Her focus is on ensuring Gree remains competitive in a world where manufacturing is increasingly digital, automated, and geopolitically contested.
Her legacy will not just be air conditioners and appliances, but a blueprint for how traditional manufacturers can evolve in the face of global disruption.
For global readers, Dong Mingzhu’s story offers a reminder: while internet giants capture headlines, it is leaders like her — steady, disciplined, and fiercely committed — who ensure that China’s industrial foundations remain strong.
