30 Under 30 – Women in Code: Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Tech
How Chen Xia, a 24-year-old coder in Shanghai, is inspiring women to claim their space in China’s fast-growing AI sector.
📝 By Elena Foster | Emerging Markets Specialist
From Curiosity to Code
Chen Xia (24) was born in Suzhou, a city known for silk and gardens, but her interests leaned toward computers rather than tradition. As a teenager, she spent hours in internet cafés, not just playing games but also exploring programming forums. By 17, she had taught herself Python and built a chatbot for her school’s library system.
She later studied computer science at Fudan University, where she often found herself as the only woman in advanced coding classes. “I knew the odds were against me,” she recalls. “But I also knew that code doesn’t care about gender—it only cares about logic.”
Coding for AI Startups
After graduation, Chen joined a Shanghai-based AI startup developing natural language processing (NLP) tools for Chinese dialects. Her team’s breakthrough came with an AI assistant that could switch seamlessly between Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese—crucial for businesses operating across regions.
Chen leads the backend programming team, overseeing algorithms that power customer service bots used by banks, hospitals, and government services. Her leadership has made her a role model for women in an industry still dominated by men.
Inspiring Women in Tech
Beyond her technical work, Chen Xia mentors female students through coding bootcamps and Bilibili tutorials. Her series, “Girls Can Code Too”, has over a million views, with lessons ranging from debugging basics to building AI chat apps.
She often addresses cultural barriers directly: “In China, girls are told to study finance or teaching. I tell them—why not AI? Why not space science? Our minds are just as capable.”
Her advocacy aligns with national calls to expand 女性科技人才 (female talent in science and technology), ensuring women contribute to China’s innovation-driven future.
Recognition and Challenges
In 2023, Chen Xia was named in Forbes China 30 Under 30 – Technology. Yet, she admits challenges persist. Some male colleagues underestimate her abilities, and she often faces extra pressure to prove herself in meetings.
Instead of discouragement, she turns it into motivation: “越是艰难，越要向前 (the harder it is, the more we must push forward).”
Looking Ahead
Chen’s next ambition is to launch her own startup, focused on AI tools for education, making coding more accessible for rural schools. She envisions a platform where every student—boy or girl—can learn programming from their smartphone.
She also hopes to see more women in leadership across China’s tech firms. “Our generation must normalize female CEOs, not treat them as exceptions,” she says.
A Trailblazer for the Next Generation
On her desk, Chen keeps a sticky note with a quote from Grace Hopper, the American computer pioneer: “The most dangerous phrase is: we’ve always done it this way.”
For Chen Xia, breaking the glass ceiling isn’t just personal—it’s about rewriting the rules for an entire generation of Chinese women in tech.
