Financial "Her" Power | Exclusive Interview with Liu Qiong, Secretary of the Board and Chief Financial Officer of Cathay Insurance: Women's Career Growth Is Not Just About "Balance," but Also About Focus and Self-Consistency

Everyday Economic News Reporter | Yuan Yuan   Everyday Editor | Wei Wenyí

In modern society, women’s identities are becoming increasingly diverse and rich—mothers, wives, daughters, workplace experts… They can be both decisive and resilient, as well as gentle and water-like. More importantly, regardless of their roles and postures, women’s self-identity and self-worth have been elevated like never before, and the power of “her” has gained widespread social attention. Women are shining in their own fields with their unique brilliance.

The insurance industry is no exception. In recent years, women in management positions have become more common, continuously showcasing their brilliance in the workplace. So, what is their unique approach to management? How do they skillfully balance and switch roles between work and family?

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Daily Economic News interviewed Liu Qiong, Secretary of the Board and Chief Financial Officer of Guotai Property & Casualty Insurance. As a female leader with many years of experience in the financial sector, she shared insightful perspectives on topics such as the integration of family and work for women in the workplace, career development, female leadership, and the technological empowerment of the property and casualty insurance industry—combining practical value with industry reflection.

Liu Qiong believes that women in the workplace should not be bound by the obsession with “balance.” Clear choices at different life stages, continuous professional development, and a positive attitude toward facing problems are the core supports for navigating career cycles. Whether in career development or social recognition, today’s women are experiencing a more diverse and inclusive environment for growth.

Guotai Property & Casualty Insurance Secretary of the Board Liu Qiong Photo Source: Provided by interviewee

Breaking the Obsession with Balance: Focusing on the Present to Naturally Integrate Work and Family

“How do you balance work and family?”—this is almost a universal question posed to every woman in the workplace and a core topic often discussed in public opinion. Liu Qiong admits that her answer has varied at different stages. Now, she prefers to respond with “integration” rather than “balance.”

Liu Qiong states, “‘Balance’ tends to set the two against each other, which isn’t accurate. In fact, work and family are often interconnected and integrated; there’s no need to draw strict boundaries. As a core management figure in a company, sudden work demands are unavoidable. Completely separating work from family isn’t realistic. A more effective approach is to maintain extreme focus in each role.”

“When working, devote yourself fully; when spending time with family, don’t think about other things—this is more effective than trying to balance,” Liu Qiong explains. She emphasizes that mental adjustment is especially important when switching roles. When work interrupts leisure moments unexpectedly, her approach is twofold: first, minimize such situations through proactive time management; second, if an unexpected situation occurs, quickly shift into problem-solving mode rather than falling into anxiety. “Anxiety itself has no value. When something happens, accepting it as the best solution at that moment, focusing on solving it, and resolving it as early as possible is the most rational choice.”

This “integrated” approach to handling matters has also enabled Liu Qiong to find a mutually empowering fit between family and work. She jokes, “The communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills learned at work can benefit family life; conversely, family experiences can make management perspectives softer and more comprehensive. The two are not inherently in conflict.”

“Women in the workplace don’t need to be bound by the obsession with ‘balance’ or the standards of ‘perfection.’ As long as they find their own rhythm, stay true to their professional初心, and balance passion with responsibility, they can shine in different roles. In the tide of the times, they will create their own精彩人生,” Liu Qiong believes. With the continuous advancement of gender equality and increasing recognition of women’s value in the industry, women’s development space will become broader. More diverse choices and a more inclusive environment will ultimately allow every woman to live as she desires.

Career Growth Principles: Clear Choices, Solid Skills, Positive Attitude

Currently, women entering the workforce still face gender considerations during job searches and anxiety about the relationship between family and work. Drawing from her own career experience, Liu Qiong offers three growth tips for young women in the workplace, with the core being “clarify priorities, hone skills, and maintain a positive mindset.”

Liu Qiong believes that different life stages have different core pursuits, and clear choices are essential. “Right after graduation, career development should be the priority—this stage is about accumulating skills and building a professional framework. After starting a family, you can adjust your focus toward family based on your situation. The key is to have your own boundaries and clear goals at each stage, without being swayed by external voices.”

Professional ability is the foundation and confidence for women in the workplace. “When skills improve, time management and task completion efficiency will also increase, and the so-called ‘balance ability’ will naturally strengthen,” she says. Instead of falling into pointless anxiety, it’s better to invest energy in refining your expertise—this is the core strategy for handling all uncertainties at work. Whether a newcomer or a management professional, continuous professional iteration is always the driving force of career development.

Equally important is maintaining a positive attitude when facing problems. “I’ve always believed that ‘anxiety is useless; solving problems is the key.’ Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t feel anxious, but we need to learn to quickly regulate our emotions,” Liu Qiong explains. As her career has progressed, her ability to handle anxiety has improved, supported by the belief that “problems can be solved,” and even a bit of “Qiqi spirit” (a reference to a resilient attitude). When under extreme pressure or facing tough issues, the phrase “Because I believe, I see” has become her underlying mental support.

Regarding stress relief, Liu Qiong shares her methods: first, solitude and introspection to calm down and clarify the essence of problems; second, shifting attention through exercise, watching movies, or spending time with children—especially exercise, which must be engaging enough to fully focus the mind. When the body is busy, the mind naturally relaxes.

Women’s Leadership: Leverage Strengths, Fill Gaps, Create Value from Multiple Perspectives

In management roles centered on communication and coordination, what unique value can women’s gender traits bring? Liu Qiong believes, “Overall, women are more sensitive to others’ emotional changes, which can make team communication smoother and management decisions more comprehensive.”

She emphasizes that excellent female leaders are not solely relying on innate advantages but also need to learn to “leverage strengths and fill gaps.” “Women managers should highlight their personality strengths while actively improving their weaknesses—making their柔软 (gentle) powerful and their细腻 (delicate) broad-minded.”

Regarding execution, with her background in finance and internet industries, Liu Qiong has her own understanding: “Execution isn’t just ‘I say, you do.’ It starts with clear discussion—why do it, how to do it, what results are expected. Maintaining open communication before decisions is necessary. But once a plan is set, it must be executed without compromise, achieving high standards. If deviations occur, they should be discussed and adjusted promptly.” To her, true execution combines “clarity of purpose, high efficiency, and high quality.”

In team management, Liu Qiong also emphasizes the advantages of diversity. She believes that although male and female team members may differ in communication styles and interests, there’s no significant gender difference in capability and professionalism. “We have decisive women employees and meticulous men employees. But the core in assigning tasks and evaluating performance is always professional ability, not gender.” She also considers the importance of understanding different characteristics of team members of various genders and ages, making communication targeted and turning team diversity into a competitive advantage.

Liu Qiong notes that the proportion of women in leadership roles within the insurance industry has been steadily increasing. This trend is driven by multiple factors: on one hand, the soft requirements for female representation in senior management and boards create better opportunities; on the other hand, the rise of the only-child generation in the workforce has promoted gender equality in learning and employment opportunities. “Diversity in management teams is essential for broader management perspectives, which is a necessary demand for enterprise development. Women’s professional abilities and management value are increasingly recognized by the industry.”

New Trends in the Property & Casualty Industry: Tech Empowerment for High-Quality Development, Focusing on Real Economy Value

Looking ahead, Liu Qiong, as a practitioner in the property and casualty insurance sector, has a clear view of future industry trends. She states that the core theme will be high-quality development, which fundamentally means enabling insurance products to truly serve the real economy and create value in risk management and risk reduction for society. “This is not just empty talk but an inevitable direction under regulatory guidance. The design, innovation, and implementation of insurance products must revolve around this core.”

Regarding the currently hot topic of insurance technology, Liu Qiong believes it is the key driver of high-quality industry development. From digitalization to AI (artificial intelligence) applications, the development of insurance technology aims to enhance the industry’s digital capabilities, making risk management and service functions more effective for the real economy. “AI is already widely used in insurance—improving claims efficiency, better interpreting risks, and designing personalized products. But the future focus isn’t just on technology application; it’s on how AI can better serve business value and how technology and business can be deeply integrated.”

She points out that technological progress makes previously hard-to-manage risks quantifiable and manageable. “For example, big data and AI modeling can more effectively assess risks in different scenarios, providing scientific basis for pricing and risk control. This allows insurance to cover more segmented fields and provide risk protection for various parts of the real economy.” She emphasizes that AI, as a leapfrogging productivity tool, will bring many changes to the insurance industry, but the core functions and underlying logic of insurance will remain unchanged. How to deeply combine AI with industry rules and business scenarios, enabling technology to truly empower high-quality development, remains a key ongoing challenge.

As a property and casualty insurer that always emphasizes digital technology, Guotai Property & Casualty’s technological layout adheres to the principle of “value creation.” Liu Qiong reveals that by 2026, the company will continue to increase investment in technology around risk management and operational efficiency, iterating on technological applications across all aspects of insurance services. “Our technological framework is clear: all applications are driven by business needs, ensuring that technology truly supports business growth and ultimately serves the real economy and promotes high-quality enterprise development.”

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