"Her Strength" | Baiyang Pharmaceutical Group President and Director Song Qing: In life, you gain your own fulfillment through choices and sacrifices. Don't be defined by anyone.

There is a rare sense of “certainty” about Song Qing.

As the President and Director of Baiyang Pharmaceutical Group, her resume is impressive: from doctor to senior executive in a pharmaceutical company, then to co-founder of a startup, leading Baiyang to continuously expand in the field of medical innovation. But what she talks about most is not performance or strategy, but reflection, choices, growth, and how to live as someone who is not defined by others.

“I’ve known what kind of life I want since I was young,” Song Qing describes her life path. This clear self-awareness has led her to make proactive choices time and again: leaving the hospital because she didn’t want to be confined to conventional paths and driven by curiosity about the future; choosing entrepreneurship because she wanted to “provide valuable products and services to society while enabling employees to live better and fully unleash their potential.” Growing up in a family environment without gender restrictions further freed her from traditional roles in all these choices.

Looking back on these experiences, Song Qing realizes they are all closely connected to “people.” In conversations, she repeatedly mentions her mother, daughter, colleagues, and team. “My mother is a very independent person. From a young age, her education never emphasized ‘what girls should do.’” This independent and open-minded value system has been carried into her education of her daughter and naturally integrated into her management style—maintaining understanding and tolerance within the organization, not easily dismissing others. “With clear goals, trust the team, look forward, and avoid internal conflict.”

This “non-internal conflict” attitude towards life—not dwelling on the past, not obsessing over short-term gains and losses, not being bound by others’ definitions—has also helped her cultivate a rare sense of self-satisfaction and composure between work and family. She does not have the sharp edge of the traditional “female powerhouse”; instead, she exudes clarity and openness after experiencing many ups and downs: confident and capable, yet soft and warm.

Below are some excerpts from her conversations:

On Career Transition: Stay Curious, Actively “Explore the Unknown”

Q: You gave up the “iron rice bowl” of being a doctor in the 1990s. What was your thinking at that time?

Song Qing: Looking back now, that decision was indeed quite bold. But at the time, it was more about exploring the unknown. I didn’t know exactly what the future would look like; I just felt a sense of vitality and hope, and was confident it would be different from my current life.

Q: From a professional manager to an entrepreneur, how did you feel about these two stages in your career?

Song Qing: As a professional manager, I mainly worked within an existing system, aligning with and executing the company’s values, philosophy, and products. But as an entrepreneur, I had to answer questions like—what is the purpose of doing this, what value does it bring, and which unmet clinical needs are we solving?

Only when what we do is meaningful and valuable can we lead the team to accomplish things that haven’t been achieved before.

My thinking was simple: on one hand, I wanted employees to have better development and living conditions; on the other, I hoped everyone’s abilities could be fully unleashed.

On Age: No Anxiety, Because I’ve Never Wasted Time

Q: You have a vibrant energy. Are you worried about aging?

Song Qing: Not really. At this age, I’m still full of curiosity about many things, eager to explore innovation, and open to new things.

In life, the key is to focus on what truly matters. When you’re climbing toward a goal, you often don’t pay too much attention to short-term gains or losses. Like mountain climbing, every step up is to see a farther view—“climbing upward” itself is meaningful.

The root of age anxiety is actually uncertainty about past choices.

Q: Over the years, have you been exchanging time for a life you truly want? If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path? Have you ever wondered, “If I had made different choices back then, would things be better now?”

Song Qing: I’m not someone who regrets. Over decades, I’ve experienced both good times and lows, but every stage has its lessons. As I grow, I find joy and new challenges every year.

When you keep moving forward, there’s no time or need to dwell on the past. Experiences themselves lead to reflection and summary, but ultimately, all thinking should be directed toward the future.

The core is to look ahead.

Q: Did you have a clear plan from the start about what kind of path to take, or did it develop gradually?

Song Qing: I’ve known what kind of life I want since I was young, and that’s exactly the life I’m living now. This may be related to my family background.

My mother is very independent. From a young age, her education never included notions like “girls can’t do this or that.” She always believed that abilities and choices shouldn’t be limited by gender.

In my career development, I rarely felt restricted by gender differences, probably because I entered management roles early.

But my daughter once said: “Not feeling it is a kind of luck, but it doesn’t mean the problem doesn’t exist.” It made me realize that personal experience doesn’t represent the whole picture.

Later, we discussed this, and I told her not to be defined by others. No one in society can dictate how others “should” be. Everyone should respect their own resources and talents to pursue what they truly desire. I prefer to say: don’t get too caught up in various narratives and evaluation systems.

Many female traits—such as communication skills, empathy, and resilience—are actually very valuable in modern organizational management, which is also why the number of women executives has been increasing in recent years.

As for thinking, logical reasoning, and judgment skills, as long as one is well-educated, there’s no fundamental difference. So, don’t give up thinking, don’t give up judgment, and don’t give up responsibility.

On Family Education: Patience and Waiting, Values Are “Tasted”

Q: I hear you value family time very much, like having dinner with your family. How do you see balancing work and family?

Song Qing: The so-called “balance” is often about choices. Everyone’s time for family and children is limited, so it’s more important to focus energy on what truly matters.

From when my children were very young, I cared more about their emotional state than punctual meals or grades.

As for value system formation, it’s not about “preaching,” but more about subtle influence in daily life. In interactions, children naturally observe how parents treat elders and others. To some extent, I believe the most important family education is sharing countless meals together.

Q: Would you try to “teach” them with your life experience?

Song Qing: No. Their future encounters, career opportunities, and relationships will be completely different from ours. When we grew up, information mainly came from parents, teachers, and elders’ experiences; today, the internet provides a vast amount of information.

My only advice to them is: think critically. Don’t rush to believe any voice, whether from parents or the internet. Parents’ intentions are good, but information can be outdated; internet info updates quickly but isn’t always reliable.

Therefore, it’s more important to develop your own logic and judgment. Everyone needs to experience setbacks firsthand as they grow.

Q: In work, is your management style the same?

Song Qing: Empathy is very important. I try to avoid saying “no” easily when talking to young people. Saying “no” is the easiest in an organization, especially when you have decision-making power. But constantly rejecting can hinder young people’s growth.

Instead, giving them opportunities to try, take responsibility, and allowing some room for trial and error helps them learn to make independent decisions and bear responsibility.

Q: With Women’s Day coming up, do you have any advice or thoughts to share with young women?

Song Qing: Don’t pay too much attention to external evaluations.

At work, focus on your responsibilities and results—that’s the basic standard. In life, more importantly, reflect on whether you truly feel fulfilled and happy. Always prioritize your feelings and judgments.

Many things will happen naturally. “Work hard, and blessings will follow.” The only thing we can control is doing our best in the present, without demanding specific returns from the outside.

Stick to your judgment, put in your effort. How others evaluate or whether outcomes meet expectations, should be approached with an open and tolerant mindset.

Wang Yan / Text

Xu Nan, Lin Chen / Editors