VP of Public Relations and Corporate Communications of JLR, Priscilla shares her journey to leadership and views on gender diversity

Tell me about your role now and the path you took to get here

 I have had the good fortune to work in one of the most dynamic and competitive industries in China – the automotive industry – for more than a decade. Perhaps somewhat less fortunately, my roles in PR and communications require 24-hours a day, seven days a week dedication.

Nevertheless, I love what I do. Most importantly, through my work I have had the opportunity to grow, to find myself and define to myself who it is that I really am and want to be.

Like many women, it took me some time to discover what it is that matters to me. It wasn’t until I joined Daimler AG at age 30 that things started to fall into place. As green and naive as it is possible to be, I started my corporate life not really knowing much at all.

One of the key lessons that I take from work is as much as we may have lofty ambitions for creating positive impact in the world around us, we must always stay grounded in the details and minutiae of the task at hand. Having a vision to aim for is important but having a plan to execute is vital.

What does this mean? This meaning success in a PR job (as it is for many other jobs) requires tireless dedication to getting the work done. To letting nothing slip by unconsidered. From social networking, to creative content, to tapping the public mood, to being a good and gracious host, to scrutinising the choice of a word or the positioning of a comma, PR is all-encompassing.

Keep learning, set yourself the highest standards, achieve your goals (and sometimes fail – because if you always achieve your goals you are not setting them far enough ahead of you) – all of these are lessons I have learned through my own experimental experience growing up.

Change will come from first changing her mindset, allowing her to unleash her potential, growing her confidence and keep learning throughout her life

Who were your role models and why?

I am inspired both by the “ordinary people” that surround us in our day to day lives as well as those who have achieved success on bigger stages. There are many ways to leave your mark in life. The older I get, the humbler I get.

While there is one woman in particular who has been a mentor to me, she is too modest to allow me to mention her by name. She has been a role model to me through her achievements in her professional life. In a world as complex as the one we live in today, in which commitments erode quickly, passions fade and dreams evaporate, she is the living embodiment of the true meaning of “persistence”.

Over the 13 years we have known each other, I have seen first-hand her diligence, her dedication to perfection and her commitment to her job above all else. She is the greatest inspiration I have ever been given. I take her presence in my life as a “life blessing”.

Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers: The Story of Success repeatedly mentions the “10,000-Hour Rule”, claiming that the key to achieving world-class expertise in any skill, is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing the correct way, for a total of around 10,000 hours. I have watched her example, tirelessly dedicating herself to diligently honing her skills for her whole professional life.

What challenges have you faced that you think are particular to women and how did you deal with them? 

Unconscious gender stereotypes might be the most difficult challenge we face today. Although in the cities Chinese women work after marriage, there is an unspoken rule that women don’t need to pursue their careers or to continue to strive professionally in the ways that men are expected to after marriage.

The fundamental way to deal with this challenge is to live life just like a man. This may sound like a joke but it isn’t. Today’s women should expect and certainly deserve to enjoy a long, exciting and fulfilling life just like men do, and this includes a professional life. Despite the constraints that society might place on a woman, change will come from first changing her mindset, allowing her to unleash her potential, growing her confidence and keep learning throughout her life.

What do you think the benefits of gender diversity would be to business?

No matter whether it is gender diversity, racial diversity or age diversity, all forms of diversity are important and necessary to the business world to allow for all perspectives to be included. As a result, businesses can have the most unbiased and complete understanding possible, allowing them to in turn take the smartest and most sophisticated business decisions possible.

However, none of us are reducible to a single characteristic or factor. We are never just one thing. We are all different and all have our own contribution to make to the success of a business.

It is too simplistic to address the business benefits of diversity solely from a gender perspective. However, in my experience and in studies it is shown that female business leaders tend to be more resilient, caring and act as better listeners and communicators.

It is also about changing the mindsets of parents who may themselves often not have benefited from a thorough education

 What do you hope to see change to make gender diversity possible?

I am proud that China has set a good example in terms of gender equality, even among developed countries. According to a study by Grant Thornton, the proportion of Chinese women in senior management reached 51 percent, outpacing the global average of 21 percent.

However, in many rural areas, gender inequality still exists, starting from elementary school or middle school. Whether through enhanced educational policies or through the involvement of NGOs, the education of girls can be further reinforced and elevated. Financial constraints are not the only issue here.  It is also about changing the mindsets of parents who may themselves often not have benefited from a thorough education.

Any advice you would like to share with other women contemplating chasing senior roles in business?

I think the requirements for success for a female leader in business are the same as those for a man. However, in reality, a woman has more work to do to balance her different roles as a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a female leader. It is often said of the great performer Ginger Rogers that she had to do everything that Fred Astaire did, backwards and in high heels. This is true today for my generation of professional women too.

As a mother of two, I am keenly aware that organisational, managerial and communication skills are also highly required in my personal life. A home-based ecosystem with clear priorities, rules, and operational details is needed, so as a female leader, your frequent required absences from home won’t be a real problem.

This article is part of a series profiling women leaders in our community, to share experience and create awareness about gender diversity and what it can bring organisations. It is part of the British Chamber’s Women’s Initiative led by Tracy Driscoll, Head of Coaching at the Leadership Group and Chair of the HR Forum for Britcham.