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2023.01.04
｜CEP
Mastering the Art of Finance, Steadfastly Safeguarding the Company’s Growth
With her sharp insight illuminating every operation like a lighthouse, she meticulously analyzes details, manages risks, and maintains smooth cash flows with unwavering dedication.
Today, we have the privilege of interviewing the most esteemed figure in management at GMC Logistics Group—our Chief Financial Officer, Shirley. Let’s hear about her heartfelt journey aboard this great vessel that has been navigating the business waters for 37 years!
When Shirley joined GMC in 1987, the freight forwarding industry was completely foreign to her. At the time, freight forwarding was still an emerging sector during Taiwan’s economic boom, and there was no guidance available—everything had to be self-taught from scratch. The accounting department consisted of only two people: Shirley and a receptionist. As a result, Shirley was not only responsible for accounting duties but also carried the administrative workload, juggling a wide array of responsibilities.
"When I first arrived, I saw a mountain of documents piled on my desk..." Shirley recalls. "I asked my colleagues what they were, but no one knew—they only knew to hand them over to accounting." Naturally, that responsibility landed on Shirley’s shoulders.
Proactive, ambitious, and holding herself to exceptionally high standards, Shirley thought to herself: since she was already here, she needed to resolve the immediate predicament (the pile of unknown documents). She spent a week understanding the workflow of each department and about three months straightening out all the company’s accounts. "From that point on, I took full ownership of my work," Shirley says.
Without a mentor to guide her, whenever Shirley encountered a problem, she would dust off her university accounting textbooks or seek advice from former classmates. She reflects: "I came to realize that applying school theories to actual work requires internalizing them yourself. Only after you truly grasp their essence can you apply them effortlessly."
During GMC's first three years, the company faced major hurdles—including bad debt. With only nine employees earning modest profits, suffering a bad debt was a heavy blow. Yet, Shirley never entertained the thought of leaving. As Taiwan’s economy took off, the company’s prospects improved. With a steady influx of talent, GMC’s growth trajectory began its steady rise.
Once the company’s team was fully assembled, Shirley realized through her interactions with overseas agents how vital trust was. Establishing mutual trust and respect was essential for seamless operations, which in turn gave international partners the confidence to entrust their business to GMC.
To protect the company’s reputation and challenge herself, Shirley worked side-by-side with her team to win the "Outstanding Taxpayer Award" three times. She also embraced new government policies by adopting electronic ledger uploads for tax filings.
"Every challenge is an opportunity for growth; whether it brings achievement or setback, it all serves as nourishment."
Over her 37-year career, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Especially after the company relocated to the Neihu District, the accounting department faced three consecutive years of tax audits while struggling with high staff turnover due to difficult commutes. It was absolute chaos. "Moving to Neihu was a turning point in my life and the most frustrating period I ever experienced. Everything I used to take pride in, feel confident about, or feel honored by was reset to zero," Shirley says.
Despite these hardships, she never stopped thinking and striving. As she began reorganizing the department, she happened to re-read The Analects thoroughly. Drawing management wisdom from traditional philosophy and the experiences of others, we couldn't help but ask Shirley about her leadership philosophy.
Shirley’s approach to team leadership focuses on creating an open, shared, and inclusive work environment. "Trusting and supporting team members is crucial!" she emphasizes. Through regular meetings and open communication, she ensures every member has the opportunity to express opinions and participate in decision-making, encouraging them to continuously grow. "Meetings are a space for exchanging different perspectives and sparking ideas. You need to encourage members to speak up, discuss issues candidly, and give potential talent the stage to perform."
When you set a good example for others to follow, it creates a ripple effect, keeping the department in a positive, self-sustaining loop!
Shirley frequently shares stories to inspire her team—such as Japanese MLB star Shohei Ohtani. Behind his international success lies hardship invisible to outsiders.
"Success is never accidental. Beyond hard work, discipline and character building are equally important."
Ultimately, Shirley believes a manager must be a pillar of support for subordinates, making them feel completely backed so they can work with peace of mind. By doing so, Shirley found the right talent and empowered her team members to shine in their respective roles. Through continuous communication and knowledge sharing, she built a powerhouse team. Nurturing talent takes time, and sustainable company development requires exceptional people working hand in hand, carrying forward the past while pioneering a brilliant future.
Finance is like the blood of an enterprise, and the CFO acts as the company’s "pulse oximeter." A CFO must not only view business operations from a resource perspective but also possess a macro vision to assist in major strategic decisions—guiding the company’s financial health and ensuring stable, compliant operations.
Shirley believes that beyond clear thinking and integrity, a CFO must possess the courage to embrace risks and a strong sense of responsibility. She adds with a smile: "And, of course, a personality like mine that never backs down when facing adversity!"
"I believe the growth path for any leader is long—whether you’re a CFO, a department manager, or a team leader, much of it relies on self-drive," Shirley mentions, stressing the importance of self-motivated learning and continuous workflow optimization. "Optimizing work allows us to save time for strategic thinking. If you constantly believe there is room for improvement, you will keep progressing." Having served as CFO for many years, Shirley still approaches every task with dedication and meticulous care today, striving to do things better.
I will never let my work become stagnant—and that has remained true for decades.
Beyond optimizing work, Shirley considers continuous learning essential. Only those with self-directed learning capabilities can handle future uncertainties. Shirley laughs as she recalls how, during her student days, she wondered why the Department of Public Finance and Taxation required so many credits across diverse topics—even a class on drafting official government documents. As it turned out, every bit of it became useful in her career.
Don’t worry if what you’ve learned isn't immediately useful. It will inevitably serve a purpose at some point in the future. That’s why learning matters.
Shirley also encourages everyone not to look down on their current roles. As long as you perform your duties attentively or design your own goals, you won't fear a long journey if the direction is right. Once you have a target, your dreams aren't far away—just keep stepping toward them.
As the company grew, public institutions often invited Shirley to give lectures. She distinctly remembers a stat mentioned in a lecture years ago: The average lifespan of a Taiwanese SME is 13 years.
At that moment, she prayed in her heart that GMC would far surpass that 13-year mark.
Today, GMC has journeyed through 37 years and is marching toward its third 13-year milestone—a achievement she credits to everyone's collective efforts.
An avid reader, Shirley quotes a line from the Doctrine of the Mean as her vision for GMC’s future:
"To climb a high mountain, one must begin from the bottom; to travel far, one must start from near."
"The view from the top of Mount Jade is vastly different from that of Mount Datun because of the height," Shirley says. "And traveling a long distance starts with the first step right beneath your feet—'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.'"
Shirley advocates for "thinking big while starting small"—setting visionary, forward-looking goals.
"Set a small goal first to test your capabilities, then build on it. As you improve, your confidence and presence will naturally create influence. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; whatever your goal is, take action!"
When you expand your vision and perspective, your path stretches further, and you will see an entirely different landscape.
Shirley also emphasizes the importance of broad-mindedness. A wide perspective expands one's horizon, echoing the saying: "A prime minister's heart is broad enough to sail a boat in." With enough magnanimity, even if you are offended, you won't take it to heart because it’s simply not worth it. "If you’re truly angry, I advise you to stay angry for just one night. Usually, after a good night's sleep, I forget all about it," Shirley adds with a smile.
Reading opens windows to the world. Shirley, who loves to read, says with a smile: "I think reading is a wonderful thing. Back in school, I didn't focus much on textbooks, but I loved reading extracurricular books. Biographies, novels, prose, poetry—I devoured them all. I even bought books sold by the kilogram to take home! Even the night before an accounting exam, I was up late reading Jin Yong's wuxia novels (laughs)."
Appreciating classical literature, Shirley not only finds its prose beautiful but also applies its wisdom to her work. During moments of frustration, Su Shi's poetry became solace for her soul: "Because Su Shi was banished, his poetry reflects a profound optimism—finding another way to live authentically."
Reading won't necessarily make you rich, but it allows you to view problems through multiple perspectives.
Shirley shares one of her favorite quotes from Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin: "A thorough understanding of world affairs is true knowledge; a mastery of human relationships is fine prose." When you understand the world, knowledge is everywhere; when you master human nature, wisdom is everywhere. Shirley says: "When you see through the surface and understand the underlying principles, you realize many things aren't worth squabbling over. You learn what truly matters and deserves your effort."
"Life is truly short, so don't waste this lifetime."
This is Shirley’s advice to fresh graduates and the younger generation. She notes that people in this era will work for a long time as life expectancy rises. "Think about it: with such a long career ahead, you must make your work interesting. Do something you are willing to dedicate your life to!"
If you haven't found your expertise yet, seek it out actively and pursue continuous growth. "Taking on new challenges every once in a while keeps you engaged so you won't overthink unnecessary things. Never stop," Shirley says. "My brain just can't sit idle; it's always spinning, which is why I have so many gray hairs (laughs)."
Shirley believes GMC provides employees with solid training and encourages self-worth creation, serving as nourishment for their future—allowing them to shine wherever they go. "And when you feel a company is worth striving for, give it your undivided focus," Shirley says. "Because it can truly realize your dreams."
"To be honest, I didn't want to do accounting originally. I used to wonder if I was an accountant in my past life who didn't do a good job, so I had to keep managing books in this life. So I made up my mind: I must do it right this time around, with zero regrets, and not hate it," Shirley candidly admits.
From that moment on, numbers were no longer just numbers to me. I tend to forget many things, but I never forget numbers.
Although her original ambition wasn't accounting, Shirley unexpectedly stayed at GMC for 37 years. The person she holds the deepest gratitude for is GMC’s patriarch, Jimmy. Shirley says: "To handle the questions and demands from the boss, I learned a great deal while working alongside him—not only having accountability and ownership, but also the ability to make fast, decisive, and precise judgments when problems arise." She is deeply grateful for Jimmy's trust, support, and the platform he provided for her to excel.
"Some people hope for a life as dazzling as fireworks—brilliant for a brief moment—but I prefer a steady, enduring stream." Looking ahead, Shirley hopes everyone will join hands to safeguard GMC’s steady progress, face future challenges together, and sail toward an even farther horizon.
