Women in Operations: Meet Teresa Zhang

Bringing over a decade of quality management experience to her team 

Teresa currently serves as the Quality Manager at the Ahlstrom Binzhou plant. “Since graduating, I've dedicated over 11 years to quality management, building a solid foundation of expertise,” she says. “I'm primarily responsible for the effective operation of the plant's quality management system, and for overseeing initiatives to maintain the highest standards of product excellence.” 

Teresa leads a team of 19 people. “What sets my team apart is their strong sense of responsibility and collective pride – not only excelling at product inspection and quality control, but going above and beyond by actively taking part in company events like annual galas, skill competitions, and continuous improvement projects. I'm genuinely proud to lead such an outstanding group.” 

Turning frustration into satisfaction 

Teresa’s passion for solving complex problems attracted her to a career in operations. “In quality management, this means working on two fronts,” she explains. “Externally, I love handling customer complaints: investigating the root cause and working out a solution. There's an incredible sense of achievement in turning a customer's frustration into satisfaction.” 

“Internally, I'm equally passionate about driving continuous improvement, analyzing data to find hidden risks and optimizing our processes before issues happen. It's like being a detective who not only solves the current mystery, but builds a system to prevent future ones.” 

Thriving in diversity 

While operations has traditionally been a male-dominated field, Teresa’s experience has shown her that quality and operations thrive on diverse perspectives. “Early in my career, I did face moments where I had to work harder to prove my technical competence,” she says. “Over time, though, I've realized that the strengths women bring to operations, like empathy, attention to detail, and strong communication, are exactly what's needed to build a resilient quality system.” 

“Gender doesn't define your capability. It's your dedication, problem-solving skills, and the value you bring to the team that truly matter.” 

A place to build careers with confidence 

Teresa sees Ahlstrom as a great place for women to build a career in operations. “I see outstanding women thriving in every part of our operations, from machine operators and quality inspectors to safety personnel. There is no gender bias here. Everyone's capabilities are fully recognized and valued. When you're judged purely by your skills and dedication, it creates a supportive environment where every woman can build a long-term career with confidence.”