The "Tsinghua Students Dialogue with Board Members" was in full swing as part of the series activities of 2023 Advisory Board Meeting of Tsinghua SEM on October 19, 2023. Marjorie Yang, chairman of Esquel Group, Advisory Board member, lectured at Tsinghua classroom and met with around 30 undergraduate and Ph.D students. HE Ping, Tsinghua SEM vice dean, and ZHANG Chen, Tsinghua SEM assistant dean, attended the event. FAN Jiarui, an undergraduate with a double major in computer science and finance (Class of 2024), hosted the talk.

Yang opened the lecture with her own experiences. A member of the Cai family in Shuanglin, Zhejiang Province, Yang has lead the Esquel Group through challenges and developed its global reputation. She said there is no glass ceiling for women leaders and encouraged young women to break stereotypes and strive for remarkable success.

Marjorie Yang speaks with Tsinghua students.

Yang spoke about Esquel Group's asset-light transformation in the face of uncertainty and its unwavering commitment to UNSDG initiatives. In this era of growing uncertainty, Esquel has encountered significant challenges, she said. Yang shared her insights and actions in leading Esquel toward a new phase of growth with an asset-light business model. The global pandemic and geopolitical tensions have had a considerable impact on Esquel's overseas revenue. Consequently, the group made a strategic decision to close its older factories in Malaysia, Mauritius, and other locations, enabling it to operate flexibly and adapt to the uncertainties of the current business environment.

In response to a loss of foreign clients, Esquel shifted its focus from being solely an OEM to encompass both ends of the "smile curve." This involved increased investments in upstream R&D and downstream branding. Esquel transformed one of its three spinning mills in Xinjiang into an entrepreneurial incubation hub to harness and promote Xinjiang's local spirit of innovation. Esquel also accelerated the expansion of its proprietary clothing retail brands, Pye and Determinant, and launched co-branded clothing in partnership with renowned domestic IPs such as Trisolaris, National Treasure, and Fengshen.

Dedicated to making a difference through tackling climate change and narrowing the wealth gap, Esquel pushed for positive changes in the textile and apparel business along the supply chain.

From suppliers' side, Esquel was one of the very first companies to plant and purchase cotton in Xinjiang in the 1990s. While credit purchase is the norm in cotton market in Xinjiang, Esquel decided to trade with cotton farmers on a cash-on-delivery basis, earning the trust of farmers. Esquel also invested in the establishment of cotton spinning mills in Xinjiang, gradually improving the quality of Xinjiang's long-staple cotton and making it a well-known brand.

Tsinghua students meet with Marjorie Yang.

From production side, as a knowledge-based innovation company, Esquel R&D spent a decade to make a breakthrough in non-aqueous medium dyeing technology. Their new process reduced water and chemical product consumption in dyeing by more than 96 percent. It is the first to achieve zero water, zero salt, and zero emissions in the dyeing process, effectively promoting environmental friendly production across the industry.

Yang also mentioned Integral, a sustainable development garden constructed and operated by Esquel. Set in the landscape of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Integral showcases Esquel’ commitment to UNSDG and how manufacturing and nature can coexist in harmony.

In her speech, Yang highlighted several outstanding Tsinghua alumni employed at Esquel. These individuals, hailing from diverse academic backgrounds in engineering and business, had extensive experience and navigated a steep learning curve at Esquel. They have grown into prominent leaders within various departments of the organization.

Following her speech, Yang engaged with the audience in a lively Q&A session. Yang fielded questions that piqued the students' interest, including topics such as Esquel's long-term strategic outlook, addressing job-seeking concerns and adapting to an era of uncertainty, digital transformation, and the entrepreneurial landscape. Students said they were impressed by the profound insights Yang shared.

Marjorie Yang is presented with a sketch titled "Sailing Across the Sea."

At the end of the session, the school presented a sketch drawn on-site by a student from the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University as a gift. The sketch was titled "Sailing Across the Sea" and incorporated elements related to Esquel Group, Cai Shengbai, Yang's grandfather and Tsinghua University, capturing the lecture's theme. Faculty and students expressed their anticipation for future exchanges and collaborations with Yang and Esquel Group.

Group photo

Source: Academic Affairs Office