Zhang Hongjie, founder of new energy company Volta Materials, has instilled a strong culture of cohesiveness among his employees through his leadership. Photo: Courtesy of Volta Materials

Zhang Hongjie, founder and chief operating officer of new energy company Volta Materials, has a firm management philosophy: there is no perfect expert, only a perfect team. As a company dedicated to developing batteries that are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, Volta Materials seeks to be a pioneer in the new energy field.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree from Tianjin University, Zhang completed his master's in industrial engineering at Tsinghua University. Not content to rest on his laurels, he then graduated with an Executive Master of Business Administration at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai.

Zhang always had a clear direction for his career guided by goals during his studies. At Tsinghua University, his main purpose was to achieve theoretical understanding and application of operations management. At CEIBS, he sought to make the transition from operations to business management.

"During my two years at CEIBS, I gradually realized the importance of learning and innovation. I also reflected on life, developing fresh values and a new orientation," said Zhang.

Zhang said there are two pillars of leadership at Volta Materials that he uses to optimize his team's performance. The first is fully utilizing employees' valuable work experience. The second is improving personal cultivation and management capability step by step.

Prior to founding his company, Zhang worked for foreign enterprises across a broad spectrum of industries. The experience allowed him to master unique management and operational skills. Despite differences in leadership styles, Zhang found many had common traits.

ASK, namely "attitude, skills and knowledge," is at the core of Zhang's leadership style. He credits the different experiences gained from his past work experience for providing him with a comprehensive understanding and awareness of overall operational management.

In addition, Zhang attaches great importance to team building. "I consider team cohesiveness as a vital ingredient of success at any company," said Zhang, citing a team-building exercise he participated in when he worked at telecommunications multinational Motorola.

"During a company outing we marched for three days in heavy rain, covering 70 kilometers. Throughout the trek we didn't share too many words with each other, but there was an obvious resolve within the team to overcome difficulties together. When it ended, everyone was moved to tears. I think such an unforgettable experience galvanizes shared values and a sense of responsibility, which is a necessary component of any successful team," Zhang said.

Aside from building a strong team culture at Volta Materials, Zhang is also committed to corporate social responsibility "not just for the benefit of the company, but for the whole society."

"As a new energy company, we spare no effort in improving our products. Our goal is to contribute to energy saving and environmental protection," he said.