Through three dimensions – one professional identity, two major career endeavors, and three personal passions – Zhang Yi can be quickly understood: her core role is as Secretary-General of the Shared Procurement Alliance; her two major career areas respectively oversee the organization of the Caimai Exhibition and the Caimai Industrial Die-Cutting and Auxiliary Materials business; her three personal passions – hosting, public speaking, and tea art – showcase her poised and fluent presence on camera. When interviewed by the editorial team at SAKO Microelectronics(www.slkoric.com), she remarked with a smile and self-deprecating humor: "Everyone assumes I'm a professional host – which shows that my primary career is still worth my continued dedication."

Zhang Yi, Secretary-General of the Shared Procurement Alliance

As the Secretary-General of the Shared Procurement Alliance, Zhang Yi is commonly referred to by her peers as "Xiao Yi Zong." Having been part of this platform for over a decade, she summarizes her deepest sentiments in six words: altruism, growth, and achievement. Since its establishment in 2007, the Shared Procurement Alliance has consistently provided free resource matching services for procurement professionals and empowered their continuous growth, deepening its presence within the procurement community and supporting the development of countless procurement practitioners. The Alliance also actively engages procurement teams in visiting factories firsthand—exploring production workflows, material processing techniques, and manufacturing details—allowing procurement professionals to observe the entire product lifecycle—from raw materials to finished goods—with their own eyes. "Only when you understand the manufacturing process can you effectively negotiate costs; only when you fully grasp the production workflow can you effectively control quality." This is the empowerment philosophy that the Shared Procurement Alliance adheres to. Due to its commitment to authenticity, practical application, and altruism, the Alliance's events are often fully booked. For instance, factory visits originally planned for 20–25 participants frequently attract over 40 procurement professionals to join voluntarily—a clear testament to the industry's urgent need for genuine learning and hands-on professional development.

Shared Procurement Alliance Member Visits Enterprises (Figure 1)

The more volatile the industry environment becomes, the more prominently the alliance's value is demonstrated. Whether it's fluctuations in raw material prices, the surge in PCB costs, or supply-demand imbalances in the supply chain, the alliance is always able to swiftly establish targeted coordination channels, efficiently match resources, bridge the gap between supply and demand, and bolster confidence within the ecosystem.

Shared Procurement Alliance Member Visits Enterprises (Figure 2)

To continuously upgrade and empower professional development systems—ensuring that career professionals not only possess practical skills but also excel in effective communication—the [Business Communication Practice Camp], launched in August this year by the Shared Procurement Alliance under the leadership of Zhang Yi, has been officially introduced. The curriculum is designed with a tiered approach for targeted implementation: it focuses on developing communication skills for new entrants into the workforce, enhancing teaching capabilities for mid-level managers, and strengthening presentation skills for business founders. By combining online coaching with hands-on, real-world practice, the program breaks down geographical barriers and helps more professionals and entrepreneurs articulate their skills, transform knowledge into value, and turn their words into business opportunities.

Cross-boundary growth: Every experience builds the confidence needed for the next chapter.

In 2004, Zhang Yi moved to Shenzhen alone, where her first job was overseeing human resources. Three years of experience in HR helped her develop core competencies in building systems, establishing workflows, and leading teams. Through a serendipitous opportunity, she transitioned into the procurement sector. Upon joining the industry, she discovered that her company's procurement processes were disorganized—lacking clear review standards, an evaluation system, or standardized documentation practices. Drawing on her HR expertise in system-building, she redesigned the entire procurement management system and operational workflows from scratch, enabling the previously chaotic procurement process to operate in a standardized manner.

Over the next seven years, Zhang Yi dedicated herself to working at an inductor manufacturing company, rising from a procurement specialist to Assistant General Manager, gaining extensive experience across multiple roles—including procurement, engineering, production, and management. When the Production Supervisor position was vacant for three months, she stepped in to lead her team and thoroughly mastered the entire production process; when the Engineering role was vacant, she self-taught herself CAD drawing techniques and gained a deep understanding of product structures. Her hands-on experience working on the front lines of the manufacturing industry gave her a comprehensive understanding of the entire enterprise value chain—spanning production, quality control, supply chain management, and operational management—laying a solid foundation for her future entrepreneurial endeavors.

Zhang Yi during an interview with the slkor Micro-Press Corps

Entrepreneurial Deepening: Exhibition Services + Industrial Manufacturing – Two Parallel Approaches

In 2017, Zhang Yi embarked on a full-time entrepreneurial journey by founding Caimai Exhibition Services, a company specializing in custom-designed exhibition booths and halls, as well as comprehensive event planning and execution services. Although she did not have a background in design, she initially paid her younger brother to learn the craft; later, she took charge of the technical side while she herself focused on the front-end market. She steadfastly rejects template-based design approaches and instead focuses on providing tailored, "one-company, one-solution" customization services. To date, she has completed over 1,000 exhibition booth and hall design and construction projects, serving spaces ranging from 36 to 660 square meters; she has provided full-service event planning for 800 events of various scales and has personally hosted more than 200 business events. She has served numerous enterprises and industry organizations, including Sunwoda, Baoling, Guangdong Bell, the Robotics Association, and the Logistics Association. All her solutions are tailored to align with the brand's identity and the specific characteristics of each product, and her strong track record of professional execution has earned her a solid reputation.

Sunwoda Exhibition Stand Case Study

Jiawei Booth Case Study

Baoling Exhibition Hall Case Study

The event planning business was developed in response to the growing demand for internal alliance events. Events such as alliance annual conferences, industry matchmaking sessions, and procurement salons all require professional support—including backdrops, stage lighting, photography, and videography. Initially, outsourcing these services came with high costs and low efficiency; therefore, the company gradually began integrating its in-house resources—covering stage design, lighting, audio systems, backdrops, and staffing (hosting, etiquette coordination, program execution, and filming)—to establish a seamless, end-to-end implementation process. Today, Caimai Event Services handles an average of 40–50 large-scale government, corporate, and industry events annually, ranging from annual conferences to press conferences and industry forums.

Chuan-Yu Tongxin Conference Event Planning Case Study

Event Etiquette and Program Performance Case Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 impacted the exhibition services industry. Zhang Yi began considering launching a new business venture – one that would be unaffected by in-person events – and she chose the die-cutting and auxiliary materials sector as her focus area, specializing in materials such as foam, conductive fabric, waterproof and breathable films, lens backing adhesives, and insulating gaskets. The Shared Procurement Alliance possessed a substantial base of manufacturing industry clients, which served as a strong foundation for her entry into this field.

Cailü Industrial Production Workshop

Cailü Industrial Production Equipment

CaiMu Industrial was registered in 2016; in March 2023, it officially acquired a stake and commenced operations at its die-cutting production facility; by 2025, the company established itself at the Tiezishan site in Bao'an District, expanding and upgrading its facility to a 2,800 m² standardized factory equipped with a cleanroom and two additional round-cutting machines, and deploying six standardized die-cutting production lines. The company holds ISO9001, ISO14000, and ISO16949 certifications. Its current client base includes manufacturers of mobile phones, cameras, earphones, audio devices, televisions, monitors, automobiles, and other products requiring injection molding or finished goods production.

Nurturing the mind with passion, guiding others through growth.

Beyond her professional life, public speaking, hosting, and tea art have long been a source of self-cultivation for Zhang Yi. Four years of experience at the Speaking Club have profoundly transformed her mindset and perspective. Previously, she was knowledgeable but lacked the willingness to share her insights; today, she delights in empowering others and achieving personal growth. She says, "Seeing others push beyond their limits and grow through my sharing brings me a greater sense of fulfillment than winning an award myself."

Zhang Yi presided over the 2024 Greater Bay Area Electronics Summit and the 56th Electronic Components Resource Matching Event.

Zhang Yi presided over the annual corporate meeting.

The art of tea drinking serves as her personal way of calming her mind. Given the fast-paced lifestyle and work environment in Shenzhen, she uses tea to cultivate her inner peace and apply serenity to navigate life's challenges; through the process of brewing tea, calming her mind, and reflecting upon her thoughts, she nurtures her emotions and refines her character, enabling her to remain clear-headed, composed, and calm amidst the myriad demands of her business career. Zhang Yi believes that all her passions ultimately contribute to her professional success. Her strong expressive abilities allow her to better empower her network; her keen empathy enables her to serve her clients more effectively; and her steadfast composure helps her manage her enterprise with greater confidence.

Zhang Yi performed a tea art ceremony at the 18th Anniversary Celebration of the Shared Alliance.

From HR to procurement, from senior corporate executives to an entrepreneur specializing in exhibition services, and from event management to physical manufacturing operations – every career transition Zhang Yi has undertaken was never merely a trend-following move, but rather a strategic step forward driven by the continuous refinement and evolution of every path she had traveled, every hardship she had endured, and every piece of experience she had accumulated – all of which continue to add value to her journey.

When speaking about the future, she remains humble and committed to continuous improvement: "I will continue to dedicate myself fully to my work in the industrial sector and exhibition management, but on the path of lecturer empowerment, I need to keep refining my approach and achieving new breakthroughs." She also plans to leverage her downtime to effectively manage the Business Communication Practice Camp, aiming to truly help participants showcase their skills, transform their knowledge into tangible value, and turn their words into business opportunities. As she once wrote to herself: "Use humility to build a network of connections; use perseverance to pursue your career." Here, Kinghelm (www.kinghelm.net) and Slkor wish Zhang Yi continued success in serving more enterprises and thriving business ventures!