Since joining Santen, I have been given the opportunity to take on a succession of new challenges, and I have overcome difficulties by acquiring the requisite knowledge and skills. I am very grateful to my subordinates and colleagues for their help, and to my many superiors for teaching me many things and helping me to grow.
Of course, growth also accompany. For example, when I was appointed manager of the Suzhou Plant, I was familiar with RA and government relations, but lacked knowledge and experience with quality control and supply chain and plant management, so I attended graduate school and earned an MBA while working full time. With only my enthusiasm to drive me, I joined my subordinates in doing the best we could, but one day, my superior told me, “Your strategic perspective is poor.” This came as a shock because I felt that I was doing my best.
Santen aspires to be an organization that protects the dignity of all employees and allows them to make the most of their unique abilities, regardless of nationality, age, or creed. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is an important theme for the company. Santen is also undertaking a variety of measures to empower women globally, and as a company is making progress toward gender equality, with a female employee ratio of 44.1% and a female manager ratio of 40.4% on a consolidated group basis*.
One person who embodies the diversity of Santen is Du Chunying. Du, who is originally from China and currently works at the Shiga Product Supply Center in Japan as Head of the Production Strategy Department, talks about her career to date and her future aspirations.
- Figures for fiscal year 2023
Career change: from prescribing medicine to producing medicine
After graduating from university, I worked as a surgeon, but following a move for family reasons, I changed jobs and joined a Japanese pharmaceutical company. At the time, I was suffering from dry eye, but when I used the eye drops prescribed by my ophthalmologist, my symptoms disappeared completely after about a week. I remember being very impressed by their effectiveness and quality. After that, I became keenly interested in medicinal eye drops, and when I was offered a new position, I accepted the offer immediately when I heard the name of the company—“Santen.”
I joined Santen’s local subsidiary in China in 2012, and initially focused on RA and government relations. In 2017, I was appointed plant manager of the Suzhou Plant, and from 2019, I also served as project manager overseeing completion of the construction of Santen Vision Park, which covers an area of approximately 130,000 square meters. In February 2024, I crossed the sea and transferred to the Shiga Product Supply Center in Japan. Today, I lead planning and implementation of Santen's global production strategy.
When I was a doctor, I treated patients individually, but now I can contribute to even more patients through the supply of products. I feel that working at a pharmaceutical company is a wonderful job that allows me to feel like I am contributing to society and doing something virtuous every day.
Using frustration as fuel, I studied hard and realized the importance of expanding my horizons
Being told something like that was frustrating and difficult to accept. So I used those feelings as fuel and studied really hard, reviewing trends and the latest industry examples and learning about strategy from business books. In the process, I realized that my boss was right. I had only focused on short-term goals, and hadn't considered trends in the manufacturing industry, the position of the Suzhou Plant within the company as a whole, or the future vision for the facility in light of changes to the medium- to long-term business environment.
Knowledge enables you to understand something from a broader perspective, but a lack of knowledge narrows your perspective and hinders progress. After realizing this, I continued to learn while working as a plant manager, earning qualifications as a Supply Chain Professional. Looking back, I realize that my boss at the time had taught me something very important.
Friendly competition with colleagues in a culture that embraces diversity
I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues, who come from a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise.
In global companies, clearly defining each person's responsibilities and the scope of their work is standard practice, but in Japanese companies, it is not uncommon for work to be carried out by teams that do not have clearly defined boundaries or roles. Japan is said to be a “high-context culture,” so even without a clearly defined and detailed division of work, the people in charge will often “read the situation” and act accordingly. However, this kind of approach does not work in other countries. As the company became more globalized, I realized how difficult project management can be when proceeding without a clear division of roles; this experience taught me a valuable lesson. I realized that in order to embrace diversity, it is important to have respect for different backgrounds, and since then I have been careful not to make the same mistake.
At Santen, we have a culture that combines the integrity of Japanese companies with the openness of foreign companies. Since what we do is for the benefit of patients, we are encouraged to work together, regardless of position, and to share honest opinions about what works and what doesn’t. I have never felt disadvantaged, either in China or Japan, because I am a woman. Santen is a comfortable workplace where everyone is empowered to pursue their work as a “businessperson.”
Firmly committed to doing our best every day to contribute to patients
When I was working in China as plant manager and as the project manager overseeing construction of a new factory, there were times when I faced various challenges and work didn’t proceed as planned. Many times I thought, “I just want to quit.” But I have a competitive streak, and would never forgive myself for giving up with the job half finished. I overcame these challenges by telling myself, “If this work is successful, then it will lead to the creation of new jobs and will contribute to patients and society.”
When I feel negative, I try to distract myself. For example, I burn incense before going to bed, relax with yoga, or immerse myself in my favorite books and forget about the world. On my days off, I try to keep my mind at peace by doing the things I like as much as possible, such as going on trips or eating delicious food.
A Moment from travels to the Pink Mosque in Malaysia and Bali, Indonesia
“People who can't properly do the job that’s in front of them aren’t qualified to talk about their dreams.” This is something that my family member told me when I first started working in the pharmaceutical industry. I truly believe that my dream and mission is to continue to provide a stable supply of high-quality products to patients. To make your dream a reality, you first need to face your daily work with sincerity and continue to study. No one knows what the future holds. That is why I will work to the best of my ability to do what I can today.
Du Chunying
Head of Manufacturing Strategy, Global Internal Manufacturing Department
Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
After working as a surgeon and for a Japanese pharmaceutical company, she joined Santen Pharmaceutical (China) Co., Ltd. in 2012. Entering the company as RA manager, she has gone on to hold positions that include RA director, manager of the Suzhou Plant and project manager for the Santen Vision Park construction project. She has been in her current position since 2024.
Related Content
Official SNS
