Dong Mingzhu, 59, Board Chaiwoman of Gree Electric Appliances Inc, the top-selling air-conditioning manufacturer in the world, at the company's exhibition hall in Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province, on October 31, 2013 (LIU DAWEI)

Dong Mingzhu attributes her business success to the art of "suffering loss." "I never use the advantage, or we call it disadvantage, as a woman, while at work with my male colleagues," Dong said.