For Yuan, the recognition is both a personal achievement and a testament to the people who have supported her along the way.
“Winning this award is incredibly meaningful to me,” she said. “It is a proud personal moment, but more importantly, it reflects the collaboration, support and opportunities I have received throughout my career journey.”
She believes the award also highlights the important contribution women make across industry and the need to continue creating environments where women feel confident to step forward and lead.
“As a woman in industry, I see this recognition as a reminder that our ideas, leadership and impact matter. It also reinforces the importance of creating workplaces where women feel encouraged to step forward, take ownership and contribute to business growth in a meaningful way.”
“As a woman in industry, I see this recognition as a reminder that our ideas, leadership and impact matter." - Yuan Yuan, Aftermarket Solutions Manager at Sykes Group Australia
A career built on learning and opportunity
Yuan’s career journey has been shaped by continuous learning and the support of leaders who recognised her potential and encouraged her growth.
“My career journey has been shaped by self-learning, as well as the recognition, encouragement and opportunities given by managers who respected and supported women equally.”
Over the years, she has worked across a wide range of functions within the pump industry, including project management, engineering, product configuration, order processing, capital sales and aftermarket services. This breadth of experience has given her a strong understanding of the complete customer journey and the factors that drive long-term success.
“Working across different functions in the pump industry—from project management, engineering, product configuration and order processing to capital sales and aftermarket—has given me a strong understanding of the end-to-end business.”
These experiences ultimately led her to recognise the critical role aftermarket services play in supporting customers and driving sustainable business growth.
“This journey helped me realise how critical aftermarket success is to long-term business growth, and it continues to guide my focus today as Aftermarket Solutions Manager at Sykes.”
- Yuan Yuan from Sykes in Australia
- Yuan Yuan and colleagues
- Out and about
- Collaboration is crucial for Yuan
The power of collaboration
Collaboration has been a defining factor in many of Yuan’s achievements, including the successful integration of the Atlas Copco pump business in Oceania.
To support the transition, Sykes established a project team focused on identifying and managing the actions required for a smooth integration.
“Beyond collaboration within Sykes, I also worked closely with teams from the Customer Centre and Distribution Centre across key functions to understand current processes, systems and ways of working.”
By bringing together different perspectives and areas of expertise, the team was able to identify opportunities for improvement, align expectations and build a clear path forward.
“By listening to different perspectives and bringing the right people together, we were able to identify gaps, align expectations and create a clearer path forward.”
For Yuan, the success of the project reinforced a simple but powerful principle.
“The breakthrough did not come from one person alone; it came from combining expertise across teams and keeping the customer outcome at the centre.”
Challenging the status quo
Innovation, according to Yuan, is often found in the pursuit of continuous improvement rather than dramatic change.
“For me, innovation is often about continuously asking, ‘How can we do this better?’”
One example involved reviewing and improving the existing Power BI reporting process. Working closely with a process specialist, Yuan challenged existing assumptions, reviewed data quality and explored ways to make reporting more effective for decision-making.
“By reviewing the data, questioning assumptions and discussing improvements, we were able to make the report more reliable and meaningful for decision-making.”
She believes innovation should be embedded in everyday work by regularly evaluating processes and identifying practical ways to improve efficiency across teams.
“I also believe innovation comes from regularly challenging existing work processes and looking for practical ways to make daily work smoother, clearer and more efficient for the team.”
“Commitment means taking ownership, following through and understanding that our work has a direct impact on customers and colleagues.”
Taking ownership and delivering value
For Yuan, commitment is about accountability, reliability and understanding the impact that every decision can have on customers and colleagues.
“Commitment means taking ownership, following through and understanding that our work has a direct impact on customers and colleagues.”
In the aftermarket business, she believes customer support extends well beyond the initial equipment purchase. Ongoing service, technical expertise and timely communication are all critical components of delivering value.
“Customers rely on us for spare parts, service support, technical guidance and timely communication throughout the equipment life cycle.”
This commitment translates into a proactive approach to problem-solving and a willingness to continuously improve.
“Day to day, commitment means being proactive, solving problems early, supporting the team, and making sure we deliver value in a practical and reliable way. It also means staying accountable when things are difficult and continuing to improve the way we work.”
“My advice is to stay curious, be willing to learn and do not be afraid to step into unfamiliar areas.”
The importance of gender equity
Yuan believes gender equity is essential to building stronger teams and better businesses.
“Gender equity is important because industry needs the best ideas, skills and perspectives available.”
She has been encouraged by the progress she has seen across the sector, including greater visibility of women in leadership positions and more open discussions around inclusion and diversity.
“I have seen positive progress through greater visibility of women in leadership, more open conversations about inclusion and stronger recognition of women’s achievements across industrial sectors.”
She is also proud of Atlas Copco Group’s commitment to recognising and supporting women across the organisation.
“I am also proud to see how much effort Atlas Copco Group has put into recognising and valuing women equally across every sector, and that there are more and more female role models within our organisation.”
Advice for the next generation
For women considering a career in industry, Yuan’s message is simple: stay curious and embrace new opportunities.
“My advice is to stay curious, be willing to learn and do not be afraid to step into unfamiliar areas.”
She encourages people not to be intimidated by the technical nature of the industry, noting that there are diverse career pathways available across sales, service, engineering, operations, finance, marketing and business development.
“Build strong relationships, ask questions and look for mentors who will support your growth.”
Most importantly, she encourages women to have confidence in the value they bring.
“As women, we each bring our own unique strengths and perspectives, and when we truly believe in our value, we can contribute confidently and make a meaningful impact.”
Inspiring others
Looking ahead, Yuan hopes her story demonstrates what is possible when people remain open to learning, embrace opportunities and surround themselves with supportive colleagues and mentors.
“I hope my story shows that growth is possible when you stay open to learning, take ownership of opportunities and surround yourself with people who support and challenge you.”
While the award recognises her individual achievements, she sees it as a reflection of the many people who have contributed to her journey.
“This recognition is not only about my individual journey; it is also about the teams, leaders, customers and colleagues who have contributed along the way.”
And if her success encourages others to pursue their own ambitions, she considers that one of the most meaningful outcomes of all.
“If it encourages even one woman to put her hand up for a new opportunity, share her ideas more confidently or see a future for herself in industry, then that would be very meaningful to me.”
“This recognition is not only about my individual journey; it is also about the teams, leaders, customers and colleagues who have contributed along the way.”
Yuan Yuan’s award recognises not only her contribution to business development, but also her commitment to collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement. Her journey demonstrates the value of diverse experiences, supportive leadership and lifelong learning, while reinforcing the importance of creating opportunities for women to thrive across all areas of industry.
Congratulations to Yuan Yuan on this well-deserved recognition and for the positive impact she continues to make across Sykes, Atlas Copco Group and the wider industry.
Sykes, part of Atlas Copco Group’s Power Technique Business Area, is a trusted provider of dewatering and pumping solutions for mining, construction and wastewater applications across Australia and around the world.
