Part 1｜Persistence at 3 A.M.
In the winter of 2018, a stainless steel pipe factory was still brightly lit at 3 a.m. In the workshop, a young woman crouched on the ground, wearing gloves and checking each packed pipe one by one.
Her name is Phoebe Lee. She had just graduated from college and joined the company less than a year ago. It was her 20th night living at the factory. For a critical order that was seriously delayed, she stayed up every night checking the process, moving pipes, nailing wooden crates, and even operating the polishing machine herself.
She knew it wasn’t just about delivering products—it was about the trust the customer had placed in the company. “I didn’t want to let them down,” she said.
There were moments of doubt. Lying in bed after a long day, staring at the lights still on in the factory, she wondered, “Did I choose the wrong path? My classmates are probably working in air-conditioned offices, while I’m covered in grease, chasing delivery deadlines.”
But the next morning, she got up and went straight back to the workshop. “If we can deliver on time, everything is worth it. The customer’s trust must not be betrayed.”
That night, the trucks rolled out on time. The factory workers stood by silently, giving her a thumbs-up.
Part 2｜The one who steps up when it matters
Phoebe majored in chemical engineering in university. She changed careers to foreign trade, entered the manufacturing industry, and started from scratch every step of the way. In her first two years, she didn’t understand customer terms, and often had to revise quote emails more than ten times.
When people doubted her, she didn’t try to argue—she let her work speak for itself. “It’s okay if I don’t understand at first. As long as I do the work well, customers will see it.”
What sets her apart is her instinct to step up and take responsibility. In less than four years, she went from intern to CEO of SMLSCO.
When the group planned to launch a new company, Phoebe offered to invest and take the lead. “It felt like I had just learned to swim and got thrown into the ocean,” she laughed. “But since I’m already in, I’ll find a way to swim to shore.”
She doesn’t wait for chances—she creates them and moves forward on her own.
Part 3｜She doesn't just talk about going global—she does it
Not long after SMLSCO was founded, the global pandemic hit. Orders dropped. Customers hesitated. Shipping schedules became chaotic.
Phoebe faced huge pressure. But she stayed calm, held the team together, and kept pushing projects forward.
At the end of 2022, while China was still under strict lockdown, she decided to lead the team overseas to visit clients. Tony, who traveled with her, recalled: “At first, I thought she was just suggesting the idea. But then she booked the tickets and said, ‘Let’s go.’”
That trip overcame travel restrictions and led to several key partnerships. Most importantly, it helped rebuild customer trust.
In 2024, the company received an urgent order: 450 tons of steel pipes to be shipped within 24 hours. Phoebe led the team overnight, organizing and completing the shipment of 18 containers.
Someone said, “When she leads, the impossible suddenly becomes possible.”
Epilogue｜She builds trust with action—and leads with it
Looking back on SMLSCO’s journey, Phoebe always says, “Do everything you can—for the customer.”
She often reminds her team:
Always put the customer first;
Turn every piece of feedback into a growth opportunity;
Think three steps ahead of the customer.
Some say that when she says “Follow me,” you’ll believe that roses can grow in the desert.
She’s not perfect, but she’s deeply reliable. She’s not the face of the brand—but she shows what it means to be truly trustworthy.
