Excelling against the odds

"Innovations aim to make electricity more stable, intelligent and user-friendly," she said.

Meng's studio has some 130 members, 90 of whom are young people. They have tackled more than 200 technical challenges, developed about 150 innovative solutions, and secured 94 national patents.

The studio has been honored with prestigious titles, including as a national-level skills master studio by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and Sichuan's top 10 model worker and craftsman innovation studio.

The studio also serves as a mentorship platform where experienced workers train apprentices in areas such as rapid installation of smart meters and PowerPoint presentations.

Meng said the deeper meaning of her work is to "guard the lights of homes".

In May 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Meng and her colleagues worked 22 hours to provide power for a newly built makeshift hospital. During the nearly monthlong battle to maintain power supply, working through the night and restoring electricity at dawn became routine. Yet Meng never retreated because of her gender. Whether hauling cables, transporting materials, calibrating meters, or connecting power lines, she always charged ahead.

Her exceptional performance earned her numerous honors, such as national power industry technology expert, model worker of central State-owned enterprises, National March 8th Red Banner Holder, and deputy to the National People's Congress.

Her proposals to the congress have included optimizing electric vehicle charger layouts in older residential communities and thermal power plant expansions in Sichuan.

"Women have expanded their working fields in terms of occupation. For example, the power industry used to be dominated by men, but now many highly educated women also contribute to the sector," she said.

Women are also more confident in the workplace and in using their expertise. "We should embrace lifelong learning, take control of destiny and plan wisely," Meng said.