How valuing cultural differences is good for career – and company – growth

Changfang Zhu knows a thing or two about guiding an idea from its initial concepts to successful implementation. It’s what she’s done for the past 17 years at Boston Scientific as a research scientist and inventor on over 45 original U.S. patents. But her work on the Contour Field Shaping and Illumina3D algorithms, which are part of our portfolio of neuromodulation devices that help relieve chronic pain, extends beyond pioneering new technology. 

Navigating a move from China to the United States 

Zhu grew up in Hunan, a small city in central China. In 2001, at 25, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she earned her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It’s where she heard from a friend about an opportunity in our Neuromodulation business based in California, where she now resides with her family. 

After joining Boston Scientific, Zhu became involved with the Advancing Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Allies — or PEARL — employee resource group. In 2024, she helped launch PEARL’s “West Meets East” program to help people like herself who are part of a global company to navigate cultural differences in business practices across regions and continents.  

For Zhu, these differences quickly became apparent after moving to the United States. “Communication, workflows, leadership styles and business structures are all different” than in China, she says. 

For instance, she says, in the Chinese business world, quietness is often valued to minimize confrontation, and as a show of trust and respect for leaders. Western communication styles may seem more direct by comparison, and comfort in challenging superiors is more common.  

In China, Zhu says, she would be careful to speak up only when certain of an outcome; in the U.S., this was viewed by peers as a lack of confidence. “I quickly realized that in Western culture, you can’t be afraid to throw out an idea before being absolutely sure it’s right. Risk is seen as part of the process.” 

How better communication can lead to better patient care 

What began as an idea to build training modules for BSC employees has grown into a robust series of workshops and panel discussions which help break down misconceptions to foster global collaboration and partnership. 

Learning to appreciate those cultural differences is good for a company’s bottom line, Zhu believes: “If we want to grow in the Asia-Pacific region, we need to understand how business is done there.” 

More importantly, this work helps Boston Scientific to further its purpose of advancing science to improve patients’ lives. “When you have more collaboration,” she says, “you have a better understanding of how to approach patients and conversations around healthcare to address their needs.” 

Learn more about how Boston Scientific is working to advance science for life.