"Her Strength" | Anhan Technology CF0 Luo Weiping: The female CFO who doesn't set limits for herself is pushing capsule endoscopy into the thousand-yuan era

She was once an executive at a foreign company and a senior financial officer at an investment firm. Now, nearing retirement age, she has chosen to “re-enter the field” by joining a healthcare technology unicorn company as CFO. Luo Weiping’s career path seems rational and meticulous, but what drives her forward is a deep reverence for life and a heartfelt concern for her family.

“I have a sensitive stomach myself. After personally experiencing Anhan’s products, I was truly touched,” Luo Weiping said with emotion when talking about her initial motivation to join Anhan Technology. This company, focused on digestive health, has its core product, the “Magnetic-Controlled Capsule Endoscopy System,” which offers a painless, non-invasive alternative for patients who delay examinations due to fear of traditional endoscopy.

At that moment, I realized this was more than just a technology; it represents hope for countless families," Luo Weiping said. She hopes to go from being a “beneficiary” of a product to a “promoter,” encouraging more people to get checked and to do so confidently, so that more stomach cancers can be caught early.

Her story is about a woman continuously breaking through ceilings and redefining herself. As she puts it, “Age and gender are not issues; the most important thing is not to set limits for yourself.”

Selected excerpts from her conversations:

Joining Anhan: From “Beneficiary” to “Promoter”

Q: Anhan is your first experience in a healthcare tech company. What prompted you to join?

Luo Weiping: Actually, I was previously an employee at a shareholder company of Anhan. The board wanted a more experienced financial professional to help the company grow further, so I had this opportunity. But what truly moved me was experiencing the product firsthand.

I have always had stomach issues and a natural fear of traditional endoscopy. But after learning about Anhan’s capsule endoscopy system, I found that the entire process was discomfort-free—painless, non-invasive, and no anesthesia needed. Plus, the price difference with traditional endoscopy is narrowing. Through continuous cost optimization, the initial cost in some regions, which was around 4,000 to 5,000 yuan per procedure, has now dropped below 2,000 yuan.

China is a country with a high incidence of stomach cancer, accounting for nearly half of new cases worldwide, yet early diagnosis rate is less than 20%. The cure rate for early-stage stomach cancer can exceed 90%. Behind this gap are countless patients delaying diagnosis due to fear of traditional endoscopy. If we can promote this technology to cover more people, encouraging them to get checked and do so early, it would be incredibly meaningful.

My grandfather died of esophageal cancer, and my father passed away from liver cancer—all within less than a year from diagnosis. Family history makes me especially attentive to early cancer screening. I want to go from being a “beneficiary” of this product to a “promoter,” helping realize this vision sooner.

Career choices: Every turn is an “upgrade”

Q: You started your career in the early 1990s, moving from state-owned enterprises to foreign companies, and then to accounting firms. What considerations guided these choices?

Luo Weiping: I graduated into a state-owned enterprise, which was considered a “secure job.” But a stable life felt restrictive to a young person like me—I wanted to explore outside. Later, I moved to a foreign company, which offered better pay, but the work was simple, and I quickly hit a ceiling.

Looking back, the fastest growth came during the two-plus years at an accounting firm. I gave up the high salary of a foreign enterprise to join with only a third of the income. I entered during the busiest period for annual report audits, working almost daily on business trips and overtime from January to April, but the experience was invaluable. Working with companies of different industries and sizes allowed me to rapidly accumulate professional expertise. That period was the most memorable and critical point in my career.

Later, I joined an investment firm and stayed for 16 years. From a capital perspective, analyzing companies is very different from actively managing real industry operations. When Anhan invited me, I saw it as an “advancement”—using my accumulated experience to truly help companies grow.

Workplace insights: Skills and attitude can break ceilings

Q: Have you ever encountered a “ceiling” in your career?

Luo Weiping: Finance tends to be more suitable for women, so reaching middle management wasn’t a problem. But moving into senior leadership, I did face ceilings.

When I left the foreign company for the accounting firm, it was partly for this reason: I needed broader horizons and stronger capabilities to reach higher management levels. Looking back, I believe that overcoming biases and ceilings mainly depends on two things: ability and attitude. Your professional skills and work results will ultimately earn recognition. When you are sufficiently excellent, gender ceases to be an issue.

Q: In pursuing your career, how has your family supported you?

Luo Weiping: My husband is very open-minded and has never restricted my choices. When I gave up a high salary to work at the firm, earning only a third of my previous income, he initially didn’t understand, but I convinced him. Later, when I worked in Wuhan, spending three weeks here and one week in Beijing each month, he continued to support me. I am very grateful to him.

Of course, I think I can keep going because I love what I do and give it my all.

Financial challenges: Managing funds in high-tech healthcare is a lifeline

Q: As CFO, how do you view the financial characteristics of healthcare technology companies?

Luo Weiping: The biggest feature of high-tech healthcare companies is large R&D investment, long cycles, and strict regulation. A new product from project approval to commercialization often takes three or more years. The core of financial management is to do comprehensive budget planning and fund allocation throughout the entire cycle, ensuring continuous R&D and financial security. Capital is the lifeline of the enterprise.

Additionally, Anhan holds over 600 global patents, more than half of which are invention patents. We need to establish a dynamic patent ledger, facilitate cross-department collaboration, and ensure clear ownership and cost optimization. Managing and valuing these intangible assets is crucial for the company’s financing and valuation.

Advice for young women: Don’t underestimate yourself—be confident

Q: What advice would you give to young women professionals?

Luo Weiping: First, age and gender are not issues; the most important thing is not to set limits for yourself. There are indeed gender differences in the workplace, but they are not necessarily disadvantages. Women’s patience, attention to detail, teamwork, and empathy are now valuable assets that are increasingly rare.

As long as you are determined, confident, and hardworking, your achievements will be recognized. Like the theme “Gleaming Light into a Torch,” you can be that unquenchable light in your position. The light may not be strong, but when many women gather, they can illuminate entire industries and companies.

Finally, never underestimate yourself. Believe that you can do it. Do what you love and give it your all.

Yang Yan / Text

Xu Nan, Lin Chen / Editors