By Janet Chou | CFO | JCET
Growing up in China, I came to the United States at the age of nineteen to pursue the American dream. After graduating college with a degree in business, I started my career in public accounting. A few years later, I entered the semiconductor industry as a financial analyst working for Philips. My passion for semiconductors has gotten stronger ever since. The semiconductor industry is very complex and Finance is in a unique position to see the business and all its various pieces holistically. Each day is full of excitement as I get to work with brilliant minds who create cutting edge technologies.
Throughout my career, I’ve had many different roles such as in corporate finance, in manufacturing finance, business unit CFO, and regional CFO. Working as an expat overseas allowed me to learn about different cultures, ideas, and values. These experiences prepared me for my current role as the CFO of JCET group, the third largest Semiconductor Out-Sourced Assembly and Test (OSAT) supplier globally. Today, I am leading the finance function of a $4B+ revenue company with 23,000+ employees. I provide strategic, financial, and operating insights to drive business improvements in the company’s growth and profitability.
At different points of my career, I have had the privilege to work with many amazing people who guided me, nurtured me, and challenged me to go the extra mile. I’m grateful for their guidance and advice. While working at NXP Semiconductors, I was once given a big role to be the CFO of a major Business Unit. I was hesitant to take the position initially as I wasn’t sure whether I can handle the job perfectly. It was my manager who instilled the confidence in me. “Don’t underestimate yourself. Be courageous. You can do it!” There are ample leadership opportunities for women and we just have to believe in ourselves and follow our passion.
For women, it is more challenging to balance family and work. Thanks to my supportive family, I have found that maintaining such a balance is possible. In my spare time, I love music, reading, cooking, gardening, and watching NBA games. I am a big fan of the Golden State Warriors!
There is a Chinese saying that “women can hold up half the sky.” I want to be the mentor to inspire more women to break the glass ceiling, to help them achieve their career goals, and to contribute to greater gender equality. I look forward to seeing more females to take the leadership positions in the semiconductor industry!
___________________________________________
About Janet Chou
Janet Chou joined JCET Group as Chief Financial Officer in October 2019, responsible for the company’s financial strategy and leading the global financial organization. Janet has more than 20 years of semiconductor industry experience, serving multinational companies in the U.S. and in Asia. Prior to JCET, Janet was Vice President and CFO of NXP Semiconductors Greater China, and Vice President and CFO of NXP Portable & Computing Business Unit. She also held management positions at ON Semiconductor, California Micro Devices (acquired by ON Semiconductor), Zoran Corporation, and Philips Semiconductors.
Janet holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MBA from Santa Clara University. She is a certified public accountant in the State of California and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.