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 fun story about Age: 47 Location: Vancouver Position: President and CEO, Norsat International 2013 revenue: $30–$40 million Employees: 160 full-time, 2 part-time Why we love her: She worked her way up the ladder — from co-op student to CEO. Best advice: "Always be learning how to be a better leader." Amiee Chan joined the Richmond, B.C.-based telecommunications company Norsat International in 1989 — as a co-op engineering student. “My job was to disassemble 400 orange boxes with a screwdriver and replace the circuits,” she says. “My fingers were blistered, and I was out of my mind with boredom when my supervisor told me what they were: a type of rescue beacon that had recently saved a family in Alaska from drowning. That realization inspired me to keep going, and after my graduation, I got a job there.” Over the next few years, Amiee worked her way up the ranks at Norsat, which provides communications products and services to the likes of NATO, Boeing and Motorola. “When a disaster happens, it’s no longer food and water they bring in first, it’s communication solutions,” she says. Her interest in technology came early. When Amiee was eight, she and her family moved from Hong Kong to Vancouver. “As an immigrant child, you just desperately want to blend in,” says Amiee. “You want to wear the right clothes and bring the right lunch. But my father told me, ‘If you do what everyone else does, you will never stand out.’ ” That advice resonated. Instead of taking sewing and cooking with the other girls, she opted for electronics — and was instantly hooked. At university, Amiee majored in electrical engineering. “My mother thought that meant driving a train in striped overalls,” she says. “And I think she still thinks that’s what I do.” Advertisement In fact, she is a problem solver who saved a sinking business. In 2006, Norsat was on the verge of bankruptcy, with angry suppliers and unsatisfied customers. The board looked to Amiee, then the VP of operations and engineering, and asked, “Do you want to take this on?” With two young kids at home, she thought it seemed risky — but so did walking away. “I thought, ‘There are 45 employees here whose families rely on them. I don’t want the torch to go out on my watch.’ ” Amiee took on the role of CEO and shifted the company’s focus: “Instead of betting on very large contracts, we looked to smaller customers that really needed our products and services.” As a result, Norsat currently brings in more than $35 million a year. “Now the guys who were my supervisors report to me, and they couldn’t be more supportive.” Today, she tackles complex communications problems: How can people on a boat check their email? How can mining executives 200 metres underground use their cellphones? “We had a military customer doing a peacekeeping mission in Africa whose employees needed a communications strategy not just to stay in touch with each other, but also to keep in touch with their families. We made it happen.” Meanwhile, Amiee looks for ways to stay connected to her own family, which is challenging, considering the extensive time and travel requirements of her job. “I draw a very solid line between family and work,” she says. “If I have to travel on a weekend, I’ll take a day off in the week to be with them.” Her biggest message to working moms, though, is to go easy on yourself. “You’re going to miss things: school concerts, big games. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Your kids will be fine.” Advertisement

The Inspiring Journey of Amiee Chan: From Co-op Student to CEO

In the bustling city of Vancouver, a remarkable woman named Amiee Chan was making waves in the telecommunications industry. At the age of 47, she held the prestigious position of President and CEO of Norsat International, a company that boasted an impressive annual revenue of $30–$40 million. With 160 full-time employees and two part-time staff, Norsat was a thriving business under her leadership. But what made Amiee truly exceptional was her journey from a co-op student to a celebrated CEO.

Chapter 1: The Humble Beginnings

Amiee's story began in 1989 when she joined Norsat International as a co-op engineering student. Her first task was far from glamorous: disassembling 400 orange boxes with a screwdriver to replace circuits. With blistered fingers and a mind teetering on the edge of boredom, she discovered the purpose of those boxes—they were rescue beacons that had recently saved a family in Alaska. This realization ignited a spark in Amiee, motivating her to persevere. Upon graduation, she secured a permanent position at Norsat.

Chapter 2: Climbing the Ladder

Amiee's rise through the ranks at Norsat was a testament to her dedication and passion. The company provided communications products and services to high-profile clients like NATO, Boeing, and Motorola. She quickly learned that during disasters, communication solutions were as crucial as food and water. This understanding fueled her drive to excel.

Chapter 3: The Immigrant Advantage

Amiee's fascination with technology started early. At eight years old, she moved from Hong Kong to Vancouver. As an immigrant child, she yearned to fit in, but her father's advice resonated deeply: "If you do what everyone else does, you will never stand out." Instead of following the typical path, Amiee chose electronics over sewing and cooking. She majored in electrical engineering at university, much to her mother's confusion, who thought it meant driving a train in striped overalls.

Chapter 4: The Turnaround

In 2006, Norsat was on the brink of bankruptcy, plagued by unhappy suppliers and customers. The board turned to Amiee, then VP of operations and engineering, asking if she would take on the challenge of saving the company. With two young children at home, it was a risky decision, but Amiee couldn't walk away. She focused on smaller customers who genuinely needed Norsat's products and services, shifting the company's strategy. Her efforts paid off, and Norsat began to flourish, with annual revenues soaring above $35 million.

Chapter 5: Tackling Complex Problems

As CEO, Amiee faced numerous challenges. From enabling boat crews to check their emails to helping mining executives 200 meters underground use their cellphones, she found innovative solutions. Her team even developed a communication strategy for a military peacekeeping mission in Africa, allowing employees to stay in touch with their families while on duty.

Chapter 6: Balancing Act

Despite her demanding job, Amiee prioritized her family. She drew a clear line between work and home, ensuring she spent quality time with her loved ones. Her message to working mothers was simple: go easy on yourself. Missing school concerts or big games was inevitable, but she reassured them that their kids would be fine.

The Moral

Amiee Chan's journey from a co-op student to CEO is a powerful reminder that perseverance, passion, and a willingness to learn can lead to extraordinary achievements. Her story inspires us to embrace our unique paths, overcome challenges, and strive for excellence in everything we do.