International MBA

Day 2: Doing business in China from two different perspectives

We started our day by waking up early in the morning to go swimming and spent some time in the steam room. The day was bright, sunny and warm. Today we were to go visit Continuum, a company that devotes itself to creating something real for the customer that has value and will continue to have value even years from now. Their focus is on continuous innovation. It is a great company that has been established here in Shanghai for three years and is currently looking to expand to Brazil and Spain. The company has worked in various projects helping companies improve their product or even develop a whole new product that can be used by the public. Some of the products that Continuum has created are the Swiffer, the Reeboks pump and the pampers. I personally loved the company and what it does. I found it interesting how Chris, our host and the managing director of the company here in Shanghai, mentioned the difference in service expectations between the Chinese and the Americans. He mentions that Chinese are not so interested in the type of service but more in being appreciated when the service is given, whereas  Americans are the opposite focusing more on the type of service . This actually follows what we read in the book, Inside Chinese Business. Chinese, especially those of higher class want their status to be known and want to have the respect and prestige that comes with that certain status. While Americans do not really care for that because they tend not to let others know their economical status because it seems arrogant.

Another statement that I found interesting was made during our second company visit. Mr. Feng Xian, our host for DFJ Dragon Fund, a venture capital firm, presented his colleagues in a very particular way in which we would not see in the US. For example in America, if we were to introduce a person that was not in the room but that was of importance, the host would describe this person with their achievements, school education and what they were currently doing. Mr. Xian however, told us where his colleague had been educated but also went on to tell us how famous and prestigious this person was. This again shows how Chinese when introducing themselves they immediately let the other person know their status so that respect should be paid accordingly.

Overall we had a very busy and long day but we ended it by going to Nenjing Road for some affordable shopping and a view of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai World Financial center along the Huangpu River. It was a magnificent sight, of buildings with colonial architecture and buildings with modern architecture that portrays the Chinese culture, on either side of the Bund! Looking forward to another exciting day in Shanghai and here is Estefani signing off..

Day 2: Chinese Innovation

Today was filled with company visits that were surprisingly, or maybe not, centered around innovation. The first company on the agenda was Continuum, a innovation consultancy firm. That was followed by DFJ Dragon Fund, a Chinese VC firm, and Sheppard Mullin, a US law firm with offices in China. Each company provided a different perspective on the role of innovation in China.

The Chinese office of Continuum is a new subsidiary (3 years old) that is still trying to gain their footing in this market. Though they’ve been doing business in China for over 15 years, now that they have an office located in this market, they are having to develop new ways to not only reach a new client base but also, to create a sustainable business model for the future. They offer amazing services and really have a strong edge against competitors. Interestingly, they have an integrative approach to consulting: their researchers are also the individuals developing the product. This approach is their value-add.

DFJ Dragon Fund, on the other hand, is the financial backers of such innovative ideas and companies. They strive to make healthy investments on behalf of their investors.

Shepard Mullin law firm is the final piece in the puzzle. They ensure that their international clients are protected in the transaction. It was truly interesting to see all of these aspects play out today. As it has been drilled into our brains the entire program, innovation is the way of the future and the key to being sustainable. To hear each firm today was confirmation of this. China has an issue with innovation and the presence of these types of companies will help to drive the future of the country.

Team SCJ

Culture shock? Maybe, Maybe not!

Coming from Paris, where apartments are small, weather is cloudy, we have to study, and one could walk from east to west in less than a day, China seemed spacious, sunny, relaxing and big!
The flight landed at around 7am and Dr. Loch, Dr. Lieu and Eric were at the airport to welcome us to the mainland! After settling in our rooms, we ventured out to have some of the famous Shanghai cuisines. Them spicy ones made our beloved Stefani’s eyes water even- water with every bite!

The people seemed very nice, quite a change from the hospitality( or lack of it) we experienced in France! It was fascinating to find out that although miles apart, the trends in fashion seemed to be strikingly similar in China and Paris! As We roamed around in Joy city, a mall nearby our hotel, we even got the opportunity to be part of a live concert by one of famous musicians who is the most popular among the youth. Tired from all the window shopping and trying to figure out a way to get back home, it was time for a relaxing moment by the pool.

Hunger struck at midnight and in hope of finding an open restaurant, we ventured out into the streets. A lady street vendor stood in one corner and offered a huge bowl of fried rice for 8RMB! It was the most amazing dinner one could ever get( or was it because we’re just too hungry?)! Night was young and so we decided to find out what happens in Shanghai after midnight and ended in Rich Baby, a night club close to people’s square. Well, to be honest, the music was good but the crowd was too uptight! After making a few acquaintances, we left the club hoping to sleep and wake up early enough to an amazing day in China!! Two weeks to master the art of using chopsticks and speaking Chinese! ( Shanshan says she is already a master in this- no kidding!)

Shanghai, Jet Lag, and a Company Visit

Hello…Stephanie chiming in on my experience in China,

I have officially spent one full night and one full day here in Shanghai and am happy to report that I am loving the experience.

When choosing the GPMBA program one of the immediate draws is the different international residencies and trips. After China we will have officially circumnavigated the globe. Just one more cool fact to add to our life journey’s. But, I am finding that these experiences give us more than life experience…they give us new knowledge about ourselves and what we enjoy.

In Rio I was amazed at how easily I enjoyed every new experience and every aspect of the culture. Thinking back on that time my enjoyment came from my ability to find the similarities between my personality and the culture I was in. In Brazil my active, outdoor, carefree side was brought out by the environment and the culture. I went running at the Lagoa, met with friends on the beach and enjoyed the views of the mountains and the sea. In France the side, of me that loves French culture, beauty, and study came out as I enjoyed the entire Parisian environment…food, architecture, and frequent trips to my favorite park. Here in Shanghai I am also finding similarities that are allowing me to enjoy the experience.

I am by nature an introvert always living inside my head, working diligently, seeking balance…things that in some ways could seem cautious. But, I also find that I love a new experience…I know how to enjoy the discomfort. New experiences excite me, challenge me and help me learn more about myself. As I have studied and now experienced Chinese culture I have found that my quiet nature is very compatible with the Chinese people I have met. As a group we felt that communication would be difficlult, and in some ways it is, because I can’t read or speak Chinese. But in the end, people are very patient and willing to try to figure out what you want as you gesture that you would like this food item or that swim cap ( went swimming in the hotel pool this morning).. I feel very welcome here, and not as lost as I could have felt.

A few months ago Dr. Loch asked us to say what we were worried about on our trip to China…she wanted the first thing that popped into our heads. My only thought was jet lag. I have had terrible jet lag before when living in France, and as a global MBA student with the ambition of working in international business, I know that dealing with jet lag is something I need to figure out. I looked up remedies and suggestions for it, including drinking lots of water, and not taking a nap during the daytime in the place you land. But, I think it must be something to be dealt with on an individual basis. I couldn’t sleep on the plane here in anticipation of the unknown. So I broke the no nap rule and slept from noon until three Shanghai time. I could have slept more, but forced myself to wake up and polish up my Inside Chinese Business Paper. I did remember to drink as much water as possible, and my day ended early at eleven. I slept until two, at which point I tossed and turned until the sun came out at six and then proceeded to fall back asleep until nine-thirty. I must emphasize that the point of this minute by minute look at my night, is my possible mastery of jet lag. After breakfast this morning I went to the gym and ran three miles on the tread-mill (definitely the fanciest tread-mill i’ve ever used…who would have thought?), I did some weights, tried the sauna, and went for a swim. Running has been my constant companion since the beginning of this year and getting a run in made me feel more normal and less jet laggy. I could have wandered around the city, but find that there is value in taking the first day in a new country to adjust and reset your body to the new timing and rhythm.

After my morning of activity, we had our first company visit at McKinsey and Company. We listened to a presentation on social media and how it relates to business strategy. I found the facts about social media in China to be very interesting. For those who do not know, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are not available in China as the Chinese government sensors the sites. China, however, has created it’s own social media equivalents that are thriving in this country of 1.3 billion people. The need to take something that exists in the developing world and adapt it to a developing country’s environment is not a new concept. In Brazil we visited Globo TV and saw the quality of the programming being disemenated to Brazilian citizens. The shows were of the same quality as shows produced in Hollywood, but their subject matter is tailored to Brazilian culture. In the same way, China does this with social media and to a greater extent in many business dealings. There is precedent in the west for the economic development that is occurring in China, but the Chinese are able to look at this precedent and decide what suits their Confucian centered culture.

I could write more, and will in a few days, but must conclude that I can’t wait for every new experience to come.

Social Media in China? I Don’t Believe it

My daughter is in Cape town doing her study abroad. I was able to be in touch with my daughter’s activities in Cape town through Facebook. When I came to Shanghai after a long flight I wanted to see how things were going with my daughter. To my utmost surprise I found out that we don’t have access to Facebook or Twitter or Youtube. I said to myself how will I survive without these social media sites for the next two weeks? After that I asked a bigger question How is the huge population of China surviving without any social media sites?

Today I got my answer. We visited Mckinsey & Company as part of our company visits in the Global Partners MBA program. We met with Ms. Chiu and her presentation about social media was quite revealing. I knew about Baidu the popular search engine site in China but I did not know China had so many social networking sites. Ms. Chiu mentioned Weibu, Youku (site similar to youtube),  taubao, renren, kaixin100 to name a few. One public segment where social media has a greater influence is the consumer sector. Consumers share their product experiences and go to social media sites to get information about the products.

Overall China has a greater interest in social media in comparison to other countries. Internet users in China spent 40% of their time on social media sites while surfing. This number indicates a high level of penetration and usage of the social media sites as a tool for interaction. Another thing I found interesting was the ownership of these social media websites. These companies are all privately owned. I thought since government has such a great influence in public behavior the government might have a stake in these companies. But that is not the case. These companies are all privately owned and serving the Chinese market.

Lots of things I am learning in this trip that is changing my perception about China in a positive way.