Conversation360 Podcast

Lyndon Chao is an American whose college classmate helped him navigate the academic waters in Electrical Engineering at Northwestern University. Years later, that friend asked Lyndon for advice in getting his 3D tech startup off the ground in the Chinese marketplace. Lyndon didn’t hesitate to lend his firsthand knowledge of China— gleaned from his over twenty years of experience with Morgan Stanley in Asia— to the adventure. In this podcast, Lyndon describes that startup experience and also shares his astute observations about China and how it is evolving into the economic powerhouse it is now, along with the very real challenges it faces in harnessing its opportunities.

Miles Wilson is responsible for Coca Cola’s strategy moving forward. A huge job, and the fact that he lives and works out of China is an indication of just how important he—and Coke—regard this region in their truly global business. Speaking from his own personal experience in this podcast, Miles shares the perspective he’s gained from years of work and life all over the Asia Pacific region.

Not a threat to the West, China is building its own extraordinary future

China provides unique “brain circulation” opportunities

Eric grew up in Burma, and inherited from his newspaper reporter father and schoolteacher mother a love for travel amid cultures far different from those experienced by an ordinary stateside American child. He grew especially fond of China where he has traveled extensively and has invested in publicly traded companies, many of which he has visited personally. He now lives in Burlington, Vermont where he is an Investment Manager with Hanson & Doremus Investments and he continues his involvement with China, including investment activities. Eric speaks both Mandarin and English.

Simon Kahn, Head of Marketing for Google in Asia Pacific, has experienced first-hand the dramatic changes in the playbook for doing business there. In the past, Westerners did the talking, and Asians were listening; now it is a two-way conversation, with many of the most innovative ideas originating in Asia and then coming to the West. This transformative situation reflects the massive shift in economic status in places like Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Singapore and of course, China. Simon sees major opportunities for Western companies who want to be players in this move from “mobile first” to “mobile only,” involving millions of individuals who have never used a laptop and operate exclusively—for both work and social life—on mobile phones. He’ll explain the “micro moments” opportunities every company needs to make central to its marketing strategy in Asia.

An American who pulled up stakes and moved her household to Hong Kong for seven years, Lorraine shares her fascinating perspective on Asia and the West. After her stint leading the School of Design at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, she wrote China’s Design Revolution, spelling out the explosion of innovative design there. She talks of the cultural differences that caught her by surprise, including how the Chinese regard older women in a leadership role. And you’ll hear how she determines that although no outsider can begin to understand the “whole” China, it’s highly rewarding to try.

If you don’t yet know Chiu-Ti Jansen, you’re in for a treat. Picture this: lawyer, investment banker, business founder, art and cultural historian, writer…all wrapped up in the most forward looking, high style glam fashion possible. Chiu-Ti , born in Taiwan, Masters from U of Michigan, PhD candidate at Yale, law degree from Columbia Law School, and author of Create Your Star Power for Chinese readers who are gobbling up the book’s advice, is a star herself. We talk about her take on history, the medi

Included in the “40 Under 40” list of the world’s leading investigation lawyers under the age of 40, Timothy has lived and worked in Asia for years. He represents multinational and Chinese clients in a diverse group of industries and is regarded as a guru on topics of importance right now in Asia like cross-border litigation and investigations of violations of anti-corruption laws. You’ll hear him talk about just why his work and life in Asia is so rewarding and why asking whether the West or Asia is winning the innovations race misses the point of the important cross-pollination going on.

Edgar Kwan Chi Ping, J.P., is the Senior Executive Director or Marga Group, which does vast and global property development in China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Projects include the Four Seasons Hotel in Shanghai, World Trade Centre in Bangkok, Central Plaza in Shenyang, as well as infrastructure projects such as bridges and flyovers and oil depots for the Hong Kong government. He is a major figure in law enforcement and public safety as well. He has a fascinating perspective on China, especially the importance of its history—go