Millennials in China

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we interview Jake Zimmerman, an American Millennial who originally moved to China to teach English, and is now running a sales team at a multinational conglomerate in Manila, the Philippines. Jake shares the hilarious stories from his journey, talks about the adventurous mentality required to step outside of your comfort zone, and shares his secrets to sales and networking.

Show Notes:

• Jake introduces himself and his background growing up in Wisconsin and getting his first exposure to different cultures from his fraternity.
• Jake's early dabbles with entrepreneurship and the non-profit organization he set up, called Global Smilez.
• Lessons learned from running an NGO and the travel bug that won't go away.
• How Jake decided to return to Asia and land in Shanghai with a teaching job at English First (EF).
• Hilarious stories from Jake's first year in Shanghai, which he aptly called "a lucid dream," including having a pet pig while living on the 30th floor of an apartment building.
• Why Jake went to London for business school, and what he got out of it the most.
• Jake's grind on a job in financial services in Shenzhen, and why it was not for him.
• The transition from Shenzhen back to the US and then to the Philippines, and what Jake is doing now.
• Sustainable eco products from rice, and how Jake and his team is trying to build a new lifestyle brand.
• Interesting stories from running a sales team and some unique interview methods!

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

Jake's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pelicanwing/

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we interview Victor Lee, a Malaysian entrepreneur who spent 13 years in China. Victor started his China journey back in 2007 after getting a job offer in customer service IT. He had been hustling all his life and was already assembling a team and building tech apps while still working full time. Now he is back living in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and is the Founder and CEO of Bitcurate, a blockchain data analytics startup.

Show Notes:

• Victor introduces himself and how he came across the opportunity of moving to China.
• Victor's first job in China working in customer service IT for an American company, and how he soon started his own side hustle, even employing a couple of part-time software developers.
• Victor recounts how he was already hustling and selling insurance back in Malaysia, and how the sales skills he learned coupled with his product development expertise helped him jump into a career building financial technology products at Standard Chartered Bank.
• How Victor was able to use his resources wisely and be able to pay salary to part-time employees while himself having a day job.
• How Victor was attracted to the concept of decentralized governance and falling into the blockchain rabbit hole.
• What inspired his new company, Bitcurate, and what it does.
• How skilled labour is no longer cheap in China, and how Victor decided to move back to Malaysia to utilize the cheaper talent available.
• Victor's golden tips on having the entrepreneur mindset but also having the grit and frugality to survive and outlast difficult times.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

Victor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorleejennwei/

Bitcurate: https://www.bitcurate.com/

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we interview Cherlene Ye, a Dutch digital marketer in Shanghai. Cherlene first arrived in China in 2013 to take Chinese language classes at Jiaotong University, and then opted to stay after finding a job in her field, digital marketing. Now, she is the Director of Marketing at iTalki, a rapidly growing online language learning app serving users across the world, and Cherlene shares her thoughts on being a young professional in China and how rewarding it can be.

Show Notes:

• Cherlene introduces herself and how she decided to come to China, initially for a temporary Chinese language course.
• Cherlene talks about what made her decide to get into digital marketing, despite her formal education being more focused on traditional marketing and PR.
• The importance of having a long term outlook and thinking strategically to position yourself for the future.
• What is digital marketing exactly, and how is it different to work on both the client side and the agency side.
• The differences between doing digital marketing to a Western audience vs a Chinese audience - different tools, different consumer psychology, different everything!
• Is it easy for a digital marketer who is used to the Western methods to adapt to marketing to a Chinese audience?
• What does her company iTalki do, and how it's well placed for the digital age.
• Some advice for aspiring young professionals who are looking at China for opportunities.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

Cherlene's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherleneye/

iTalki: https://www.italki.com/

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we interview Ukrainian entrepreneur Marian Danko. Marian (Marik) first arrived in China in 2011 for importing building materials to Ukraine. He eventually decided that he was not interested in import/export, and started pursuing tech-related ventures. He encountered failures along the way but always managed to overcome them with his remarkable persistence, and he is currently running one of the largest tech startup communities in China called WeHustle.

Show Notes:

• Marian introduces himself and talks about how he ended up in Shijiazhuang, China from Ukraine and via cruise ships sailing across over 30 countries.
• How Marian decided to leave import/export and do something that he was more interested in.
• Marian's keys to successfully building a community - passion, focus, and consistency.
• Marian introduces his company, WeHustle, and the array of community building, networking, services, and events they provide for tech startups in Shanghai.
• What is Chinaccelerator and how it can help foreign entrepreneurs wanting to reach the Chinese market.
• Even with COVID-19 shutting down events for months, Marian's business manages to get on just fine as he is always adjusting to situations, pivoting, and focusing on the highest priorities.
• The biggest personal rewards for Marian - seeing people meet and gain mutual value through his community.
• Marian explains his views about what the China startup scene will be like in the next few years, and talks about China's initiative to make Hainan into a "Silicon Island."
• Marian's advice on the pros and cons of hustling in China, as well as some words of wisdom for aspiring young China hustlers.

In this episode of the Millennials in China Podcast we interview Kian How, a successful Malaysian audio producer and music composer who has worked on video games and blockbuster films. Kian shares his journey from studying music in Boston to struggling to pay rent in Los Angeles, before moving to Shanghai 8 years ago and owning his niche.

Show Notes:

• Kian's background, from his time studying music in the US to how he struggled to pay rent while living the party life in LA.
• How Kian stumbled upon a job opportunity in China while intoxicated, and how he went from being skeptical about the opportunity to suddenly packing his bags and moving to Shanghai.
• Kian's experience working with famed video game designer "American McGee" at Spicy Horse Studios in Shanghai.
• How he transitioned from being an employee to being a self-employed freelance audio producer - it took 3 years of building the foundations and networking before he was comfortable to do things on his own.
• How Kian managed to get the gig producing the soundtrack for one of China's top grossing films, Wolf Warrior.
• The regional divide in China and how things can be totally different in different cities, both in terms of mentality and ways of doing business.
• Kian's tough love for aspiring young artists and musicians.

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we bring on our Asian-Canadian Millennial guest Aaron Choi. Aaron left Silicon Valley for new adventures in 2010 and moved first to Hong Kong, then Shanghai in 2012. He worked in mobile app advertising, before making a leap to the cryptocurrency space thanks to some guanxi (relationships). In 2019 his blockchain project Kava raised several million dollars in a successful Binance Launchpad campaign. Aaron shares his positive admiration for China and gives advice on the importance of relationship building in China's business scene.

Show Notes:

• Aaron talks about his 10-year journey in Asia (Hong Kong and Shanghai), after growing up in Vancouver and then working for a few years in Silicon Valley.
• The contrast between Hong Kong and Mainland China, and how Hong Kong is like a stepping stone from the World to Asia.
• Working in mobile app advertising and how it was totally different between the West and China.
• Aaron talks about how he first learned about bitcoin and the early days when Brian Armstrong (CEO of Coinbase) used to hand out BTC for free just to educate people about bitcoin.
• How Aaron actually made the move professionally from advertising to crypto, thanks to some good contacts in China.
• What Aaron is doing now with Kava, and how his company managed a successful Launchpad campaign on Binance and raised several million dollars.
• Aaron's thoughts on how to do business development and sales successfully in China, and how important it is to complement business relationships with personal relationships.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we bring on our first interview guest! Jack Boller is an American Millennial from Virginia who came to China after graduation in 2010, and now runs a successful education consulting business spanning several Chinese cities. He shares his China journey from his humble beginnings as an English teacher in a small Chinese city, to how he managed to grind his way to success today.

Show Notes:

• Jack's unique reason for coming to China in the first place - via a century-old partnership program between his college and China.
• The tough first year Jack spent in the Chinese city of Fenyang, where he was one of only two foreigners in the city.
• Sacrifices always lead to rewards - how Jack significantly improved his Mandarin as well as understanding of Chinese psychology through his year in the third tier Chinese city.
• How a job in Shanghai turned into a business idea, which almost didn't happen.
• How two important clients completely transformed and boosted the business - a small portion of people often provide the biggest gains.
• How Jack met his Chinese business partner, and how he tries to navigate all the horror stories we heard about doing joint ventures with local partners.
• Funny and down-to-earth hustle stories from the early days of his business, from teaching kids in Starbucks to renting out a "classroom" in a hotel.
• Jack's big advice to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to test the waters in China, or anywhere.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we drink some Tsingtao and imported Kirin while discussing life in China's cities, and explain how it's like to live in China as expats/foreigners. Depending on where you are in China (1st tier city like Shanghai vs 3rd tier cities and villages), the differences you face in everyday life can be massive!

Show Notes:

• Life in China as a foreigner and how you no longer have the same "celebrity factor" as 5-10 years ago.
• General comparisons between China's 1st tier international cities like Shanghai and the smaller cities and "real China."
• Your food, drink, and nightlife choices in 1st tier cities vs smaller cities.
• Cost of living differences between 1st tier cities and smaller cities - massive! You can probably live in a 3rd tier Chinese city for half the budget of Shanghai.
• Attitudes from Chinese locals. Are they curious about foreigners? Hostile? DGAF?
• Safety, transportation, and other logistic stuff for living in China's cities!
• Expat communities in China and the expat lifestyles that you can't live without - sports, recreation, and staying fit.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we discuss working and doing business in China, how the work culture and mentality can be very different from what you are used to in the West, and how to overcome the common challenges. As well, Hope provides some anecdotal insight on dealing with Chinese manufacturers and factories, how to price haggle, and more nuggets of information.

Show Notes:

• Hope talks about his story going from chemist in big biotech/pharma to moving to China to work in tech and starting an ecommerce side hustle with Amazon FBA.
• Cultural and habitual differences in the workplace between China and the West.
• How WeChat permeates your life in China, and work never stops!
• Differences in business style and attitude between China and West, and what each can learn from the other.
• Chinese work colleagues and how to build relationships with them and win trust.
• Advice for fresh expats coming to work or do business in China.
• Doing side hustles in China to make extra money.
• Hope shares his insights on dealing with Chinese suppliers, choosing the right factory, and how to haggle prices and avoid getting ripped off.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we discuss dating in China, what it's like to marry a Chinese woman, and the challenges of raising a family in China. Having done all of the above as a foreigner in China, Chris shares his experiences.

Show Notes:

• Chris' impressions of Chinese women back in the UK and how that changed after he came to China.
• How is it like to date a Chinese girl, and how Chris' courtship process was quite different from what we are used to with dating in the West.
• What was Chris' Chinese wedding like, and how the preparations went.
• How it's like to have children in China, and raising them.
• The pros and cons about raising kids in China.
• Married into a traditional Chinese family - how Chris deals with living with the in-laws.
• How Chris' in-laws thought of their daughter marrying a foreigner.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com