In this episode of the Radical Global Marketing Podcast, host Steven Proud is joined by Harriet Gaywood, founder of Anoumis Communications, and one of the most experienced PR and communications leaders working in and around China today.
With more than 25 years of international experience, Harriet has held senior communications roles across Asia, including Vice President of Public Relations and International Media at Chinese tech giant Huawei. She now works with leadership teams across the region, advising on strategic communications, reputation management, and media engagement in complex, global environments.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Harriet shares hard-earned insights from decades working at the intersection of communications, geopolitics, technology, and culture, offering a candid perspective on what it really takes to operate effectively as a global communications leader in and around China.
We also explore a very different side of Harriet’s story. She is the founder of Trailing Around Asia and a recently published author of Trailing Around Asia, Mud, Sweat and Beers, a deeply personal account of trail running, climbing, and pushing physical and mental limits across China and Thailand, often at frankly ridiculous distances and altitudes.
Throughout the episode, Harriet discusses:
- What global communications leadership really looks like inside large Chinese organisations
- How international PR has evolved over the last 25 years, and where it’s heading next
- Managing reputation, risk, and credibility across markets, cultures, and political contexts
- The realities of training leaders and spokespeople across Asia
- Why endurance sports, resilience, and communications leadership have more in common than you might think
This episode is part masterclass in international communications, part personal journey, and a powerful reminder that the best global leaders are built through experience, perspective, and stamina.