China

China is the largest country in the world with a population over 1.3 billion and an economy that is growing in excess of 10 percent per year. China is the world’s second largest economy next to the United States. Historically, China has been the largest economy in the world for 18 of the past 20 centuries. China now represents the largest ever movement of people out of poverty. There are over 100,000 Chinese enrolled in U.S. universities and 300 million Chinese learning to speak English.

From a global business perspective, unprecedented growth in China's biotech, IT, and software industries have occurred in the last seven years. This change has its roots in reforms that began more than 20 years ago, as well as beneficial policy changes, increased program funding, and low labor costs. Also, the quality of China's talent pool has improved as overseas Chinese with Western training have returned to the opportunities available on the mainland. Furthermore, China's creation of high-tech zones has helped put important infrastructure and tax incentives in place.

There is a vast difference between how Eastern and Western cultures teach, learn, and perceive the world. The East and West solve problems differently, lead our people differently, and view the world differently. An understanding of these differences is a key for business success in China.

Travel to one of China’s 13 cities with a population of over 10 million. Regardless of which one you fly into make your way via the fastest trains in the world or connecting flights to Shanghai where our journey will begin.

As a hub for business in China, Shanghai will be our base-camp. In Shanghai we will build on our own observations and begin to explore the cultural differences between East and West and use the rich cultural variations of Shanghai to ease into the immersive experience of China. We will stay near the French concession area with it’s rich history of European architecture settle among the old Chinese architecture and within view of the gleaming glass and chrome behemoths of Pudong that make up the Shanghai skyline. We will venture out to nearby cities such as Wuxi, Hangzhou and Suzhou to visit the foundation companies that are thriving in the rapidly developing economy of China.

Along the way we will put to practice our newly shaped lens of cultural differences and understanding. During the journey we will undoubtedly be surprised by the entrepreneurial backbone of China which is driven by necessity and sparks innovation, adaptability and creativity in China. In addition to a visit to Shenzhen China and the home to the Shanzai copycat rebels, we will further explore, touch, taste and see the history of China’s economic past, how the silk road, the great wall, the rulers, emperors, and revolutions’ have all helped to shape the people and land of China.