Starting up in an evolving China

Is China still the emerging market today as it is known? If yes, are we ready for an emerging China?

At the Eye on Asia programme held on 5 July 2018, one of the speakers, Mr Lucian Koh, Managing Director of Singapore Success Stories, asked participants if they were ready for an emerging China. Lucian’s career journey across industries such as manufacturing, trading and education gave him the opportunity to live in several cities in China like Shenzhen, Suzhou and Shanghai. Mid-way through his career, Lucian contemplated the option of either remaining as an employee or to take up the challenge to be his own boss. Eventually, he moved out of his comfort zone and became an entrepreneur.

Lucian shared insights on what it means to be an entrepreneur and included tips on what to look out for when exploring opportunities in emerging China cities. He highlighted the increasing use of technology such as WeChat for business interactions in present day China as compared to the early years of doing business in the country. The Chinese workforce is diverse with different Chinese dialects spoken across the vast country and being able to speak the Chinese language would be an added advantage too.

The second speaker, Ms Shane Yeo, co-founder of Growthbeans, shared that her experience with China began when her husband moved to its capital, Beijing for two years. As a trailing spouse, she desired to make her time fruitful and this inspired her to set up Growthbeans – a social purpose company that empowers individuals to be the change agent of their personal, community and organisational development for enhanced well-being and inclusivity.

Shane recognised the importance of cultivating networks and building relationships. She added that “there is always something to learn from people whom we interact or speak with”. Like the first speaker, Shane urged all to “move out of analysis paralysis” and step out of our comfort zones to meet new people, experience new encounters and take hold of new opportunities that may come our way.

As the famous Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu once said: “千里之行，始于足下” – translated as “a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step”. This quote shared by Lucian summed up the evening as participants were encouraged to persevere in their exploration of start-up prospects in China.

This is one of the talks under the Eye on Asia programme series for everyone including young Singaporeans who want to explore opportunities in the region and beyond.

Thursday, 5 July 2018

7.00 pm – 8.30 pm

Level 5, Possibility Room

National Library Building

Join us for a light hearted and informative talk as young Singaporeans Lucian Koh and Shane Yan share their experiences in China.

Starting up in an evolving China by Lucian Koh In our fast-changing world, start-ups have been gaining more momentum than ever. Their successes have sparked evolving perspectives on what constitutes a good education and career today.

Join Lucian Koh, managing director of Singapore Success Stories, as he explores the challenges and incentives of starting-up in China.

How my China experience inspired my start-up by Shane Yan We often think about the steps we need to take in order to achieve success in life. When we move beyond our comfort zones, we discover new unimagined possibilities.

Be inspired by Shane Yan, co-founder of Growthbeans, as she shares how her China experience reframed her perspectives and opened up new opportunities that led her to establish Growthbeans.

Presenters: Lucian Koh, Singapore Success Stories Lucian is the managing director of Singapore Success Stories. He has extensive experience operating in China, Hong Kong and the Philippines in areas such as education management, admissions and scholarship administration and education consulting. He has held directorships at Raffles Education Corporation, The Princeton Review, Laureate International Universities, Hult International Business School, Education International Cooperation (EIC) Group and Singapore Management University.

Shane Yan, Growthbeans Shane is the co-founder of Growthbeans and the managing director of Savoir Asia Consulting Pte Ltd. She has conducted research, with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, into the area of employability. Her first stint in China was in 2007 when she was posted to Shanghai under the NUS Overseas College programme. The experience eventually brought her back to Beijing where she co-founded Growthbeans in 2015. Today, Growthbeans has a presence in Singapore and Beijing and its work has impacted over 1,000 individuals. Shane has been profiled in That’s Beijing magazine and FM LIFESTYLE.

Keen to explore more about living and working in China? Check out these resources.

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