China has more than 1 billion people. China is growing very fast. China is extremely competitive and has very cheap labor. Ask any American what he knows about China, and that is what he is likely to tell you. But it was not until I spent more than three months working here at Horizon Research that I really was able to see how these dynamics shape the development of one of the world’s most important countries, and will continue to shape it for decades to come. Each project at Horizon taught me a new lesson: My work on behalf of CoreNet, a US commercial real estate association, to expand their China chapter taught me firsthand about the enormous potential for professional associations in this country, and about the unique difficulties they face in trying to recruit local members. I learned how language continues to be a real stumbling block for foreign companies and associations, and likely will be for some time to come. From working on a project for Indian client CKS about life in the Chinese countryside, I gained a better understanding of how far removed it is from the expansion of the cities. In one of the projects I worked on, several of the experts said that they believe that there has not been a wholesale embrace of consumerist culture in China, especially not outside the cities. In America, I would not have believed that, since our image of China these days is Shanghai and Gucci and Channel and the rest of the luxury brands. But now that I have lived and worked here, I know that to be true.
There are many things about China that we Westerners have never been exposed to before, so patience is required on both sides. Every meeting I had with a foreign client reinforced that idea. Once during a presentation to an international client, the Horizon presenter put up a slide explaining a Chinese company’s work on three-wheeled vehicles for agriculture. But the client could not believe that China would have such a thing, and he incredulously questioned the Horizon presenter on the topic. To me, the interchange felt especially awkward, and it was a good reminder that many things obvious to people here are not at all clear to outsiders, and vice versa. It also illustrated the importance of Horizon’s unique “bridge” role as an explainer of Chinese culture to outsiders.
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In America, we tend to throw around terms like “China’s rising middle class” without much thought as to what they mean. If we think about it at all, we tend assume China’s rising middle class is exactly like America’s middle class, and that no further explanation is needed. But through my work at Horizon, I gained a much better sense of the true pressures that this generation – ostensibly China’s most privileged – faces, everything from getting into college, to getting a job, to earning enough money to buy a house. I also learned how important it is for any international company that wants to do business in the Chinese market to understand this dynamic.
My experience at Horizon will influence my career for years to come. For one, it has reinforced my interest in international business, international relations, and in China in particular. I plan to continue to study Mandarin in the US, and I would love to come back to Beijing and work at some point in the future. I also gained an appreciation for how well Horizon, as a company, has positioned itself for success. As a foreigner, I have seen firsthand how important it is to get help in navigating the market here. The market is just too large, and too different from the West, for Western companies to navigate on their own. Horizon already has positioned itself as an authority to provide such help, and as more companies come here, they surely will benefit from Horizon’s help as well.
I want to thank all of my colleagues at Horizon for making this truly a wonderful experience. Everyone was warm and welcoming, and went out of their way to explain things to me. I also really appreciate getting the opportunity to work on a variety of projects that broadened my understanding of China. Thank you all! |