Guest Speakers
We have invited our partners and Fellow SMEs who are fired up and ready to challenge your understnading about China, Entrepreunership, Leadership, Cross-Cultural Understanding and so forth...
Larry Schuster
Senior Consultant
Topic:
The Art of Story Telling
in Business
For 25 years, he has been a professional communicator, including as a science/medical journalist for a global news agency in Washington, D.C. and as an international business development manager for a Shanghai pharma company. Now he trains and coaches corporate leaders to communicate with impact, clarity and purpose. Mr. Schuster has presented Leadership Storytelling at the Manchester Business School, Shanghai Centre MBA program; at the MIT-Shanghai Jiaotong University joint MBA program; and at the Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai campus. He has provided communications consulting to several multinational companies in Shanghai. He is the 2012 Speech Evaluation Champion for Toastmasters International, for north China. He has taken part in a number of professional projects that were developed by Roberto&Co. and proudly joined its team. Larry believes that Story telling has major role in business as well as in life, in daily communication and while leading the team, one could think of any aspects where verbal/non-verbal communication requires clarity, details, facts and so on, and this is a skill one could master.
Michael Adick
CEIBS , Managing Director
Topic:
10 top mistakes that SMEs do when entering to chinese market
Michael Adick is an alumnus of China Europe International Business School and Executive MBA holder. Originally graduated in bank management, he has over 18 years professional experience in banking, industry and consulting, specializing in strategic planning, strategy articulation and execution, program and change management, financial analysis, finance and controlling, performance management, operations planning and sales & marketing;Apart from mastering the technical frameworks, methods and tools of strategy, finance and controlling, operations and sales & marketing ;Michael is a strong believer in considering the human, environmental and societal aspects in business management and is a strong proponent of a new concept of Sustainable Leadership.
Suhail Nasir
Toastmasters Champion
Topic:
The art of giving great speech
Suhail Nasir DTM, who works as an engineer for the French telecom giant Alcatel Lucent has also served as past president and area governor in Toastmasters International. He is the 2008 china national champion of public speaking. in 2012 Toastmasters International awarded him the prestigious Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) Award.nbsp;nbsp; As a technical and soft-skills trainer he has delivered trainings to corporations, NGO's and government bodies in over 30 countries.nbsp; He is anbsp;well-known comedian performing on stage and television.
Glenn Crowther
Senior Consultant
Topic:
How Chinese and Westerners understand and apply leadership
Glenn is a change-agent communicating in both English and Chinese and across cultures for corporations to bring about positive management and leadership change in their professional workforce. Glenn works directly with clients to understand the aims and objectives of the various internal stakeholders prior to an assignment.nbsp;He draws upon his extensive experience in Human Resources and business to design and deliver practical and effective programs for his clients. His interactive style and focus on getting results is very much appreciated by company leaders and program participants.nbsp; With 26 years experience in China plus his bilingual Mandarin and English ability he is an in-demand trainer, facilitator and coach. nbsp; As an active facilitator, speaker and organizer some of Glenn’s accomplishments are: Winner of the Inaugural Griffith University Alumnus of the Decade 2013 Co-Founder Brains on the Beach (BoB) Creative Solutions Event 2012 Delivered workshops in China, Australia, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia and India. Conference Chair HR Director’s Forum Shanghai 2005 to 2008 MC for Hong Kong HR Awards and Hong Kong Law Awards 2007 nbsp; Glenn’s background is in Modern Asian Studies, Education and Human Resources. nbsp;He is a certified Executive Coach, Action Learning Coach and qualified to use MBTI Step I & II, OPQ (Occupational Personality Questionnaire) plus other SHL Assessments, FIRO-B, Harrison Assessment and Corporate Athlete.
Ting-Ting Y. Lin, Ph.D
HCD Group , Coach
Topic:
The art of Leadership in China
Ting-Ting brings more than 20 years of professional experience in management and business to training, coaching and facilitation. 14 years living in China as an executive at Philips Electronics, a Fortune 100 multinational, honed her skills at developing both individuals and organizations in the corporate competitive environment. She has managed groups up to 100+ with university and higher degrees. Previous to her corporate experience, her first 10 years as a tenured Professor at the University of California, San Diego, prepared her with experience managing government and industry‐sponsored research and development projects and cross-cultural faculty and graduate students. This experience provided her the ability to be creative, entrepreneurial, and think out-of‐the‐box. Ting-Ting believes in life-long learning and being accountable for creating self and one’s environment in life. She recently finds some common roots between western and Chinese leadership/management philosophies and supports her audience when better and meaningful leadership is in the calling. Ting-Ting graduated with a Ph.D. degree from Carnegie Mellon University in the United States and an executive MBA from Ashridge College in the United Kingdom. She is also a certified MBTI, Firo-‐B, Emergenetics, Chally , Gazing Performance Systems, and CPAS (Personality Aptitude System) trainer, and certified in ‘coaching for excellence’ by New Venture’s West.
David A.Davila
Managing Consultant
Topic:
Cross Cultural Management
David is an expert corporate facilitator in the areas of communication, negotiation, cross cultural communication and presentations, based in China and focused on the APAC region. Working at senior management level in business development, HR and as Foreign Affairs Manager for a British company, he led a team of consultants to be recognized as top of their industry by the Beijing government. David’s work in leadership is based on his background in entrepreneurship, corporate, martial arts and personal development. An analytical facilitator, David works with individuals to provide techniques on not only how to improve, but also how to learn – shifting participant’s attitudes to develop confidence and skill. David speaks fluent English, Spanish and Mandarin - therefore possessing the ability to communicate with 2.27 billion people, or about 1/3 of the world’s population.
Rumbiey Ester Muchenje
Kwela Pictures , Co-Founder
Rumbiey Ester Muchenje is the co-owner of Kwela Pictures (Pvt) Ltd Zimbabwe. She is a marketer by profession and with her varied experiences in different industries such as advertising and branding, energy and the film industry; Rumbiey stands out as a vibrant networker. She has worked with over 50 clients from around Africa from various industries assisting them to tell their stories better whether it is in the corporate world or the artistic one. She glides comfortably between the two worlds having produced commercials, acted and also a voice over artist. She aspires to be one of the best film producers to come out of Africa. Her new expansion across China and delivering African Brand is one of the key Missions to transform African Life Style, understanding about Africa and Possibilities.
Owen Caterer
Carterer Goodman Partners,CEO
With 15 years investment experience Owen Caterer co-founded Caterer Goodman partners a financial advisory and wealth management area. This is China and Asia's first fee-based financial advisory. This has grown to now have to advise on more than US$50 million for clients throughout Asia. This business success was recognised as a finalist in the 2013 ACBA in the Start Up Enterprises category. Caterer Goodman are also a small number of foreign managed firms to have a full asset management license in China. Owen has also been active in the community volunteering for the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and acting as the \fice-Chair of the Small Business Working Group (2012-2014) and as the Co-Deputy Chair of the Financial Services (2013-present). Owen has a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia.
Mario Cavolo
Scott PR China , Vice President
Mario Cavolo – Vice President, Scott PR China and author of China: The Big Lie? The Truth of Trillions In A Culture of Cash and Catalysts To Change. Now his 15th year in China, Mario’s practice serves organizations like CBRE, Dow Chemical, eBay, Weiden & Kennedy, Solvay and GE as they face communications challenges in performance, leadership, and media/PR needs. Mario is also the Project Founder of China’s QT2 Wellness Project; represented by China Speakers Bureau; has appeared on Bloomberg television Hong Kong and invited to share his author keynotes by top international organizations and academic institutions including DUSA, EuroCham, German Chamber, American Chamber, China Economic Review, Hult MBA school, Vlerick MBA School, Finnish Business Council, Wharton, Columbia, Yale, IMD Alumni groups. Mario speaks Mandarin, is a frequent event emcee and jazz piano performer on tour across China's grand theater venues.
Mindy Ruskovich
Swing Jazz Band, Co-Founder
Mindy Ruskovich began her musical journey in Idaho, where she attended the University of Idaho, Lionel Hampton School of Music. She earned her B.M. in Instrumental Music Education while she studied trombone with Alan Gemberling. After moving to Hawaii in 2001, Mindy attended the University of Hawaii, earning her M.A. in Music Education, while studying trombone with Jim Decker. In 2007, Mindy took a sabbatical from teaching and performing in Honolulu. She began working as a show band trombonist onboard the Carnival Conquest Cruise Ship. While performing with Carnival, Mindy toured the Western Caribbean. In 2008, Mindy relocated to Shanghai, China to continue her career as a music teacher at Shanghai Community International School. From 2008 - 2013, Mindy directed the middle and high school bands at SCIS as well as the marching band and percussion ensemble. In 2013, Mindy founded the Dynamix Performing Arts Academy and Echo Arts Live, to further reach students and the performance needs of the greater Shanghai Community. In 2011, Mindy founded the Shanghai Community Band, which is the first of its kind in Shanghai. With over 30 members and a variety of members involved, it's becoming one of the most popular expat activities for amateur musicians. In 2013, Mindy founded the Shanghai Community Jazz Band, featuring a full big band with singers. The band regularly performs at the Pearl Theatre and numerous events in Shanghai. Throughout Mindy’s life, community musical involvement has played a leading role. From growing up performing in community ensembles, to finally establishing one of her own, Mindy finds significant value in staying musically active in some capacity for people in all careers and stages of life.
Yulia Shen
The Suits Fashion , CEO
Yulia Shen is the Co-founder of The Suits. A men’s wear design studio that skilfully combines ideas by the talented designers, selected European fabrics and producers with their own inspirations. She launched The Suits 6 months ago and brought the new concept for tailor made industry. She is going to open the new location in Pudong in 2015. The whole idea behind is to empower man&woman, make them look good and feel confident.
Michelle Ye
Arcadia , CEO/Founder
Michelle Ye is the founder of Arcadia, a company designs and develops modern and cost effective electric bicycles. She was inspired by the European eco-friendly and stylish urban lifestyle, specially the bike riding culture. By leveraging the advancingn, battery and motor technology, Arcadia focuses on providing electric bicycles thatnbsp; are accessible to the mass, meanwhile promoting the concept of environmental friendly transportation and lifestyle. Prior to that, Michelle Ye worked in two US public solar energy companies as a global marketing director. She studied advertising and English literature in Shanghai University and Shanghai Internationalnbsp; Studies University; she is also an advocator of female rights and a supporter of career women.
Evrim Kanbur
While Travelling , Founder/CEO
Evrim is the founder of whiletravelling.com, aims to design lifestyles and inspire people through travelling. “While Travelling” attracted 5000 visitors the month it was launched and has grown into an online platform holding an average of 35.200 visitors per month, over 10K followers in social media channels and 15K life-style design newsletter readers only after a year and counting. On the corporate side, while travelling cooperates with various credible travelling agencies, councils, hotels, airline companies in order to plant the idea of “travelling” deep into the minds of followers. PR and content marketing are among the services offered to the travelling bodies. Besides her online entrepreneurship identity, she is the founder of Management Consulting business focusing on Chinese companies who want to achieve to expand their businesses to western countries. She is also an Economics, International Business, Business Development Lecturer in an international college. Before starting her life in China, she was formerly Payment Systems Turkey Country Manager at Riot Games, Business Development Manager at a local mobile payment company and Senior Auditor at Deloitte. She holds two master degrees on Finance, Banking, Risk Management and Strategic Marketing Management from Istanbul University and Oxford College. After having carried the travelling platform to a higher level of traffic and engagement in a short time, she is working on two new online platforms to set an independent location business model.
Natasha Fang
Social Media Strategist
After helping to a number of friends who returned for in depth assistance I got the opportunity to share my expertise a lot more professionally with more community outreach to share on usage of we chat/weibo online social media platform and reveal some tips/principles of Wechat&Weibo Marketing-"word-of-mouth" for business owners and young professionals.” Natasha Fang, Digital Marketing Manager of i2i Group China and consultant at number of SMEs such as: Roberto&Co., Red Square Restaurant and Bar, Coconel, Merit Goal Holdings, focusing on areas such as social media marketing strategy, content creation, online lead generation and results. Natasha enjoys working with entrepreneurs who want to excel in the market both locally and globally through being open-minded and determined.
Fionn Wright
Dream Designer , Coach
After skipping 2 grades in school, graduating as double valedictorian in both American and International Bccalaureate Diplomas, and getting an International Business Degree at the age of 20 from the University of British Columbia, a top 3 University in Canada, Fionna traveled the world searching for the ultimate model to help people fullfill their potential. Over 30 countries later, after achieving the record for the youngest ever Neuroscience Coach in the world, working as a coach and trainer on 5 continents, becoming an NLP Mater Practitioner and Expert in Neuroscience for Coaching & Leadership, he created the innovative BETRS Model of Personal Development and founded Ecotopia-China's first personal development company.
Audrey Weilai Fieser
REV Inspiresme , Creative Director (MC of the Event)
Audrey Weilai Fieser spent 1/3 of her life in China, 1/3 in the land of vampires, 1/3 in Manhattan and Sydney. She's privileged with understanding of many cultural differences and similarities as a result of living on 4 continents. She believes humans are beautiful & amazing, thus obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and a Bachelor's degree in art and psychology. The Creative Director at an inspirational company, Audrey strongly believes in her company's motto, which is "Dream it. Live it." When she's not working to help people realizing their dreams, you can spot her performing in local comedy clubs, or tucked away in a tea house writing her books.