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Wealth Without Borders Podcast

Through the Looking Glass: Experiences Working with Chinese Organizations with Sean Upton-McLaughlin

Wealth Without Borders Podcast
Wealth Without Borders Podcast

Many companies are now expanding overseas and it is challenging to adapt to a different market workwise and culturally. How then do you rise above this situation and come up with a win-win outcome?

It's very important to build trust and camaraderie, as well as to actually understand the way the Chinese market and companies are handling their businesses and processes. That way you know what’s going on; you find and learn ways to adapt to the culture.

Sean Upton-McLaughlin is a PR & Communications professional who specializes in working with foreign companies wishing to enter the Chinese market and Chinese companies looking to expand internationally. He has previously worked for Weber Shandwick, Huawei, and other Chinese tech firms.

In this episode, Sean shares how you need to put in the time and effort to have face-to-face experiences, talking and being around Chinese people and the community. You can read as many books as you want but there is no substitute for having on-the-ground experience if you want to make it and thrive in China.

What you will learn from this episode:

  • Learn how to successfully expand your company globally without having to worry about adapting to a different culture
  • Find out why, in addition to being on the ground in China, you also have to take the time to speak and interact with Chinese people face-to-face
  • Learn how to look beyond your experiences and accomplishments and really put in the time and effort to know how things operate in the Chinese market

“The thing that has been most impactful to my own experience is not just being on the ground in China, but taking the time to speak and interact with the Chinese people face to face, most simply talking to them at work and then going to their own community, going to dinners with them. There is no substitute for this.”

- Sean Upton-McLaughlin

Topics Covered:

02:04 - Who for him is an ideal client

02:12 - Helping bridge the working and cultural divide between China and the West

03:23 - How having rose-colored glasses won’t let you see a forest with trees on it

04:05 - Why trying and jumping on too directly and early into the Chinese market is one big mistake

04:57 - One valuable FREE action that will help you understand the Chinese market: Check out Sean’s articles on management difficulties in China on his website. Click here: https://chinaculturecorner.com/

05:37- Useful organizations that will help you solve your problems concerning the Chinese market

06:41 - An impactful experience that helps him navigate the Chinese market and which he recommends everyone doing it

07:45 - Should Westerners think about working for Chinese companies, Chinese tech companies?

Key Takeaways:

“I help to connect both sides to help them see that they're both working towards the same goal and to find a way to maybe not do everything perfectly for one side or the other. But you make things work so that everybody can have a win-win outcome.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin

“Especially in the professional world, they are very experienced, they have many accomplishments, and they are often convinced that they are right, they will always be right. And that it's very hard for them to see past that hubris or experience. And if you have rose-colored glasses on, you can't see the forest for the trees in many cases.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin

“What often is a very big problem is that if you are unable to be on the ground in China. It's very hard to kind of make that cultural leap. And so, starting off by being members of Chamber of Commerce, whether actually through the organization or groups on LinkedIn or other places. That is a very good way to get your toes wet and to start hearing experiences from people who have been working in the Chinese market in this example, for a number of years.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin

“You can read as many books as you want. But unless you have that experience yourself, there really is no substitute.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin

“We see many companies now expanding overseas, but people might worry about whether or not they could make it in that culture. It does take a lot of commitment. It is not for everyone. But there is, I think, an enormous opportunity for those with the drive and the interest to try and figure out what's happening with these Chinese companies.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin

Ways to Connect with Sean Upton-McLaughlin:

Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson:

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