Bridging the gap - a series on China

Hermann Simon

Prof. Hermann Simon, Founder of the consulting company Simon-Kucher & Partners, is an expert in strategy, marketing, and pricing. He is one of the most significant management thinkers globally and coined the term "hidden champions." He explains their contribution to a large portion of the export success in both Germany and China. We also delve into pricing strategy, discussing companies like Shein and Temu, as well as exploring the concept of perceived value. His golden advice for gaining international experience resonates deeply with us, and we hope you'll enjoy listening.

Sandrine Zerbib

Sandrine Zerbib, the former President of Adidas Greater China and a leading e-commerce expert, shares her insights on establishing Adidas in China in the 90s. She discusses the evolving preferences of Chinese consumers, their growing desire for entertainment, their demand for swift access to new products, and the importance of large social commerce platforms. Her insights are invaluable for understanding the future of e-commerce, both in China and globally. We learned a lot, and we hope you will enjoy listening.

Edwin Diender

Edwin Diender, Chief Innovation Officer at Huawei Technologies, which was recently named the 8th most innovative company worldwide by BCG. He explains how their availability of expertise across different industries allows them to accelerate innovation and growth. We also touch upon future outlooks and a worldwide web of energy.  His golden advice, “be passionate about everything you do," certainly applies to this podcast project, and we hope that you enjoy this episode as well.

Jet Chang

Jet Chang, VP at Tomra, a leading multinational recycling company focusing on deposit return systems, explains how influencing policy in China requires a fact-based approach. He also elaborates on how the Chinese economy was initially rather circular out of economic necessity, what the recent developments are and the specific steps to be taken to achieve full circularity. In his golden advice, Jet recommends embracing new opportunities and experiences, as they have the potential to shape career paths and bring about unforeseen successes.

Aldo Spaanjaars

Aldo Spaanjaars, the former CEO of Lacoste in China and author of "Dragon Tactics," shares valuable insights about retail company turnarounds. He demonstrates how the notion of hierarchy is different in China, and how unique company structures ensure agility in a culture of power distance. His golden advice of "feeling the stones as you cross the river" is especially valuable for us as we are about to graduate.