First Joe Fitter got us started at Intel with insightful observations about life in China. Ian Yang placed those observations within the context of Intel, and then the expats took all of that information and placed it within the context of those who work abroad. ”It’s not just the action, it’s the velocity.” What did you learn from the visit?
After that everyone got to enjoy their final evening in Beijing. For some it was a trip to the Imperial Palace, for others it was some shopping at the Silk Market, and for others it was a chance to hang out at cafes along the lake.
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March 12, 2011 at 6:03 pm |
We chose to spend our last afternoon in Beijing at the Imperial Palace, Tiennamen Square, the Silk Market, a Thai restaurant and the street market. I thought the Imperial Palace was impressive in size and structure. The gardens were beautiful, and it was really interesting to think about the thousands of people who actually lived within the walls. It is really great that it has been so well maintained. At the exit area the 10 Americans I was with stood around in a group and became a target for Chinese people who wanted their picture taken with white people. It was awesome to be a “celebrity” for a few minutes – Julie and Ashley even got 2 babies pushed at them to take a picture with! All in all it was a long day of walking but we got to do and see a lot of great things!
March 15, 2011 at 3:11 am |
It was interesting to hear the President of Intel China talk about his viewpoints of livining and doing business in China. Also, the expats gave us all an idea of what it would be like to relocate to China for work. For example, as one employee pointed out, finding other expats to socialize with is easy, but finding ones that are not planning to leave in 6 months is difficult. In all we learned a lot about the work life balance that each expat struggles to maintain.
March 15, 2011 at 3:13 am |
I found it interesting to hear about the transient nature of expat life. With so many people on temporary assignments, it’s not that surprising how many friends and colleagues a long-term expat would see come and go throughout the years. Hearing about the impact on those left behind was a unique perspective that I hadn’t before considered.
March 16, 2011 at 10:16 pm |
The Intel visit showed how difficult life can be as an expat, but also how rewarding it can be. It seemed that maintaining a work life balance is much more difficult and there are also challenges in finding friends who are there for the long-haul and not just testing the waters for a year or two before returning home. However, there are great benefits in being able to experience a different culture and live with a truly global perspective. It’s not a life for me, but it was interesting to hear the different paths and experiences of each panelist.
March 19, 2011 at 3:18 pm |
The Intel visit was incredible. The president of Intel china was completely open and honest with us about everything from Intel strategies to get into the mobile space to china’s overarching strengths and weaknesses. I though his comments about how the, “Chinese are very good at taking orders but often lack the innovation that is common in the USA and Europe” were very interesting. It seems that this trend is changing quickly as many of the top leaders are educated in the USA and return to china to exploit this new mindset. The Intel staff predicted that china will have the same level of innovation as the USA within the next 20 years…
March 21, 2011 at 6:58 am |
This was our best company visit so far! I thought the agenda was perfect – a look at some of the macro market trends in China, Intel’s specific strategy in the market, and then a panel of expats to answer our questions about living and working abroad. I thought the CEO of Intel China was incredible. Smart, thoughtful, clear, engaged… its easy to see why he’s been so successful. I was particularly fascinated by his statement that one of China’s most difficult tasks was to make a cultural shift which would allow them to drive innovation in the 21st century. Great stuff! Hearing from the expats was great too. I think I would miss the US too much to be a career expat like they’ve been, but I could do a 1 or 2 year stint… even though that means those particular folks aren’t likely to be my friends.
Also, as someone who is less interested in gadgets and technology, I was happy to skip the plant tour on this visit.
March 21, 2011 at 7:58 am |
I thought that the Intel visit was the most informative of the entire trip. The president of Intel China had some great insight into Chinese innovation and the future growth of China’s industry. One of his biggest predictions was that as more and more Chinese are educated in the U.S., the innovation gap will slowly start to close. The expat panel provided some helpful information for those of us considering a career abroad.
March 21, 2011 at 9:10 am |
The Intel visit was one the best company visits of the trip. It was great to listen to Joe Fitter and Ian Yang. Ian in particular was able to speak to many different aspects of the company and the issues with doing business in China. I appreciated how honest Ian was. Ian’s experiences in the states also allowed him to provide an American viewpoint of business in China. The panel of expats also caused me to seriously consider a foreign assignment. I’m not sure that I could handle a permanent assignment overseas, but I would definitely be interested in an assignment for 2-3 years. The Intel visit was a great experience and I hope the rest of the company visits will be as exciting.
March 21, 2011 at 10:51 am |
Intel visit = amazing. One of the most interesting takeaways from a business perspective is the fact that US companies are very leery of sharing R&D insights and responsibilities with their Chinese counterparts. After Ian shared this, I thought it made sense, however it is a very interesting challenge of globalization. Without giving Chinese manufacturers the ability to innovate they will remain focused on simply executing and the cycle of production over innovation will continue.
The final evening in Beijing was both exciting and sad. While I couldn’t wait to see a new city the next day, Beijing had been a great introduction to China. This was the day I finally got to enter the Forbidden City and I was blown away. To spend so many resources on a palace/CITY for the emperor is astounding. Imperialism is so strange. I know that in the US there is a large and growing disparity between the haves and the have-nots, but the forbidden city just blows that away.
Second to last point. The idea of the luggage porters is SO STRANGE! I have to admit, however, I loved it. I wish I could trust people in the US to take my bags to the airport and get them on the airplane where I’m going.
ONE LAST POINT. The idea of not tipping for service is so foreign to me and left me feeling guilty multiple times a day. So many people in Beijing (and throughout China) were extremely helpful and focused on customer service, but for no obvious monetary reason, was something completely novel. I just want to tip you for dropping what you are doing, walking me across the hotel and showing me where the elevator to the restaurant is. Crazy.
March 21, 2011 at 1:59 pm |
The visit to Intel was really rewarding because many of the panelists were so candid and honest in their answers. A few things that stood out to me were that they all send their kids to international schools rather than Chinese ones and also the discussion about making friends with other expats. Having moved from New York City before school, I related to the interesting discussion about how difficult it can be to be “left behind” due to the transient mindset people have when working abroad; like in Manhattan, many Americans plan to live abroad only for a few years at most, so it becomes difficult to find lasting friendships if you are one of those in it for the long-haul. I thought that discussion with respect to working in China was unique and something I hadn’t thought about before.
March 21, 2011 at 2:11 pm |
Intel did the best job of any of the company visits in explaining how they work with the government. As an American company with dominant market share in microprocessers, Intel serves China’s insatiable demand for imported chips. However, President Ian Yang was very honest about Intel’s clashes with the Chinese government, who wants to have their own homemade microprocessor. China’s high aspirations lead to tensions that they will steal Intel’s intellectual property, which makes Intel reluctant to bring any of their design work to China.
March 21, 2011 at 5:06 pm |
Intel was a great experience. For the first time in this trip I felt like I was getting a completely honest view of how it is to live in China. Well, except for when they said the driving here was no big deal, sorry our tour bus pulled a U-turn on a street as busy as Congress Ave and people here take red lights as just a suggestion, I’m not buying that driving is the same as the US, and I have been to New Jersey. Again I was fascinated by these professionals opinion of the education system in China and found it amazing that everyone including the CEO who was born and raised in China put their children in international schools. However my personal take away from this conversation was how difficult it would be to have it all while working abroad. Most of the men on the panel talked about how much they work and how little they see their families. The one woman answered the family question by pointing out how cheap it was to have “help” in China. I always thought that it would be such an amazing experience to work abroad, but as I get older I can see my priorities changing and every once in a while I surprise myself.
March 21, 2011 at 6:53 pm |
Intel was hands down the best company visit we had. Hard to believe we got a full hour with the President of Intel China.
It was very helpful to hear some of the insight from someone who has spend considerable time working in both the US and China. The one point he really drove home was how limiting Chinese culture is in terms of innovation. The education system’s focus on rote memorization seems to have created a mass of drones who excel and process or product replication but find it difficult to visualize new methods, products, or ideas. I think this is the biggest issue China faces as they move onto the world stage of business.
March 21, 2011 at 7:07 pm |
Our visit to Intel was my favorite company visit in China. I had always thought of potentially pursuing a future ex-pat role, but am now more convinced of completing one after speaking to the Intel reps.
The presentation was well-prepared, thorough, and very insightful. It was interesting to hear how some of the reps expected to only stay for a short while, but ended up staying upwards to 15 years. It was even more interesting that they still picked up very little Mandarin, indicating how prevalent English is the business environment.
March 22, 2011 at 10:39 am |
I enjoyed the visit to Intel and was impressed that the president of the China office was so down to earth and took the time to speak with us. The perspectives from the expats was a little surprising. One of the authors I worked with wrote a book about getting ahead in your job by working abroad, so it was interesting to hear from them that working at Intel in China actually hurt their chances for a promotion back in the states.
After Intel, we finally went to visit the Imperial Palace and had the funniest experience. Two women with the cutest little babies walked by and as I smiled at them, they rushed over and shoved the babies in Ashley and my arms to take pictures. That move prompted a throng of Chinese tourists coming over to take pictures with our group. We felt like celebrities!
March 22, 2011 at 12:31 pm |
This was one of the most interesting company visits for me largely because of the final panel that focused primarily on expat life. I think through the context of our global trip, one of the aspects that we don’t get to see or hear about as much is what life is actually like in China for natives as well as expats. It was refreshing to hear their honesty about the challenges of living abroad both from a culture and language standpoint. While i’ve never seriously considered living abroad, the panel did increase my interest in potentially studying abroad or traveling fairly extensively after graduation. Not sure when i’ll have the time or opportunity again!
March 22, 2011 at 1:04 pm |
We were fortunate to have such an informative visit with Intel China. We learned a lot about Intel’s strategy in China, the experience of expats working abroad, and the possible consequences of the lack of encouragement to innovate in Chinese culture. The opportunity to speak with Intel China President Ian Yang was fantastic. He had wonderful insights on the future of business in China, and a modesty that was only matched by his vision. His talk with us was an engaging conversation that could have lasted the whole day. Hearing the expats discuss their experiences was great as well, particularly for me because I have often thought of working internationally. The devotion to permanently transforming your life in order to work abroad for an extended period of time is something I had not seriously considered until this discussion. Their optimism about working in China during this time of intense growth (calling it “dog years” compared to working in the United States) showed their commitment to their lives there as well as their futures at Intel China.
March 22, 2011 at 2:55 pm |
Great visit with Intel China President. Seemed like a fantastic and extremely insightful gentleman who was engaged with us as his audience. He provided a first person look into Chinese growth and attacked our questions with vigor. The expat discussion was also fantastic. It gave us answers to many of the questions we are always interested in hearing. Intel was a great host and ought to be thought of as a model for what the trip planners next year should strive for.
March 22, 2011 at 3:23 pm |
The visit to Intel China was perfect. It was great to hear a top-tier business executive discuss the challenges that the Chinese economy and Chinese government face moving forward. It was interesting to hear Ian Yang discuss his opinion that the Chinese educational system actually decreases the innovative spirit of the Chinese. Therefore, in his opinion, the Chinese will struggle to innovate and grown into the next phase of economic development until its educational system evolves. This makes a lot of sense, but it was not a theory that I had previously heard.
After Intel we went to the Forbidden City and then to the Silk Market, which was quickly becoming my home away from home. The Forbidden City was amazing and massive. The size and the number of building was mind-numbing. As I had also suspected, I’m a bit of celebrity oversees. While walking through the Forbidden City only a few of my fans recognized me and even fewer felt comfortable distributing me for pictures while I was on “vacation.” I took a pictures with a few kids and my male fans, but I could tell my fans wanted more. After leaving the Forbidden City, I finally gave in to my fans demands. I simply raised both of my arms in the “V” formation and my fans ran to me like I had just hit a game winning shot. Being a celebrity came very naturally to me, but it can be a curse when you want privacy or simply a moment out of the spotlight. It’s not for everyone. I was happy to give my fans what they wanted and deserved. I miss and love you China!!!
March 22, 2011 at 4:45 pm |
I was really surprised to hear how small the expat community at Intel is and how few of them actually end up lasting more than 6 months in China. It was very insightful to hear them talk about the hardships in adjusting to life in Beijing but how it also brings them together very quickly since they share the same challenges. After studying abroad in Europe, I can identify with some of the small daily adjustments that you have to make, and it was interesting to hear about some of the unique challenges to living in China (like the difficulty in doing outdoor activities and learning the language).
March 22, 2011 at 5:13 pm |
The visit to Intel was one of the most memorable parts of the trip for me. Hearing about the implications of the one child policy and having a generation made up of only children with a possibly spoiled upbringing and the responsibility they will have to take care of the generations above them I found particularly interesting. I was also interested in hearing about the use of the internet and how it has doubled in the past two years in China. The power of social media and internet marketing must be incredible! I also learned a lot about the growth of consumerism and the importance of showing a ‘big face’ with expensive name brands as a signal of status. We are very fortunate to have been able to listen and learn from the CEO of Intel China. He is working for one of the most innovative US companies in a country which prides itself on its ability to immitate.
I also had a great time today practicing my bargaining skills at the Silk Market.
March 22, 2011 at 5:14 pm |
I really enjoyed the visit to Intel. It was interesting to learn about trends in China and doing business in China from a company based in the country. I thought it was interesting to hear Ian Yang talk about the education system in China and how on the weekends he educates his sons on what the teamwork and leadership experiences he has at Intel. I also really enjoyed listening to the expats talk about how they have adjusted to living in China. I was impressed to hear that some of them have been there for more than 15 years!
After Intel, I visited the Forbidden City. I rented one of the audio tour guides so I could learn a little about the history. One thing I thought was interesting was that when the emperor would address the army, they had “smoke machines” blow smoke out around him to show he was delivering the message from the gods. On our way back to the hotel, I had my first real experience with the crowded subway. We were packed in so closely that I didn’t have to hold onto anything and I still didn’t move. We had a large group so to make sure everyone got off at our stop we formed a line and when the doors opened a few of us started yelling “Go!” We had several Chinese people cheering us on and chanting “Go, go, go!” I’m happy to say we all made it off the train!
March 22, 2011 at 8:47 pm |
A few of us benefited from Kim renting the audiotour because we got the abridged “Kim Bailey” version of the Forbidden city. Very nicely done, Kim!
Building on Julie’s comment, it was hilarious being thrust a cute little Chinese baby and asked to take pictures with it. I couldn’t help but noticed its pants had the “tear” in the back (but fortunately had a diaper on). Alright, I’m gonna go there – I don’t think anyone else has yet. This is totally LESCANT, by the way. We noticed that many Chinese parents dressed their toddlers in pants that had a slit down the back and no diaper (so yes, you can see the baby’s bottom). Apparently this helps with potty training. I admit that i tuned out of the explanation as I focused on how strange and unhygienic this seems.
March 22, 2011 at 9:47 pm |
The Intel presentation was remarkable and I feel that it was a great culmination of the events thus far in my trip. Ian’s presentation gave me a great insight into how business works in China. It was interesting to hear the viewpoints of a native Chinese who was educated in the US with decades of experience working for a US company in China. He was very open and willing to provide answers about Intel China’s strategic plan but also the role of business and government in China. Intel China seems to benefit from not only American innovation but also a skilled Chinese workforce, a combination many companies seem to miss. He was very eager to educate us and confirm or correct any preconceptions that Americans may have about doing business in China. The following panel with Joe and his expat colleagues painted a very honest picture of what it’s like to live and work abroad, especially in a country as different as China. It definitely gave me a fresh viewpoint and will be very helpful if I ever have the opportunity to work abroad. This unique experience will allow me to think of the Chinese business environment in a new light. The entire presentation provided a learning experience that would be impossible to teach in the classroom or read in a book.
The afternoon in the Silk Market was also a truly unique experience and a great lesson in negotiating. I wish I could offer vendors in the States 10% of their asking price and end up paying about 25%. I’ve never seen aggression like the tenacity of the sales people in the market. It was fun but somewhat exhausting.
March 22, 2011 at 9:56 pm |
The Intel visit was great! Ian Yang was insightful and honest, which I really appreciated. My biggest takeaways were less specific to Intel and rather centered around integrating a US company into a foreign country, China specifically. The path that most of the ex-pats took to get to Intel China was one of a lot of time spent out of the US in other countries with Intel factories or branches. I found that the ex-pats seemed a little resentful to ex-pats who came to China knowing they were only going to spend a limited amount of time in China, which I was not expecting given that an ex-pat is an ex-pat no matter how long that person stays in a foreign country. It seems as if most of them were closed off not just from getting close with “temporary” ex-pats but also from even getting to know them.
I liked how Ian touched upon the IP issues in China and the market trends in general. While I know China has different technological needs than the US, Ian’s insights were fascinating as he described what the tech and mobile market is going to look like in the near future. It showed how far ahead Western countries are in regards to communications as more people have access to computers and internet, it also reminded me of how often we forget how lucky we are to have such technological advances.
Later that day a few of us went to a teahouse in Ho Hai and the Confucian temple, one of a few that exist in major Chinese cities today. While the exhibits in the temple were not as good as Confucian exhibits in museums in the States, the temple itself was peaceful and beautiful. We got there at the end of the day so it was nice to be the only visitors inside the grounds.
March 23, 2011 at 12:21 am |
Intel was one of the most valuable visits. We really learned about how to survive as an expat in a foreign country. Some tips were:
1) Make sure your significant other is on board and feels comfortable in the new environment
2) Find positive friends that have established roots in their new city and won’t be complaining or dragging you down
3) Learn the language
4) Use technology like Skype to connect with family back home
Additionally, we learned some good insights about the Chinese government. I had typically thought of them as very much party idealist and did not realize how pragmatic many of the officials were. I learned that many officials are foreign educated and think about things in terms of return on investment.
March 23, 2011 at 5:46 am |
This was by far my favorite company visit we had. Intel was excited to host us and had a great day planned for us. I most enjoyed the talk with the ex-pats. Working internationally is something I hope to do at some point in my career so I found it interesting to hear from folks who had been doing this for a number of years and learn from their experiences. What I most took from their discussion is the level of commitment you need to have to make it successful. You can go in thinking it will just be a short stay but if you don’t commit to that and assimilate and enjoy the culture you will ultimately fail. I think that is really great advice for anyone looking to work abroad.
March 23, 2011 at 8:23 am |
Intel was by far my favorite company visit of the trip. I felt like I learned more about doing business in China in these three hours than I had at any other company visit. They really took the time and energy to explain and gave real answers.
The fact that top leadership would also take the time to speak with us is very impressive. Yang had this unique perspective of being a Chinese National running an American operation. He could see both sides and his perspective was much appreciated.
in the afternoon, I finally got to see the Forbidden City. The sheer size was amazing. I don’t think I have ever walked this much in my life. The architecture, lay out, and preservation were all fascinating.
March 23, 2011 at 8:29 am |
I really enjoyed the discussion with the expats at the Intel visit and learning about the benefits and challenges of living and working abroad. My mother is not an American living in the U.S. and often finds it challenging to be in between two cultures even after living in the States for more than 20 years. Knowing her perspective and listening to the expats, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself more motivated to live and work abroad. It seems that everyone on the panel despite the hardships was very dedicated to making the most of their experience and were very positive. I also thought it was interesting that they chose to raise their children in international schools and ensure they spent time in the U.S.to keep an American influence. I went to a French immersion school growing up and spent many summers in Europe because my mother wanted my siblings and I to have a European influence. Granted Europe and China are extremely different as the expats noted. Ultimately, I appreciated all the great advice the expats had.
March 23, 2011 at 9:37 am |
I too found the Intel visit to be very informative and helpful in understanding what life as an expat in Beijing would be like. I left the meeting feeling like it would be immensely difficult for me to ever make that move. I could definitely understand their point of surrounding yourself with positive people to make the experience better. After the visit, I of course went back to the markets. I can’t be stopped. Haggling for pearls is addicting!
March 23, 2011 at 1:36 pm |
Awesome company visit to Intel. Extremely informative about the Chinese economy, and an in-depth view of the relationship between the Chinese government and business partners. Joe Fitter kicked it off with staggering numbers about the connectivity of people in China whether it be computers or cell phones, but also highlighted the fact that so much of the country is still outside the infrastructure of the Tier 1 cities and there is still so much potential for tech companies. Ian Yang did a great job of discussing how businesses need to maintain a special relationship with government officials to not only stay in business, but to help you grow your business and subsidize business activities. Lastly, the expats from Intel helped put into perspective life abroad and making sure that your home life is secure before taking on a position abroad, because it is taxing on relationships and you need to have an extremely open and positive mindset.
Fast forward to our group’s visit to the Forbidden city and what an impressive structure. The city walls are massive and the buildings inside are gorgeous with gold painted rooftops and intricate animal carvings adorning the precipices. Alot of history about the past Chinese emperors and how they used the city for their personal benefit as well as for government and officiating purposes. I couldn’t imagine the Chinese army standing in the courtyard of the Hall of Supreme Harmony as the Emperor emerged. I’m sure it would have been an amazing sight. Being hailed as celebrities as we exited the city by all of the Chinese tourists was also a pretty awesome bonus on the day. Subway to the Silk Market again and a low key night ended a great visit to Beijing.
March 23, 2011 at 4:14 pm |
I found today visit to Intel very interesting. I really liked the talk by Joe and how real he was even at such a high level of the organization. From an expat view, I found it interesting on the things they have to to to manage their lives and families while living abroad. It’s clear that you have to create rules for yourself and family such as not being friends with people who aren’t their to stay longer then 6mo or sending your kids back to the united states to help them have a American Identity.
In the afternoon we went to the forbidden city, shout out to our tour guide Kim. The best part was definitely after when we were famous celebrities and had a 30 min photo session with Chinese people.