Over the last year, EI Institute has begun enhancing its recruitment presence in Mexico. This expansion showcases EI Institute’s belief that a growing numbers of Mexican students are interested in China opportunities but unable to find the right career-focused program.
EI Institute has already successfully hosted students from the United States in their Corporate Internship or Service Learning Program, based in Nanjing, China. EI Institute is now interested in expanding their programs to Mexican universities and believes the reason for doing so is simple. “Mexicans and Chinese want to work together, but they still don’t know each other,” concludes Adam-Paul Smolak, CEO of EI Institute. Presently, Mexicans and Chinese do not do a lot of business directly with one another. Even worse, some Mexicans see the Chinese as nothing more than competition. However, by establishing connections and understanding the Chinese market, EI Institute participants will open new channels for Mexicans to source more competitively and perhaps even find new buyers for Mexican-made products in China.
Previous internships through EI Institute programs have been a complete success. During the inaugural program, eight students participated. One Corporate Intern, Patrick Shell Jr., left China with many of the sourcing agreements necessary to start his own customized clothing line, Patrick Shell Collections. Other participants assisted the Sheraton Kingsley Hotel in operating one of the largest promotional events in Nanjing.
EI Institute now wants motivated students from the best universities of Mexico to participate, and is especially seeking business and commerce students. Undergraduate students will have the ability to access the type of established China programs that even premier universities simply cannot organize from outside of China.
Students attending an EI Institute program will return home with a strong base in Mandarin Chinese, an enhanced perspective on Chinese culture and improved professional skills for the international job market. Throughout the year, there will be three opportunities to attend an EI Institute program: a spring and fall term, along with a summer program. Advantages to students include:
Gaining a competitive edge in the international job market
Developing professional skills necessary to work and do business in China and international markets
Working with reputable organizations that match student’s skills and interests
Attending forums and panel discussions with industry professionals
Learning Chinese language and culture from experienced instructors
In conclusion, the goal of EI Institute’s Mexico outreach is to form partnerships with universities that understand the importance of preparing future professionals to do business in China, which will bring mutual benefits for Mexico and China.
From left to right: Dr. Ronald Mason Jr, President of Southern University; Adam-Paul Smolak, EI Institute President; Lei Ming, Director for Nanjing Qinghuai District Commercial Bureau.
From left to right: Dr. Ronald Mason Jr, President of Southern University; Adam-Paul Smolak, EI Institute President; Lei Ming, Director for Nanjing Qinghuai District Commercial Bureau; Mei-Chi Piletz, OCI Director at JSU; Allen Fang, CEO of Partners Group China.
EI Institute staff and supporting business leaders.
From left to right: Dr. Ronald Mason Jr, President of Southern University; Mei-Chi Piletz, OCI Director at JSU; Frannie Fang; Allen Fang, CEO of Partners Group China.
On June 21st, the EI Institute hosted a dinner to discuss how to define global competency and implement training to improve the capability of EI Institute participants to succeed in the global labor market. Dinner attendees included:
Dr. Ronald Mason – President of Southern University
Adam-Paul Smolak – EI Institute President
Mei-Chi Chen Pelitz – Jackson State University Office of China Initiatives Director
Allen Fang – CEO of Partners Group China
Kyle Gale – EI Institute Associate Program Director
Ma Ming – Skyrun Trade Consultant and internship manager
Lei Ming – Director for Nanjing Qinghuai District Commercial Bureau
Ronald Paredes – CEO of Mundosanto Graphic Design
Matt Vartola – Enjoy International Consultants Client Services Manager
Tyeisha Walton – Outstanding participant in the Spring 2010 EI Institute Corporate Internship program
The dinner began with a statement from Dr. Mason about how three years ago as the sitting President of Jackson State University he had met Mr. Smolak in Nanjing and had found that Mr. Smolak’s idea for an institute designed to train global professionals closely mirrored Jackson State’s mission to increase the global competency of its graduates. Dr. Mason stated that this alignment of goals, along with Enjoy International’s location in China, was an excellent basis for a partnership. He concluded by saying, “The world is becoming a smaller and smaller ocean and China is becoming a larger and larger fish,” which instantly became a motif throughout the dinner.
A Chinese government official, Mr. Lei, gave his take on the significance of the meeting by pointing out that the group of leaders assembled at dinner was a microcosm of globalization and a clear example of how it is becoming increasingly common to do business internationally. He continued by saying that this is why it is critical that modern institutions educate students to be able to succeed in the interlinked global economy. Mr. Lei concluded that in order for foreign students to develop cultural understanding, they must form emotional connections with their new friends and contacts in China.
Mr. Fang followed by noting that from his perspective in global business, emotional IQ is perhaps more important than standard IQ. From there, Mr. Paredes helped the group to answer the question of how to better implement the training of global competency by recommending that program interns should work closely with similar-aged Chinese peers to accomplish goals for internship host organizations.
A motivational concluding comment came from Mr. Vartola who offered the insight of having completed a China study abroad program in 2007, which led to his return to China and to the start of his successful career with Enjoy International Consultants. He said that having an experience like the one provided by the EI Institute allows students to push themselves and redefine the limit of what they feel is possible, which in turn will give students greater confidence to deal with the problems encountered in the international labor market. He concluded that with the right amount of confidence EI Institute participants will be able to accomplish anything.
On May 28, 2010 EI Institute Corporate Interns participated on their third excursion to the Pukou High-Tech Development Zone. The Pukou Development Zone is one of the first development zones established in Nanjing and houses hundreds of companies that employ thousands of workers as well as hosts research facilities between leading business and many of Nanjing’s most prestigious universities.
In Pukou, students were given an overview of the history and growth of the development zone as well as a tour of three different companies. The first company, MadeinChina.com, manages an online database of Chinese manufacturers for foreigners looking to source products in China. Then, students had the opportunity to visit the Nanjing New Model Software Integrated Co., which specializes in data security software predominately for Chinese companies. There, students were lead to the VIP presentation room for a company introduction. The students were fascinated to hear that this company’s products were better suited for the Chinese market rather than the U.S. market due to legal differences regarding patents and corporate proprietary information. Lastly, students were taken to the Microsoft Jiangsu Technology Center, a certified trainer in the Microsoft’s cutting-edge programs. They boasted that over 80% of program graduates find a job upon completion of their training program.
Overall, the students enjoyed the opportunity to see yet another piece in the puzzle of how China has achieved unparalleled economic growth for the past two decades.
As part of EI Institute participants’ course, Study in Language and Culture, four students visited Zhonghua High School in Nanjing to present on how American high school and college students spend their summer vacation. Students talked about taking summer classes, participating in sports, volunteering, interning, and studying abroad.
Each class of roughly 50 Chinese students, aged 15-17, listened attentively as EI Institute presenters detailed their experience back home and in Nanjing this semester. After the presentation, students enthusiastically asked EI Institute participants for their observations on China and its culture. Presenters were humored by questions about their personal relationships and marriage plans.
At 4:45pm the bell rang, but instead of students making their way for the door they remained glued to their seats with hands raised waiting for their turn to ask a question. All in all, it was a memorable learning experience for all participants.
Rodney, Patrick and the local tour guide explore the high-tech greenhouse.
Students are asked to pose with a friendly local tour group.
A highlight of the excurison was the gondola
ride overlooking Huaxi village.
EI Institute took Corporate Internship participants on a full day excursion to the village of Huaxi in southeastern Jiangsu province. Touted by the Chinese as both a model for development and as the richest village in China, both the participants and staff were excited to discover this town’s secret to economic success.
Immediately following our arrival in the village, it was clear that this was no ordinary Chinese town. Every house was a single-family unit, much different from the typical multi-family housing found throughout most of China. Moreover, the single-family homes were quite large, even by American standards. The center of the town was meticulously arranged with modern pagodas and a seventy-story skyscraper under construction. We were told the new tower will include a shopping mall, apartments and a four star hotel.
During lunch, the participants were able to ask questions to our tour guide about life in the village. As it turns out, most of the Huaxi villagers are employed by a large factory that has been exporting steel all over the world since the village was founded, roughly 30 years ago. Apparently, the village’s founder took advantage of new economic reform policies of the time to set up an operation that was highly profitable. As the conversation went on, students learned that the profits earned from the steel factory were not distributed in any ordinary capitalist way. Rather, most of the profits were distributed to villagers in the form of dividends and stock options. The villagers were the luckiest steel factory workers in China, or so we thought as we toured the “Happy Park,” and interesting replicas of world sites like the Great Wall and the Arc de Triumph.
Toward the end of our tour, it was asked if villagers commonly choose to leave Huaxi. We were not surprised to hear that they do not leave such favorable working conditions, but we were shocked to learn that if they do leave they sacrifice all of their wealth. Apparently, all of these generous dividends must be reinvested in the village and all of the beautiful homes are not actually owned by their inhabitants. Moreover, the villagers must work seven days a week and rarely get a holiday. Sure enough, EI Institute participants were getting to see a real-life Chinese commune. It was a fascinating realization for everyone and generated interesting discussion comparing the average American life in the free-market economy and the average life in the socialist, command economy of Huaxi.
On May 10th, EI Institute participants had the opportunity to hear from a leading foreign executive in Mainland China, Mr. Allen Fang of Partners Group China. Mr. Fang, a native of Taiwan, delivered an interactive presentation on “Effective Management Techniques in China.” His presentation topics included: the skills needed to be a manager in China, the difference in mentality between Westerners and Chinese in business management, how to effectively manage people and business operations, how multinational organizations are operated and tips on how students can prepare themselves to become future business leaders.
Throughout Mr. Fang’s presentation, he underscored the importance for foreign executives to understand Chinese culture and thought process. To illustrate this concept, he spoke about the importance of cultivating business relationships in China. He explained that in order to develop sustainable business relationships in China it is imperative for executives to go beyond the boardroom and spend a significant amount of time out of the office developing strong “guanxi’ with colleagues and business partners. This includes hosting dinners, giving gifts to family members of business partners on special occasions and being familiar with the key aspects of people’s lives.
Mr. Fang ended his presentation by discussing the personal habits and routines he has cultivated over the years and employed to make himself more successful. One example that students found especially insightful was how Mr. Fang takes 5 minutes right after he wakes up to strategically plan his day and consider all the tasks he needs to accomplish. Also, Mr. Fang said that he schedules a meeting at 8:25 every morning that allows employees of all levels and departments to lead a brief discussion on their ideas and opinions in relation to corporate culture. The overall goal of these presentations is for each member of his organization to understand company culture and how it enhances operational efficiency.
Mr. Fang is currently the CEO of Partners Group China, an insurance venture of one of China’s largest corporations, AEGON-CNOOC. Prior to this he had three different positions at AEGON-CNOOC: Director of Southern China Business Development, Director of Government Relations, and General Manager of all Jiangsu province operations. Mr. Fang has also held executive positions with Cigna and AIG.
Mr. Fang explains the importance of internal power.
EI Institute President Adam-Paul Smolak presents Mr. Fang with an official JSU T-shirt.
EI Institute participants attended a presentation and Q&A session with Mr. Ronald Paredes on Friday May 7th. Mr. Paredes presented concepts in branding and marketing. The three lessons he taught to students were:
1. What is branding, marketing and advertising,
2. How to establish and maintain a brand
3. The relationship between marketing directors and art directors.
Mr Paredes shared with students his unique background in the marketing and graphic design industries. He is a native of Venezuela who has lived in China for the past few years and has since started his own graphic design firm, Mundo Santo. Before starting his business, he gained extensive experience with multiple organizations. He designed the Happy Meal box for McDonalds Venezuela and has also worked with several well-known companies such as American Airlines, LG Electronics and Michelin Tires. To view more about Mr. Paredes’ work, please visit his company’s website at www.mundosanto.com.
On Saturady April 24, EI Institute participants Patrick Shell Jr., Tyeisha Walton, and Rodney Wince, went on a charitable excursion hosted by the Jiangsu Radio Broadcasting Corporation. The goal of this charity excursion was to give young Chinese students from disadvantaged areas experience with native English speakers for the first time in their lives. The students went to Si Yang, a small town 150km from Nanjing and visited Si Yang Middle School. EI Institute participants were quite surprised to arrive and be presented a red carpet and 8,000 young children greeting them in the school’s gymnasium. EI Institute participants volunteered to give short English lessons to different classes. Rodney Wince even took students to play a little basketball, one of young Chinese people’s favorite sports. Tyeisha reported that it was a very moving experience to see children so enthusiastic about going to school for an event on a Saturday. She reported that the event was “life-changing.”
On Saturday April 24th, Terrance Johnson, a Service Learning Program participant, helped to host the 10th annual Pfrang Gala at the Nanjing International School. The Pfrang Gala is the Pfrang Association’s most important yearly event from which it receives the majority of its donations. This year the event was a huge success. In the video, watch Terrance announce the winners of a Nanjing trivia game held against event attendees. Terrance’s efforts helped Pfrang to raise over 200,000 RMB (approx. $30,000) for the charitable cause of funding educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth in rural Jiangsu province. The Pfrang Association is the host organization for EI Institute’s Service Learning Program this term. During the Gala Terrance was assisted by fellow participants Gabrielle Frazier, Antonay Hughes and Jamyla Rogers
