News Center



Time Waits for no Man, Act Now and Transform Career in China

Apr 10-2019   



"Foreigners looking for a job in China? Hard! Looking for a good job? Even harder!" That’s what people say nowadays.

 

It is because foreigners in China, though well aware of Western culture, have little understanding of Chinese culture;

 

And their Chinese is not fluent enough to communicate with local colleagues and customers;

 

However, in spite of these disadvantages, Matteo Giovannini, an Italian who completed his MBA at Peking University, not only found a decent job that peers envy in China, but also succeeded in transforming his career – a leap from Italy's media industry to China’s finance industry, now serving as a Senior Finance Manager of Beijing ICBC’s financial leasing arm.

Matteo pictured at the ICBC office’s boardroom in Beijing

 

His career dream began in Milan, Italy, the capital of fashion, but came true quietly in a classical courtyard in China named "Langrun Garden".

 

Langrun Garden, located in the north side of Weiming Lake at Peking University, the best higher education institution in China, is a beautiful garden of oriental style. It is in this quaint and elegant courtyard that Matteo completed his MBA study. Graduating from a place built in the late Qing Dynasty with over 200 years of history, Matteo had found a new direction in his life.

 

Great Leap from Media to Finance

Back in Milan, Italy, Matteo even though had built up years of experience in media he was still aspiring to work in the financial services industry. To fulfill his dream, he came to BiMBA Business School of National School of Development at Peking University – the top university in China – also known as the "International MBA”, an MBA program jointly established by Peking University and Europe's top business school - Vlerick Business School in Belgium. Since its establishment in 1998, the program has won a good reputation in Europe and the United States.

 

Inspired by the long-cherished wish of moving into the financial services industry, Matteo started his career planning at the very beginning of his full-time study mainly choosing finance related elective courses and, in 2015, he applied what he learned in the ICP (an in-company consulting project). Meanwhile, he took advantage of the job opportunities offered by the University-asking teaching staff of the Career Development Office to help keeping him informed of job opportunities in finance.

 

In October 2015, the opportunity showed up. The teaching staff of the Career Development Office advised Matteo to pay attention to the recruitment of ICBC. It turned out that ICBC, as China's largest financial state-owned enterprise, intended to recruit ten foreign talents to promote the implementation of overseas internationalization strategy. "Back then the competition was intense. More than 100 candidates went through the interview, and in the end only 8 were admitted," Matteo still remembers how he got this hard-won job. "Timing was very important and the staff at the Career Development was very professional. They helped me to analyze my career direction, accommodate my needs, and finally recommend this job opportunity to me at the most appropriate timing.”

 

As the only foreign employee in his department, Matteo hardly feels uncomfortable, and gets along with his Chinese colleagues very well. "Because most of the colleagues in my department have experience of overseas study, they know very well how to get along with foreigners like me" - this is a sign of the future: the fact that China is opening up to foreign investors and talents and that more and more Chinese go to study abroad and then come back to work in China, will lead to a stronger internationalization of Chinese enterprises better equipped at attracting foreign talents.

 

So, why would a Chinese state-owned enterprise attract a European who grew up in a market economy?

 

Speaking of his employer, Matteo feels a sense of pride, a pride beyond national boundaries, just as Chinese are proud of working at Google or Apple. "There are three reasons why I chose to develop my career here. First, ICBC is an extremely valuable employer brand; second, ICBC is a large institution where I can grow myself working in such a complex workplace. And third, ICBC offers a lot of opportunities for self-improvement." Matteo signed a three-year contract with his employer. At the expiration of the contract the employer recognized his talent and offered Matteo another three-year contract letting him to continue his Chinese dream.

 

"Here, I can see how Chinese state-owned enterprises run. If one day I have the chance to return to Italy and do business with Chinese state-owned enterprises, I can handle it because I understand them well!" Matteo is very pragmatic when analyzing problems, and always thinks out of the box and beyond the current situation.

 

Mastering Soft Skills is the No.1 Rule in an MBA Program

If studying at BiMBA, the most international business school in China, was an important springboard for his career transformation, then what exactly is this springboard like and was his study at the business school really helpful?

 

In the interview, Matteo repeated the words "Soft Skills". Before that, Matteo had already acquired financial certifications through self-study and training. But in his eyes, these are "Hard Skills”- namely hard knowledge; but in the long-term career development, mastering the soft skills is far more critical.

 

At BiMBA, Matteo witnessed a brand new world through the Leadership course lectured by Professor Yang Zhuang and Negotiating Skills lectured by Professor David Venter, a negotiator who worked for former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Yang Zhuang, Dean of National School of Development at Peking University, conferring the MBA degree to Matteo at the Graduation Ceremony

 

"Negotiation is ubiquitous throughout our life, whether dealing with business people, with HR in the company, or even with your wife and mother-in-law in the family," Matteo never stops applying skills learned from the program in all aspects of his life. Even years after graduation, he still keeps the good practice nurtured during his study - texting professors and asking them to recommend books on certain topics.

 

The essence of soft skills lies in culture. In order to help foreign students better experience and integrate into Chinese culture, the introduction course of Business in China in the MBA program also led Matteo and other foreign students to embark on the "Journey of Chinese Culture " - from Henan Shaolin Temple, to Shanxi Pingyao ancient town, and then to the ancient capital Xi'an, with each place showcasing the profound Chinese culture, offering both admirable experience and better understanding of the inner spirit of Chinese culture.

 

"In Europe, we usually call our bosses directly by their names, but in China, because of the existence of a top-down hierarchical corporate structure, we must call them by titles." This is what Matteo learned from the Cross-cultural Communication course by Profession Bruce Stening before he stepped into the Chinese company environment. Now, Matteo is applying the knowledge acquired from the Peking University little by little.

 

Apart from knowledge pertaining to soft skills, BiMBA also provides opportunities for students to put into practice what learned. In the last course of Management Integration, students formed several groups, each with five or six members acting different roles, to mimic a business war. Some are CFOs, some CEOs, and some CHOs. "This simulation is very useful. We can digest all the professional knowledge and soft skills learned from the MBA program!" Matteo admitted he felt he was running a company, and learned how to consider problems from the perspective of the top management. This is what his previous career experience could not provide. “I wanted to get into the financial services industry, but I didn’t want to attend a master's degree program in finance. I believed that an MBA could give me more of a comprehensive knowledge and broader vision".

 

In addition to the current working environment, the "significance" behind this job is also an important driving force for Matteo to stay in China. "In Europe, you just work for a company; but now with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, many businesses of ICBC are a part of this ambitious undertaking. At this moment, you feel like you are not only working for a company, but for the progress and changing of the world!" The rise of China's economy in the world may soon be an important factor to attract foreigners to work in China. This is something even more important for Italian people like Matteo for the deep relationship that connects Italy with China and for being Italy the only G7 country to support the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

"Now, many Europeans do not understand China. They think China is full of factories and fake goods," Matteo said, "In fact, I think China is very high-tech. We can pay anytime anywhere through WeChat and Alipay, but in Europe we still have to carry cash; and China's high-speed railway transportation is highly efficient, and the urban development is also changing rapidly.”

 

Finally, he suggested that people who intend to study and work in China should first learn Chinese well. And, due to the differences between Eastern and Western cultures, there will inevitably be a period of time for adaptation, but once that is over, China will be a very good choice; for those who want to come here to attend the MBA program, first of all, make a career planning, and then focus on relevant elective courses.

 

"Where there is capital, there is opportunity", Matteo ended the interview with such words, his deep eyes shining with light. He suggested that people should pay attention to the influx of large amounts of capital in China and this could be a very good reason to start their career transformation and development by studying in the MBA program at Peking University, the best business school in China.

 

Matteo was awarded as a Foreigner Expert by the State Administration Foreign Expert Affairs (SAFEA) in Beijing

(Reporter/Zhang Tong)

 

Time Waits for no Man, Act Now and Transform Career in China

Apr 10-2019   



"Foreigners looking for a job in China? Hard! Looking for a good job? Even harder!" That’s what people say nowadays.

 

It is because foreigners in China, though well aware of Western culture, have little understanding of Chinese culture;

 

And their Chinese is not fluent enough to communicate with local colleagues and customers;

 

However, in spite of these disadvantages, Matteo Giovannini, an Italian who completed his MBA at Peking University, not only found a decent job that peers envy in China, but also succeeded in transforming his career – a leap from Italy's media industry to China’s finance industry, now serving as a Senior Finance Manager of Beijing ICBC’s financial leasing arm.

Matteo pictured at the ICBC office’s boardroom in Beijing

 

His career dream began in Milan, Italy, the capital of fashion, but came true quietly in a classical courtyard in China named "Langrun Garden".

 

Langrun Garden, located in the north side of Weiming Lake at Peking University, the best higher education institution in China, is a beautiful garden of oriental style. It is in this quaint and elegant courtyard that Matteo completed his MBA study. Graduating from a place built in the late Qing Dynasty with over 200 years of history, Matteo had found a new direction in his life.

 

Great Leap from Media to Finance

Back in Milan, Italy, Matteo even though had built up years of experience in media he was still aspiring to work in the financial services industry. To fulfill his dream, he came to BiMBA Business School of National School of Development at Peking University – the top university in China – also known as the "International MBA”, an MBA program jointly established by Peking University and Europe's top business school - Vlerick Business School in Belgium. Since its establishment in 1998, the program has won a good reputation in Europe and the United States.

 

Inspired by the long-cherished wish of moving into the financial services industry, Matteo started his career planning at the very beginning of his full-time study mainly choosing finance related elective courses and, in 2015, he applied what he learned in the ICP (an in-company consulting project). Meanwhile, he took advantage of the job opportunities offered by the University-asking teaching staff of the Career Development Office to help keeping him informed of job opportunities in finance.

 

In October 2015, the opportunity showed up. The teaching staff of the Career Development Office advised Matteo to pay attention to the recruitment of ICBC. It turned out that ICBC, as China's largest financial state-owned enterprise, intended to recruit ten foreign talents to promote the implementation of overseas internationalization strategy. "Back then the competition was intense. More than 100 candidates went through the interview, and in the end only 8 were admitted," Matteo still remembers how he got this hard-won job. "Timing was very important and the staff at the Career Development was very professional. They helped me to analyze my career direction, accommodate my needs, and finally recommend this job opportunity to me at the most appropriate timing.”

 

As the only foreign employee in his department, Matteo hardly feels uncomfortable, and gets along with his Chinese colleagues very well. "Because most of the colleagues in my department have experience of overseas study, they know very well how to get along with foreigners like me" - this is a sign of the future: the fact that China is opening up to foreign investors and talents and that more and more Chinese go to study abroad and then come back to work in China, will lead to a stronger internationalization of Chinese enterprises better equipped at attracting foreign talents.

 

So, why would a Chinese state-owned enterprise attract a European who grew up in a market economy?

 

Speaking of his employer, Matteo feels a sense of pride, a pride beyond national boundaries, just as Chinese are proud of working at Google or Apple. "There are three reasons why I chose to develop my career here. First, ICBC is an extremely valuable employer brand; second, ICBC is a large institution where I can grow myself working in such a complex workplace. And third, ICBC offers a lot of opportunities for self-improvement." Matteo signed a three-year contract with his employer. At the expiration of the contract the employer recognized his talent and offered Matteo another three-year contract letting him to continue his Chinese dream.

 

"Here, I can see how Chinese state-owned enterprises run. If one day I have the chance to return to Italy and do business with Chinese state-owned enterprises, I can handle it because I understand them well!" Matteo is very pragmatic when analyzing problems, and always thinks out of the box and beyond the current situation.

 

Mastering Soft Skills is the No.1 Rule in an MBA Program

If studying at BiMBA, the most international business school in China, was an important springboard for his career transformation, then what exactly is this springboard like and was his study at the business school really helpful?

 

In the interview, Matteo repeated the words "Soft Skills". Before that, Matteo had already acquired financial certifications through self-study and training. But in his eyes, these are "Hard Skills”- namely hard knowledge; but in the long-term career development, mastering the soft skills is far more critical.

 

At BiMBA, Matteo witnessed a brand new world through the Leadership course lectured by Professor Yang Zhuang and Negotiating Skills lectured by Professor David Venter, a negotiator who worked for former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Yang Zhuang, Dean of National School of Development at Peking University, conferring the MBA degree to Matteo at the Graduation Ceremony

 

"Negotiation is ubiquitous throughout our life, whether dealing with business people, with HR in the company, or even with your wife and mother-in-law in the family," Matteo never stops applying skills learned from the program in all aspects of his life. Even years after graduation, he still keeps the good practice nurtured during his study - texting professors and asking them to recommend books on certain topics.

 

The essence of soft skills lies in culture. In order to help foreign students better experience and integrate into Chinese culture, the introduction course of Business in China in the MBA program also led Matteo and other foreign students to embark on the "Journey of Chinese Culture " - from Henan Shaolin Temple, to Shanxi Pingyao ancient town, and then to the ancient capital Xi'an, with each place showcasing the profound Chinese culture, offering both admirable experience and better understanding of the inner spirit of Chinese culture.

 

"In Europe, we usually call our bosses directly by their names, but in China, because of the existence of a top-down hierarchical corporate structure, we must call them by titles." This is what Matteo learned from the Cross-cultural Communication course by Profession Bruce Stening before he stepped into the Chinese company environment. Now, Matteo is applying the knowledge acquired from the Peking University little by little.

 

Apart from knowledge pertaining to soft skills, BiMBA also provides opportunities for students to put into practice what learned. In the last course of Management Integration, students formed several groups, each with five or six members acting different roles, to mimic a business war. Some are CFOs, some CEOs, and some CHOs. "This simulation is very useful. We can digest all the professional knowledge and soft skills learned from the MBA program!" Matteo admitted he felt he was running a company, and learned how to consider problems from the perspective of the top management. This is what his previous career experience could not provide. “I wanted to get into the financial services industry, but I didn’t want to attend a master's degree program in finance. I believed that an MBA could give me more of a comprehensive knowledge and broader vision".

 

In addition to the current working environment, the "significance" behind this job is also an important driving force for Matteo to stay in China. "In Europe, you just work for a company; but now with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, many businesses of ICBC are a part of this ambitious undertaking. At this moment, you feel like you are not only working for a company, but for the progress and changing of the world!" The rise of China's economy in the world may soon be an important factor to attract foreigners to work in China. This is something even more important for Italian people like Matteo for the deep relationship that connects Italy with China and for being Italy the only G7 country to support the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

"Now, many Europeans do not understand China. They think China is full of factories and fake goods," Matteo said, "In fact, I think China is very high-tech. We can pay anytime anywhere through WeChat and Alipay, but in Europe we still have to carry cash; and China's high-speed railway transportation is highly efficient, and the urban development is also changing rapidly.”

 

Finally, he suggested that people who intend to study and work in China should first learn Chinese well. And, due to the differences between Eastern and Western cultures, there will inevitably be a period of time for adaptation, but once that is over, China will be a very good choice; for those who want to come here to attend the MBA program, first of all, make a career planning, and then focus on relevant elective courses.

 

"Where there is capital, there is opportunity", Matteo ended the interview with such words, his deep eyes shining with light. He suggested that people should pay attention to the influx of large amounts of capital in China and this could be a very good reason to start their career transformation and development by studying in the MBA program at Peking University, the best business school in China.

 

Matteo was awarded as a Foreigner Expert by the State Administration Foreign Expert Affairs (SAFEA) in Beijing

(Reporter/Zhang Tong)