Beijing, 25 April 2008, Cheung Kong GSB opened its doors especially early to welcome Jack Perkowski, President and CEO of ASIMCO Technologies, as guest lecturer on Friday 25 April. Well before Cheung Kong’s EMBA students arrived for class at 9am, over 70 business men and women were in their seats with coffee and croissants, to listen to an amazing story of entrepreneurial triumph.
Jack Perkowski is an iconic figure to expatriates in China, having once featured in best-selling business book, Mr China, by Tim Clissold. At Cheung Kong’s breakfast lecture, Mr Perkowski introduced his own way of approaching China. He said that arriving in China as a ‘blank slate’ was a big advantage to him, as although business and China expertise is important, more relevant is one’s own experiences and connection with China’s logic.
Talking us through how he decided on the industry in which to build his business, Jack Perkowski said that on arriving in 1993 he could easily predict that the automobile industry would become a massive growth market, and that government support for foreign investment would enable global interests to take part. He advised companies moving into China to localise: by looking beyond Beijing and Shanghai thus benefiting from China’s different and lower cost perspective, and shifting decision-making power into the hands of local managers.
Jack Perkowski receiving
business cards after the talk
With a 45 minute presentation, and vibrant Q & A session, time constraints meant only a selection of tips, arguments and anecdotes could be discussed. Many bought Jack Perkowski’s new book on life in China, Managing the Dragon: How I’m Building a Billion Dollar Business in China, which was for sale at the school thanks to Beijing distributor, Garden Books. At 9.30am it was time for everyone to head back out into the midst of their own China business challenge.
The Cheung Kong Open Lecture Series will continue with a Saturday 10 May afternoon forum entitled, 2008 Cheung Kong Art Collection and Investment Forum. Speakers include Professor Jianping Mei from Cheung Kong GSB and Professor Michael Moses from NYU Stern. In order to register for this event, email HeatherMowbray@ckgsb.edu.cn explaining in brief your link to the art world in China.