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Libei Wan (SK 2002) - “My studies at SKEMA changed my way of thinking”

21 July 2020 INTERVIEW

Libei Wan talks to SKEMA Alumni about her career between China (her country of birth) and France since graduating from SKEMA.

           

Tell us a little about yourself...

I’m originally from China and have been immersed in French culture for a long time. I studied the French language and French literature. I taught French at university and did further studies at a business school in France. For over 14 years I have worked in the field of consulting, specialising in assisting and coaching French SMEs and SMIs with their establishment and development in China. I came to live in France in 2016.

 

What did you study at SKEMA and did that help you in deciding on your career path?

I sat for the Grandes Ecoles international competitive entrance exam in 2000 and was accepted into CERAM in Sophia Antipolis, which later became SKEMA. I did a Master’s in Management as part of the Grande Ecole programme. The Master’s programme set me on a whole new career path: from literature to management.

 

What did you do after graduating from SKEMA? And what prompted you to go work overseas?

Returning to China for work had always been my goal. Not only because China is my country of birth, but also because it is a fast-growing country with a lot more opportunities. The work atmosphere is very dynamic, too. Young graduates are very much encouraged and it is easier for them to realise their dreams.

 

In what ways are the Chinese culture and entrepreneurial culture different to those in France?

There is a lot to say about the cultural differences between China and France. In the professional world, there are very big differences between state-owned enterprises and private companies in China. Chinese companies are evolving so rapidly that you can’t just compare Chinese and French companies based on a few aspects. It goes much deeper than that.

Here are a few examples of what I have noticed:

In 2002-2003 when I returned to China, I was looking for work in marketing. All the companies I applied to told me that the concept of marketing didn’t really exist in China. That is no longer true today.

In the industrial and service sectors, Chinese companies have made huge progress in terms of quality and organisation, whereas I would say the opposite is true for French companies.

In short, Chinese corporate and business culture is not something that is static. It has multiple facets and it is evolving constantly and rapidly. Whereas French companies are more stable and conservative. But that is just my point of view based on my own experience.

 

Has the education you received in France had an impact on your career?

Absolutely! My training in marketing and business administration has changed my way of thinking; the analytical tools and general concepts I have learned have enabled me to adapt to many situations.

 

Can you tell us about the company you’re working for at the moment and your position there?

I actually wear two hats: I am the founder of the Académie Interculturelle Ruban Bleu, and I have also started my own microbusiness as a court expert for the court of appeal.

 

Can you tell us about Académie Interculturelle Ruban Bleu, the non-profit you started in 2017?

Académie Interculturelle Ruban Bleu is a French non-profit organisation (association loi 1901) that promotes and encourages international intercultural exchanges, and develops French-Chinese artistic, cultural and educational initiatives in France and China. Our actions include production/coproduction, performances, workshops, courses, exhibitions, trips, symposiums, art trips, study days, etc. 

The organisation sets up and organises events that require numerous trips between the two countries.

 

Has the COVID-19 crisis had an impact on your work/daily life/life in general? 

China was the first country to have been affected by COVID-19. Now it is gradually coming out of this health and economic crisis, nearly all companies have started back up again, business operations are resuming and little by little society is getting back to normal.

Our professional activities have been hit hard by this crisis, because they are based on international exchanges. Since the start of 2020, China has stopped all business and now it’s Europe’s turn. We had several exhibitions, forums, trips and visits planned in China and France this year; everything has been postponed or cancelled. We have had to cancel bookings and change the programmes. For the moment, all of our partners are waiting for the situation to improve. We are putting our heads together to find ways to diversify and broaden our operations.

 

In what ways have SKEMA and the network helped you (or how could they help you) grow and bring your plans to fruition?

Since moving to France I have had more contact with SKEMA Alumni and I have attended several alumni events. I’ve been able to catch up with former classmates, which has allowed me to better understand the evolution of the situation in France. The discussions with network members have inspired me to think about developing new lines of business.

 

What are your ambitions for the future?

Honestly, I had a lot of ambitions before the COVID-19 crisis, but over the last few months all of these upheavals have prompted me to reflect, to reconsider my plans and reorganise my life. I think many people are in the same boat. Our ability to project ourselves into the future is even directly tied to our ability to remember past events. I would prefer to talk about ambition once this period is over.

 

Contact: Libei Wan (SK 2002), Director & Senior Associate Consultant and founder of Académie Interculturelle Ruban Bleu

 

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