Opinions d'étudiants...
le 19/10/2007 - par ESSEClive Il n'y a pas de commentaire, soyez le premier à réagir !Judith Jakubowicz, intern at Darton Group in Hong-Kong, after her 6-month Asian Track as an MBA student. Caroline Letellier, has joined AXA Private Equity for a 6-month internship in Singapore after her 6-month Asian Track as an MBA student.
As soon as I realized that the end of the Asian Track was dangerously approaching, I had only one thing in my mind:staying in Asia. I made my way to Hong Kong where I finally found an internship in a trading company called Darton Group as business developer. If Hong Kong looks alike Singapore for its modernity, the Chinese part is much stronger and the skyscrapers definitely higher! It is an amazing city to live in: it is such an entangled mix of an influential Chinese culture, an Asian center for business and the expats' haven... Unfortunately I could not take advantage of the mandarin courses I attended in the Asian Track since here everybody speaks Cantonese, but I tried to catch up with the basics. I did my best to integrate into society and I spent much time with Hong Kong friends who would bring me dishes such as chicken feet, shark soup and frog's womb. Yummy! In exchange, I helped them discover the local nightlife that they were unaware of, as well as certain French customs. I realized the depth of our cultural gap when one of my colleagues thought it would be nice to kiss one of our French customers on the cheeks to say hello! I must admit that I, then the customers, and finally the CEO of the company were quite astonished..! In the company 90% of the employees are Chinese and I am the only intern. The main saying of our (French) boss being:"let's put people in the water and wait and see if they can swim", I was right away given the responsibility to set a new company within the Group and it made me as happy as the clam at high tide! Consequently, I am working with many factories in China, assisted by two designers of the Group and every day I am trying to develop a brand new range of products and ship them to the biggest importers in Europe, the USA and Panama for supermarkets, hypermarkets, and chain stores. My market is solar products, from large, roof-top solar panels to the small solar handbag with which to charge your Ipod while you're walking. I can tell now you that China combined with environmentally-friendly products is a magic formula for business! Now, the next challenge for me will be to come back to France after one year away, during which I have met so many new worlds on the incredible continent that is Asia...
“After my Asian Track experience, I felt like it would be different and interesting to have a look at how business works in this region of the world. Therefore, mid-January, after having spent a few weeks in the colder climes of Europe, I was back in Singapore and pushing open the door of AXA Private Equity Asia office.
“The location is great: panoramic view on the sea, the tankers and sometimes, when the weather is good enough, the coast of Batam in Indonesia. There is also a giant wheel that is under construction. Everyday we can see the progress in the construction of the Singapore Flyer, the next huge top attraction. It is really impressive how fast they build here! Luckily for me, there is a Carrefour in the Suntec Mall close to the office. Thus I am able to go crazy for cheese now and then when I get fed up with noodles and Dim Sum!
“The team here is quite small, 8 people plus myself, but very international. A few French people of course, but also some Indians, Singaporeans, Chinese. It is amazing how often we can switch from one language to another. While Jenhao is speaking in Japanese on the phone, I chat in French with Shabrina but switch to English as soon as Lachmi arrives. “Since my very first day, I have been busy with very different tasks. I have had the opportunity to look at Australian companies as well as Japanese, Chinese or Indian ones. South East Asia also appears now and then. It is funny to discover all these companies hidden behind the tourist places I have been to over the past six months. Private Equity is booming right now, and Asia is no exception.
“A happy surprise! I am being sent to Hong Kong for a few meetings. I have not been there as yet. My ticket back is delayed
to Sunday therefore I'll get the whole week-end to go around discovering this other dragon of Asia! I just forgot something while leaving Singapore… Seasons!!! If in Singapore we always get a good 28 to 32 degrees, it is not the same in Hong Kong! It is spring right now, and temperatures are quite cool. I smile for my first business card exchange. This is an inevitable practice in Asia. You need to give your card holding it with both hands and making sure that the person receiving it can easily read your details. Same thing when you receive it, hold it with two hands and take a few seconds to read carefully the details on the card. My few months spent previously in Asia have helped me get familiar with those small details you have to deal with every day. Habits, languages, weird Singlish accent, small details that give an exciting and exotic touch to my everyday life!”
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