By Frank Mulligan

Gender confusion seems to be the topic of the day right now, with a recent report that cites 30% of young women identifying their personality as part-male, part-female.

This has important implications for the workplace, especially for those who have yet to recognize the sea change in attitudes.

According to the survey, which was conducted with 800 female one-child policy students from universities around Shanghai, about twice as many as a previous survey, 10 years ago, see themselves as part-female, part-male in their attitudes.

These androgynous attitudes appear to derive from the intense competition that the current generation has to go through. Read the rest of “Androgynous Attitudes” or post a comment

It is true: China has a large market area, where you can make a very decent living, but don’t expect miracles. Rob Groeneweg believes thát is the essence of doing business with China. His friendship with the Chinese Anne Xu is what started his hands-on experience; selling Chinese art on the Dutch market, through his newly founded business, Xuro. The sale of Chinese art still needs time to flourish, the demand on Xuro’s services as a business developer on the other hand grows rapidly. “Lots of entrepreneurs only think of China’s potential, having 1.3 billion consumers, and therefore are too eager. However, a bad deal remains a bad deal. Don’t be too greedy. The real market potential often is much smaller then you think.”

Working for Cross Ocean Cosco Container Lines, Rob comes into contact with China in 1990, because this company has been working with Chinese employees and trainees for decades. “In the Netherlands, there are approximately 8.000 Chinese students and they Read the rest of “China and the Art of Xuro” or post a comment

By Frank Mulligan

Expatriates are a big part of the business life in China. They have brought a good amount of technology, management and practical knowledge to bear on the challenges that face China’s industrial base. In many ways you could say that they brought a new manufacturing platform to China and the economy has been at least partly built around it.

Unfortunately, expatriates tend to bring both the good and the bad with them. It cannot really be any other way, and it’s not in any way a criticism. Read the rest of “Mature Workers” or post a comment

Talent&Pro is a young and flexible Operational Consultancy agency that focuses on banks and insurance companies. It is an agency that, apart from providing high-quality services towards clients, is strong regarding the personal development and career opportunities of its own employees as well. Those employed at Talent&Pro are offered a two-year contract, with a one-off extension to five years, during which they receive all the space to prepare and shape their plans for the future. Basically just like Marco Hoekstra did it. With many years’ experience in banking and finance, he started out at Talent&Pro as operational manager in the Netherlands 7 years ago. Currently, with over 400 employees, Marco is focusing his attention on Talent&Pro China.

A born developer, Marco has great interest in fast economic development. After the Netherlands, Germany and the UK were conquered, it was the right moment to realize a new Talent&Pro branch in the Far East. “A place where the market is developing at top speed, where the hectic pace of the improving economy requires new strategies all the time, and where young, highly qualified individuals have a passion for internationalization…” Shanghai, China. Read the rest of “Plenty of Space in Shanghai” or post a comment