Leading the Way Overseas·Creating a New Future for the Industry——The First Event of the Alumni "Wisdom" Gathering Series on Enterprise Going Global Was Successfully Held

Leading the Way Overseas·Creating a New Future for the Industry——The First Event of the Alumni "Wisdom" Gathering Series on Enterprise Going Global Was Successfully Held

On July 18th, in the evening, jointly organized by the School of Economics and Management and the Alumni Association of Tongji University, and co-sponsored by the Office of Alumni and Corporate Relations and the Marketing Department, the first event of the "Leading the Way Overseas·Creating a New Future for the Industry——Alumni 'Wisdom' Gathering Series on Enterprise Going Global" was successfully held. Four alumni with overseas business experience were invited to share their valuable experiences and insights on enterprise going global projects. More than 80 alumni attended the event onsite, and over a hundred participated online. The atmosphere was lively as they discussed topics related to going global.

Part 1: Opening Remarks

Associate Dean of the School of Economics and Management of Tongji University, Director of the Office of Alumni and Corporate Relations, and Director of the Professional Degree Center, Ms. Cheng Guoping, delivered the opening address. She noted that with the deepening globalization, against the backdrop of a complex global situation and fierce competition in 2024, more individuals and enterprises are turning their attention to international markets. Enterprise going global is full of opportunities, yet also faces challenges. To address this, the school has planned a series of events on enterprise going global, aiming to invite outstanding scholars, experts, and alumni from various fields to explore key issues such as investment directions, market entry rules, and certification guidelines for Chinese enterprises in international markets. It is hoped that these events will provide efficient guidance and valuable support for Chinese enterprises' going global projects. The Office of Alumni and Corporate Relations has always adhered to the philosophy of "serving alumni, uniting alumni, and creating a highly shared energy field for alumni," aiming to empower alumni enterprises, promote the school's academic development, and facilitate the deep integration of business cooperation and economic development.

Associate Professor of Marketing at the School of Economics and Management of Tongji University, Professor Xiong Guoyue, presided over the event. In his speech, he pointed out that with the current domestic market experiencing insufficient effective demand and overcapacity in some industries, competition among enterprises is becoming increasingly fierce, making going global an urgent choice for enterprises to avoid domestic competition and seek new markets. He believes that going global is not only a necessary attempt for enterprises under the current trend of economic globalization but also an important choice for enterprises to actively participate in global economic development. At the same time, Professor Xiong reminded alumni enterprises not to act blindly or make decisions rashly in the going global process. They must carefully consider their destination for development, make full preparations, and actively respond to unknown challenges. By learning from successful cases and participating in alumni cooperation and exchanges, enterprises can explore issues and challenges in the going global process, improve the success rate of going global, maximize benefits, and better adapt to international markets and expand their development space.

Part 2: Thematic Sharing

Zhu Haijun: "How Domestic Enterprises Can Overcome the Initial Period of Incompatibility When Going Global"

Zhu Haijun, a 2023 - level EMBA student and Assistant Vice President of Global Telecom, shared in his report that going global is not simply about financial investment and personnel allocation. It is about how enterprises can expand in scale, deeply understand and adapt to the local business environment and cultural differences, and break through development bottlenecks. Combining his international telecom operation experience, Zhu shared many successful and failed cases of going global. He emphasized that market research and localization strategies are key to the success of going global. The practices and experiences of enterprises in intellectual property protection, market positioning, supply chain optimization, and cross - cultural team building are also extremely valuable. He analyzed in detail the potential problems enterprises may encounter in the going - global process, including intellectual property protection, cultural differences, political and economic risks, social responsibility, and sustainable development. He also stressed the importance of compliance in the European market, pointing out the significance of technological support and brand building in going - global projects. He reminded alumni enterprises to maintain a sense of reverence, iterative thinking, and a global perspective when going global. He hoped that alumni could learn from practical experiences and lessons to better plan and implement their going - global strategies.

Bao Rongsheng: "A Guide to Chinese Enterprises Investing in Mexico"

Bao Rongsheng, an alumnus from the EMBA Class 33 of 2016 and founder of Zhejiang Yulong Tiansheng Technology Co., Ltd., joined the event online from the Yulong Tiansheng Industrial Park in Mexico, sharing valuable insights and in-depth experiences on corporate development in the Mexican market.

Bao emphasized that going global is not just about expanding business overseas but also about achieving localized integration. Talent development, as one of the key factors for a company's successful international expansion, requires cultivating localized professionals with a global vision and enhancing their management and operational capabilities to address various challenges in the globalization process. At the same time, supply chain integration is equally crucial. Companies must collaborate closely with local suppliers, continuously optimize supply chain management, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. Developing market channels is essential for successfully entering new markets. This involves formulating effective promotion strategies, establishing diversified sales channels, setting up local production bases, gaining a deep understanding of the target market's demands and consumer habits, and leveraging local incentives to achieve sustained business growth.

Additionally, he expressed that Yulong Tiansheng is willing to serve as a partner for Chinese enterprises entering the Mexican market, providing support to help more domestic companies achieve their overseas development goals.

Qian Jingyan: "Full - House Customization Going Global in Southeast Asia"

Qian Jingyan, an alumnus of the 2021 - level MBA program and Senior Manager of LY FURNITURE, introduced her successful experience in expanding the full - house customization business from China to Malaysia and Singapore. Against the backdrop of a downturn in the real estate market and intense economic competition, she deeply analyzed the stable trend of the high - end and general full - house customization industries. She also comprehensively examined the unique challenges and potential opportunities in the Southeast Asian market. Qian believes that the Southeast Asian home furnishing market is still in its development stage, lacking standardized industry norms. There are differences between the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets in terms of cultural identity, brand awareness, and market demand. Therefore, it is essential to seize the time - difference opportunity in the Southeast Asian market, utilize the current development gaps and high demand, and achieve rapid layout and leading development of Chinese brands in the Southeast Asian market. Qian detailed her strategies for market expansion in Southeast Asia, including acquiring local companies, optimizing the supply chain, improving production lines, and integrating local resources. She emphasized that the key to success lies in efficiently transforming China's supply chain advantages into localized services and delivery capabilities. By participating in global exhibitions, integrating supply resources, and building a local team, LY FURNITURE has successfully established itself in the Southeast Asian market, showcasing the foresight and core competitiveness of Chinese brands in international markets.

Zhao Yangrui: "Market Access Regulations and Certification for Chinese Manufacturing and EPC Enterprises Going Global"

Zhao Yangrui, an alumnus of the 2021 - level EMBA program and Senior Business Development Officer for Hydrogen Energy at SGS, shared in detail the certification issues and compliance challenges faced by Chinese enterprises in global market development. According to Zhao, going global is not just about selling products to overseas markets but also about integrating into local cultures and complying with regional regulations to ensure smooth market entry and orderly operations. As the world's largest third - party certification and testing institution, SGS has significant advantages in its global business layout, particularly in the hydrogen energy sector. He shared his practical experiences in technical guidance and certification assurance in SGS's global plant construction projects. Zhao provided an in - depth interpretation of the market entry mechanisms of major global markets, including the EU's CE certification and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), as well as certification requirements in the North American market. He pointed out that in the globalization process, Chinese enterprises need to comply not only with different regional regulations but also with emerging challenges such as technical standards, safety standards, and carbon emission standards. With the increasing overseas investments of Chinese enterprises, market entry requirements are becoming more complex, and enterprises need to adapt to these changes to ensure smooth global business operations.

Part 3: Interactive Exchange

During the interactive exchange session, the four alumni engaged in an in - depth discussion with the faculty and alumni present on several key issues related to going global, such as feasibility, talent requirements, policy channels, and regulatory information, as well as corresponding strategies.

The first event of the Alumni "Wisdom" Gathering Series on Enterprise Going Global came to a successful conclusion. Through exchanges and sharing of experiences, alumni not only broadened their international horizons but also gained valuable practical experience and developmental advice. The event provided alumni with a valuable opportunity to explore international business strategies and envision a shared future. It also strengthened the connections among alumni and contributed more wisdom and strength to the development of the industry.