Pankaj Gupta’s Post

After 10 years in Asia, I have decided to go back to France to be closer to my family. While it was evident on the personal level, it was quite a bold decision career-wise. The future will tell, however, I know in my core that it is the right time and the right decision. But it is a very tough one. These past 10 years spent in China, Singapore and across the APAC region have been an incredible adventure full of discoveries, learnings, challenges, excitement, frustration, joy, surprises, …! For me, “everyday was a new day” and this is what makes this region so exceptional. I have no doubt that my time in APAC and the people I got the chance to meet along the way, transformed me personally and professionally. Thank you so much to all of you ! Leaving my incredible team was extremely tough. The years we spent working together have been intense and fulfilling: we learned, we grew, we succeeded, we failed, we overcame challenges, we celebrated everything together as #OneTeam ! I am so honoured that I got the chance to lead such an amazing and talented team. I am extremely proud that I contributed to the growth and development of such great regional talent.  So through this rather personal post, please allow me to pass on a more generic message…To all global leaders out there, SEE your regional and diverse talent, CHAMPION and SUPPORT them, and above all PROMOTE them faster to global/corporate roles: the impact on your global business performance & team engagement will be outstanding ! #GlobalLeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipJourney #CrossCulturalManagement

I can pretty much tell the people I will be seeing in Munich. Below are the reasons you are the perfect fit to make the experience even more memorable. What categories do you fit into? 🌐 Working abroad, on an expat assignment. Or working at home, with team members reporting to you from several company offices around the world. 🗣️ Your ability to speak and understand the language of your host country (or that of your foreign team members) has been improving steadily. 🧑💼 You are an expert in your field and you know how to lead. Your success at home and your subject matter expertise are two of the main reasons why you are here today – working for your organization in an international capacity. 🐟💧 But now you are dealing with different cultures and sometimes you feel like a fish out of water. 🔝❓ Sometimes, during meetings, you wonder if all of the ‘A’ players on your team really hear what you tell them. You sense that you are not getting through to some of them. 💭 And then there are these moments when you are completely honest with yourself and you remember that your results were better when you were only dealing with people who share your cultural background. 🤔 So now what? Welcome to the conundrum of global leaders. Are you ready to join us in Munich? 👌🤩 You might be the perfect candidate for 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 (start here: https://lnkd.in/gRmKT7UA) The Culture Mastery Brigitta Hoeferle PCC Master Trainer Christian Höferle #mastermind #culture #globalexecutive #globalleader ##culturalmentor #globalbusiness

Leadership and diversity panel at Smart Maritime Network in Tokyo yesterday. What a powerful lady as moderator! Really enjoyed the exchange about the mindset change and adaptation of system and environment to bring more diversity to our industry. On the shore side we are making very good progress but at sea it will take a long time due to sometimes adverse working environments. There was consensus that whatever happens must be merit based but based on fair starting grounds. Only this way we can increase female share of seafarers from single digit percentage. It was clear that this was badly needed as there will be an increasing shortage of qualified seafarers on board going forward. Companies need dedicated programs from cadets upwards to work towards the goal. Sakura Kuma Siweon Carrie Park Kosuke Wada NANJAPPA MOODERA Smart Maritime Network

Exciting news to share! My friend Kok Song NG is embarking on an important journey - running for the presidency of Singapore! 🇸🇬 Singapore is an inspiring hub harmonizing and mediating between Western and Eastern cultures and is a guiding light globally. Its direction matters to us all. Why should Kok Song be at its helm? Here are three compelling reasons: 1. Independence & Commitment 2. Competence & Experience 3. Integrity & Reflection Let's support this journey towards a promising future for Singapore under Kok Song’s leadership.

Hey Global Visionaries! Embark on a journey of "International Expansion across Asia" with us on January 25th, 2024, at WTC 3 Sudirman at 16:30pm JKT Time. 🌏 Before setting sail into the vast Asian market, let's navigate the key attributes! Does your product/service dance to the tune of international expectations? Is it a superstar addressing global pain points, challenges, and problems? 🌟 Join R. Jeffry Anwar Sani as he chairs this expedition, and let Diana S. spill the secrets on expanding correctly, effectively, and efficiently. Do you have the right tools in your business backpack? Infrastructure, business model, marketing & sales channels – check! Can your product do the international cha-cha?  Have you done a proof of concept trial and error? This event is not just about expansion; it's about conquering the International Expansion Key Dynamics, both internal and external! 🚀 RSVP now and be part of this epic journey! See you there, Global Trailblazers! 🌐✨ If you are interested, please reach out to Jasper B. Bouman at jpb@egn.com. #GlobalExpansionQuest #BusinessAdventure #InternationalInsights #EGNIndonesia #Leadership #MakingEachOtherBetter #Networking #peergroup #peersupport

Countries interact with each other on two main levels, which help us understand how they manage their relationships. First, there’s the logical or rational level. This is where countries think carefully about how to work together to get what they need or want. This could be about making more money through trade, gaining political support, or ensuring safety through strategic alliances. Essentially, it’s all about making smart choices that help a country do well globally. Then, there’s the emotional level. This level is all about the feelings and personal connections of the leaders who run these countries. Sometimes, the personal feelings or the background of a leader can influence the decisions they make about other countries. This might mean they make choices based on their emotions rather than what’s logically best for their country. These decisions can be unpredictable and driven by how much power the leader has in their own country.

Last year I gave a talk about the need to build cultural intelligence within modern companies so that Asian American professionals and leaders feel more included and heard. As part of that talk I did a Q&A session and one of the audience members asked me if I’ve gone all-in on my eastern roots or if I’ve pieced together elements of both western and eastern leadership traits. I really appreciated this question because too often in social media topics feel one-sided. While in reality, conversations around things like race & identity are complex and nuanced. My answer to this gentleman was that having been born in Korea but being raised primarily in the US by immigrant parents, I’ve most definitely adopted both eastern and western traits in sales and in my personal life. The most relevant example I could think of was around how I’ve combined the western value of debate and challenging my prospects with my eastern value of being collaborative at the same time. In enterprise sales, elite sellers who are able to challenge prospects to think differently or to see the paradigm shift their product is supporting are the ones who succeed. This western challenger mentality, however, is made even more powerful through my ability to create harmony and collaboration backed by my eastern upbringing. Phrases like, “I’d like to challenge your thinking…” come from western influence. But that approach is softened by phrases like, “Ultimately we’d like to come to a decision that you feel good about and that helps you solve problems across multiple use cases and departments”. The western way of standing out & being outwardly opinionated married with the more eastern perspective of collaboration & harmony is a powerful combination. How can we meld eastern and western ideals in a way where today's business leaders can get the best of both worlds? #asianinsales #tech #b2b #sales #identity

Join my next free webinar, this time about the often overmystified phenomenon of "China speed". Whether you run a startup or head a multinational operation, you plan to get on board or get out of the way—you must know how “the China speed” works and why the world is adopting it so fast. In this FREE one-hour webinar, 20-year China resident intercultural executive coach Gábor Holch and virtual fellow passengers will run through: - Why international executives so often misunderstand the cultural challenges that await them while doing business in or with China - The importance of speed and agility in different business cultures, and China’s unique approach among them - A simple strategic model for decision-makers to customize business plans, services or products for China, or to compete with China - Stories and cases of executives and firms that missed the train, and others who are racing ahead at China speed Details and registration:

Talking with colleagues in the market led me to an unexpected thought: maybe systematic approach and success are not always connected, and sometimes they might even be opposites. Companies that focus on internal order handle risks better because they have everything under control and accounted for. However, high organization does not guarantee success and can sometimes replace actual activity. These companies are often more concerned with avoiding failure. On the other hand, significant achievements are more often made by those who lean towards decisive, bold, and swift actions and are ready to take risks. They think more about how to succeed. Leaders of such companies might seem chaotic, but this doesn’t stop them from getting results. Of course, all classifications of people and organizations are conditional. Yet, I still ask myself: are we aiming to do something and achieve results right now? Or are we planning to organize not-yet-achieved results in our minds and spreadsheets? P.S. This photo from the Stihia festival, which I was at a week ago and where I met a lot of interesting and creative people. This is an annual festival that takes place in Uzbekistan, in the town of Muynak, where there is now a cemetery of ships: https://stihia.org/