Between Meetings Marian Danko

In a recent installment of Between Meetings, I had the privilege of interviewing Ken Xu, a Partner at CMC Capital Partners. Our conversation delved into the formative years of the VC industry in China, his experiences at Gobi Partners, and the pivotal decisions that startup founders must navigate in a post-COVID world.
Takeaways:
Back in the early 2000s, 75% of Gobi's startups were from BeijingThe effects of COVID-19 will stick around longer than we thinkCMC Capital Partners mainly invests in ChinaIf you're a foreign company wanting funding in China, be clear about what you want to leverage from ChinaTo succeed in China, have locals on your teamKen joined CMC Capital in 2018 and serves as a partner. While at CMC, he has made investments in Clobotics, Revobit, and TAGE. Before joining the Firm, Ken served as the Managing Partner of Gobi Partners China and managed the operation of the fund. During this period, his successful investment included: Lingtu Software, Madhouse Inc., CSDN, Hanchen DT, Link Motion, 36kr, etc.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
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Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Daydou, Partner at EY Fabernovel, in a recent episode of Between Meetings. We discussed various topics, including her childhood dream of visiting the Shaolin Temple, the valuable lessons she learned while running two startups, her dedication and hard work at Fabernovel, as well as the challenges that international companies encounter in China and much more.
Takeaways:
What kept me in China was the feeling that I was in the center of everything fascinating happening in the world.What made me start to feel like an entrepreneur was connecting with other entrepreneurs through Startup Grind.Being an entrepreneur totally changed my life.Get into action: 85% action, 15% reflection.Get it done because you learn as you are doing.Take care of yourself: you are the first asset of the company.One of the pain points multinationals are trying to solve is localizing appropriately for the Chinese market.Another challenge for multinationals is keeping up with China's speed.China teams have more autonomy than before.There is less trust between China teams and global teams.Multinationals are trying to derisk the non-China business connected to China.Rachel Daydou is a driven, authentic, and multicultural C-level executive with 10+ years of experience building innovative businesses in China. My responsibilities have covered management, sales, and marketing in various industries covering F&B distribution, Fashion retail, Digital Marketing, and Education.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter
Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

On the latest episode of Between Meetings, I had the pleasure of interviewing Oscar Sum. He discussed his international background and shared his journey from being a dentist in the UK to founding a tech startup in China. Oscar delved into the challenges of dentistry and candidly shared the mistakes he made as a first-time entrepreneur.
Takeaways:
Understanding science and practical application are two different skillsI sought a challenge and chose a different path than my peers in dentistryThe dental industry has been slow in adopting technological advancementsChina faces a significant shortage in the number of dentistsPrototyping must be tested with the actual market rather than just a group of friendsIt was surprising to discover how challenging people find using technologyDr. Oscar Sum graduated from one of the world’s top dental programs at King’s College London before moving to Shanghai to work in the private sector & becoming the Dental Director of Global Healthcare China. He is a pioneer in AI dental care having gained a MSc in the field of Dental AI and creating his own company Aidencare.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter
Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

During a recent episode of Between Meetings, I engaged in a captivating conversation with Scott Pollack, delving into his early experiences in Asia, his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, the transformative shift from being a player to a coach, and his ongoing role as a CEO and leadership team coach.
Takeaways:
One of the takeaways from my early career was learning how a laptop can travel. It's a mentality.I decided to transition from being a player to a coach to have a meaningful impact on people I can relate to.I don't think coaching has changed in the past years. What has changed is the perception of coaching.A coach is not someone better than you; it's about making you better.Almost 30 years of strategy, business development, sales, marketing, product and consulting experience primarily in Internet, digital media, telecom, technology and information services. Successful at developing businesses in the United States and Asia. Holder of an MBA/JD from UCLA, and a BA in Economics from UC Berkeley. Fully conversational in Mandarin with basic Chinese reading proficiency.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter
Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

In a recent episode of Between Meetings, Mark Bawtree discussed his journey towards sustainability, the lessons he learned while running his startups, the challenges of ESG, and how Akila is aiding its clients in making data-driven decisions.
Takeaways:
Renewable energy sources have increasingly targeted the local market from a sales perspective, whereas they were primarily manufactured for the international market in the pastThe potential for profit in the local market has led to a faster adoption of renewablesRather than focusing solely on financial metrics, businesses, and investors are now also taking into account the environmental impact of their operations, as reflected in carbon footprint calculationsThe individuals responsible for collecting data on-site for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports may not be personally invested in or concerned about ESG issuesA hands-on technical sales professional with a focus on sustainability, energy optimisation, and clean energy solutions from hardware to software. With over 20 years of Sales, Project Management, and Key Account Management. Starting in IT and data centers, shortly after arriving in Shanghai moved into renewable energy solutions product development, design, and implementation.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter


Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.

I recently hosted Thomas Knoop on the latest episode of Between Meetings. During the interview, Thomas shared his experiences of doing business in China, including the changes he has seen in the business landscape over the past decade, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the transformation in his client base. 
Takeaways:
Doing business in China requires a different approach compared to western countriesInnovation is key in a rapidly developing market like ChinaI prioritize understanding my customers' needs and turning them into achievable business goalsLocal companies may prefer to work with a vendor based in China.The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards cloud-based solutionsCustomer service via messaging has become more popular than phone callsThomas Knoop is an operational and pragmatic senior executive with broad experience in all aspects of IT, Management in Customer Contact, eCommerce, Service, and CRM/ERP environments.
Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.
🎙 Follow the host Marian Danko on LinkedIn.
YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter
Subscribe to the podcast via other services to be notified when a new episode is released. We are on WeChat Channel, bilibili, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.