Profile: Dylan Campbell
GLP Shanghai, 2008
Last Blog: Shanghai
March 21, 2008 (Friday), Shanghai
Environmental policy is something that you normally hear very little about in China, but the role that businesses play in preserving the planet was a frequent topic on this week's company site visits. Each business' response to China's pollution problem was unique and strongly reflected the company's goals and priorities. The most fascinating strategy I encountered was that of Ingersoll Rand, whose air-compressor manufacturing plant has turned energy efficiency into a powerful selling tool. Salesmen at the factory are trained to do on-site inspections for factories and then identify ways in which Ingersoll Rand compressors can save the company on fixed electricity costs. The plants are happy to be saving energy, Ingersoll Rand is happy to sell them the products needed to do so, and the outcome is good for the environment as well. General Motors employs a similar method, but focuses its efforts internally. By maintaining clean shop floors and designing efficient assembly lines with a low defect rate, GM is cutting its own energy costs significantly. Baosteel, for its part, is committed to preserving green spaces on its company's facilities. Overall, it is fascinating to see companies meeting and exceeding regulations set by the government in a place where loose laws once bred nothing but trouble.
Blog 2: Shanghai
March 18, 2008 (Tuesday), Shanghai
Nanjing Road is like Times Square - squared. Waking up in the mornings and looking out the window of my hotel room, I witnessed everything that Shanghai seems to be simultaneously promoting and preserving. Tall skyscrapers piercing the atmosphere remind me of how quickly the city is developing, both vertically and horizontally. The obscenely large advertisements reflect the consumer society that China has become and the implications that trend has on global business. And lastly, there are the people practicing Tai Chi in the city square, reliving their heritage every morning at dawn. From 17 floors up, you feel a definite distance between yourself and this amazing city, but walk down stairs, step outside, and you immediately become a part of Shanghai. The people, the noise, the stores, the air. The energy of the place hits you and it doesn't let go.
Blog 1: Shanghai
March 4, 2008 (Tuesday), Los Angeles
The upcoming trip to Shanghai means something different to each person in my GLP class. For some it is a homecoming, for others it is their first time out of the United States. For me it will be my first time in Asia, and as each day goes by I get more excited about everything this trip has to offer.
In Global Leadership class I have heard so many stories about China – from entrepreneurs, professors, and even the Chinese Ambassador himself – that I feel like I've practically been there before. But I'm trying to go in without any preconceived notions of what Shanghai will be like and what I will get out of it.
I think that when you prepare too much for something, you sacrifice figuring certain things out as you go. If I had studied the language and the culture intensively prior to this first trip, then this trip to Shanghai would just be an affirmation of things I already knew. I want to learn about China from experience, not from books or movies. I am optimistic that this spring break will be a great introduction to Asia and I look forward to blogging more about Shanghai as I discover it.