Asialink Leaders - three alumni share their Asia Capability journey
15 March 2021: Leaders need to navigate complexities and possibilities in new markets, understand the nuances of doing business in the region, and spot opportunities and risks – today and into the future. Hear three Leaders alumni share their transformational journey to success with Asia.
With over 25 years of history, the Asialink Leaders Program is the flagship program enabling Leaders to do just that. It offers a transformational experience for emerging and established leaders across all sectors, bringing together a diverse cohort to engage with thought leaders, Asia experts, and each other.
With 900 Asialink Leaders Alumni, many in leading positions in business, arts, politics and the not-for-profit sector, stories of insight and impact from the program are many and rich. Here, three recent Leaders Alumni share how being part of the Asialink Leaders program has powered their ability to engage effectively with Asia.
Joe Egan, Executive Vice President of Global Solutions at Nelnet International, joined the Program with substantial experience growing business in Asia. Still, Joe says “I knew there was much we could to do improve our engagement with Asia."
The Asialink Leaders Program provided Nelnet with a comprehensive toolkit to succeed with their expansion in the region. Joe utilised the Leaders Program to intentionally grow his own cultural capabilities and enhance his organisation’s. He is now a respected champion of Cultural Intelligence across Nelnet, driving their success across Asia. “It really is about understanding the importance of culture in society and in business in Asia. You need to view your engagements through the eyes of your Asian counterparts. In order to do that, you need to understand the different context and values – things you didn’t know that you didn’t know, which is what the Program helps you uncover."
For Angela Yao, Senior Analyst, Strategy and Insights, at Invest Victoria, the journey was somewhat reversed initially.
"Coming from China to Australia, I am always passionate and active in connecting my two countries, and the Leaders Program was a great chance to pursue this further. What I learnt was to have a bigger perspective on Asia, and I got deep insight into the importance of Soft Power in Asia-Australia engagement.”
Angela has been involved in a range of influential activities such as President Xi Jinping’s visit to Tasmania and believes in the power of economic diplomacy through business connections to strengthen relationships between countries and people. She also found that the Asialink Leaders Program broadened her capabilities across cultures in Asia, which is critical to her career aspirations.
Craig Dower, CEO and Managing Director at QANTM IP, joined the Asialink Leaders Program with over two decades of experience across Asia under his belt. With the aim to keep current with the rapidly changing region, and a desire to deepen Asia-engagement among Australia’s business leaders, his take-away was surprising yet inspiring for him:
“The growing theme for me - which started in March and continues to build (thanks, in part, to Noel Pearson) - is that Australia's (future) greatness is inherently dependent on integrating and amplifying our identity: 65,000-year-old Indigenous cultures, British colonial heritage, our modern multi-cultural successes, and our geographic and cultural connections to Asia. If we can bring all of this together in a modern context, built around common values, we can stop looking inward and start to more effectively engage and project ourselves with greater confidence onto a global stage.”
Through this exclusive Program, Asialink Leaders have the opportunity to replace uncertainty with confidence, myths with reality, and a build a global mindset with Asia at its core. It equips Leaders to build lasting connections with key stakeholders, navigate the complexity and possibilities of new business models, new markets and next generation partnering in Asia.
If you are interested in what the Asialink Leaders Program can do for you, your organisation and your sector, please connect with us here. We are delighted to be able to offer two places for exceptional Asia-engaged leaders in the not-for-profit sector, through the generous Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Asialink Fellowships. For the second year running, Asialink is also providing a First Nations Fellowship. We invite individuals and organisations to match this fellowship –please get in touch to explore.