COMMERCIAL SUCCESS IN ASIA DOESN’T HAPPEN IN A STRAIGHT LINE

David Thomas, keynote speaker, thought leader and entrepreneur, equips business leaders with the knowledge and tools to navigate their business, brands and aspirations throughout the Asian region. David helps leaders develop their own strategy for success in the region through practical examples and solutions to cross-cultural challenges.

THE ART OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN ASIA

Choose your speaking topics

MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS IN ASIA DOESN’T HAPPEN IN A STRAIGHT LINE
DOING BUSINESS IN ASIA DOESN’T HAPPEN IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Find out how David Thomas can empower your audience or organisation to invest or do business in asia with confidence.

What Clients Say About David

Latest Blogs

The clock ticks for TikTok

Keeping the peace with ASEAN

Latest Podcasts

Qi Wang podcast

Qi Wang is the co-founder and CIO of MegaTrust Investment (HK), a boutique China manager specialising in investing in China A-shares (domestic Chinese stocks). He is also the creator of ‘Daily Reflection on China’, a financial newsletter offering local news and curated insights on Chinese stocks, including ADRs.

China Success
China Success
China Invest Interview Series: Episode 4 with Qi Wang
Loading
/
James Liu podcast

James Liu, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Neo-Criterion Capital Ltd. (“NCC”), has 27 years of research and investment experience in the China and Greater equity markets. He is one of the pioneers in the QFII investment after the scheme was launched in 2002. In 2014, he co-founded NCC and has managed assets for blue chip institutions from North America, Middle East and Asia Pacific, like university endowment fund, sovereign wealth fund, public pensions and etc. Prior to NCC, James was the Deputy Chairman and Co-CIO of APS, a Singapore-based asset manager, looking after China and Greater China equities.

China Success
China Success
China Invest Interview Series: Episode 3 with James Liu
Loading
/
Thomas Kwan Podcast

Thomas Kwan is CEO of Harvest Global Investments, responsible for the company’s business development and investment platform. He is also the Head of ESG of the parent Harvest Fund Management, leading sustainable investing initiatives of the group. Thomas is a veteran investor with over 20 years’ asset management experience in Asia.

China Success
China Success
China Invest Interview Series: Episode 2 with Thomas Kwan
Loading
/
Shifeng Ke interview

Shifeng Ke is the CEO, CIO and Portfolio Manager for the Open Door Group. For 14 years he was the senior portfolio manager for Martin Currie Investment Management Limited providing research and investment management services to its clients investing in the Greater China (including Taiwan) markets. Shifeng and his team managed a range of China strategies, including the China Fund Inc. (CHN US), Martin Currie China Hedge Fund, Taiwan Opportunities Fund and Martin Currie China A Share Fund with total assets under management reaching US$5.5 billion at the end of 2011. In November 2011, Shifeng co-founded the Open Door Group providing investment management services to foreign institutional and high-net worth clients investing in Greater China.

China Success
China Success
China Invest Interview Series: Episode 1 with Shifeng Ke
Loading
/
penfolds success story in china

Penfolds Wine enjoyed huge success in China as a result of excellent timing, a determined CEO, a sizeable marketing budget plus a bit of good luck. As a result, the Penfolds brand is regarded as being in the top 3 of the most successful Australian brands in China, and Penfolds labels have dominated the list of leading foreign wine purchases in China over many years. But how did this happen? Leading Australia-China wine expert and insider, Jeremy Oliver, tells the story of how Penfolds rode the wave of China’s demand for foreign wine and the lessons that can be learnt by future brand owners from their successes and failures.

China Success
China Success
Episode 10: The Penfolds success story in China
Loading
/

Heidi Dugan is a living, breathing and inspiring story of success in China over 26 years. An entrepreneur, actress and TV host with a viewership of over 6 million people, Heidi is a highly sought after ambassador and adviser to large and small foreign brands, especially in the health, wellness, food and beverage categories, and leverages her experience and influence across a wide range of platforms, both online and offline. 

China Success
China Success
‘Brand Heidi’ in China
Loading
/

One of Australia’s greatest success stories in China is the leading health supplements brand, Blackmores, which has inspired many other brands to follow in their footsteps. The principal architect of their success is Peter Osborne, a former senior trade commissioner with Austrade, who joined Blackmore’s in 2009 to head up their Asian operations with responsibility for 14 operating companies in Asia and a goal to launch in China. Peter generously shares his experiences in China, his lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and his thoughts on what it takes for foreign brands to succeed in China’s fast changing consumer markets.

China Success
China Success
Episode 8: Blackmores - an Australian success story in China
Loading
/

Despite leading the way in innovation and technology in the food supply chain industry, Greg’s approach to doing business in China still involves building trusted relationships and the importance of family.

Two Hands is a digital start-up that has reinvented food supply chains. Using blockchain and smart tagging technology it is changing the way the world thinks about and interacts with producers and the food they bring us.

China Success
China Success
Two Hands: A modern and traditional success story to winning in China
Loading
/

Uscom Ltd is an ASX listed medical technology company which was founded by Rob Phillips, a globally recognised innovator in the field of digital ultrasound. Rob has engineered the acquisition and integration of two international medical device companies and, for over the last 15 years, has been a pioneer in the development of China’s medical device market. China represents 60% of Uscom’s global business and is a major factor in the group’s plans for future expansion and growth. It is also an inspiring example of an Australian healthcare group which has enjoyed commercial success in China through persistence, excellence and innovation. In this latest episode, Rob talks about his own China journey, his experience of doing business in China over many years, and his views on the opportunities for foreign companies to tap into the rapid growth of China’s healthcare sector.

China Success
China Success
Episode 6: Uscom thrives in China's burgeoning healthcare sector
Loading
/

Canva is one of Australia’s leading design tech companies, raising over US$200 million at a valuation of USD $40 billion and placing it in a perfect position for global success. It’s well known as a popular graphic design platform, allowing users to design graphics for social media, presentations, posters, and other visual content. As part of its vision for global expansion, Canva’s major challenge is to adapt their platform for new market. In this episode, we learn how Canva has successfully localised their platform for the Chinese market which created some unique and unexpected challenges. 

China Success
China Success
Episode 5: Canva's Hyperlocalization strategy for entering the China market
Loading
/

Do big international brands get a free pass when entering the China market? Is your international presence enough to be successful or do you need to rethink and develop a new strategy for China? In this episode, we’ll talk about how an international household brand like Nike responded to local consumer feedback to develop a unique approach in China.

China Success
China Success
Episode4: Nike’s Branding Strategy to capture the China market - Revealed!
Loading
/

Mackas Australian Black Angus Beef was established in 1884, a proudly family-owned business now into its fourth generation, led by Robert and his children. Mackas uses some of the world’s best genetics to breed quality, grass-fed, grain-finished Angus Verified cattle which has captured the high standards required by the Chinese market since 2016. Recent geo-political developments have slowed Mackas down in recent times but he remains committed to the China market and optimistic about the future. Tune in to hear more about Robert’s views on the past, present and future of the Mackas business in China and his commitment to crossing the ‘Nine Bends Bridge’.

China Success
China Success
Episode 3: How Mackas are navigating the Nine Bends Bridge into China
Loading
/

Nutreat is a leading supplier of Australian sourced nutritional products to China’s senior living market, securing a licensing agreement to sell directly into aged care centres in Beijing and delivering delicious, nutrient-rich supplement powder and snacks for individuals who may need protein supplements, energy, vitamins and minerals in between or with meals. In this episode, Matt Weston talks about his own China story, going back to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and shares his strategy to leverage his long held business relationships and trusted networks to take a stake in China’s fast growing aged care sector.

China Success
China Success
Episode 2: Nutreat’s fast track entry into China’s booming aged care sector
Loading
/
A.H. Beard success in china

A.H. Beard is a 120 year old family business and a highly respected manufacturer of high quality bedding and mattresses in Australia which they export all over the world. Their business in China has exploded with over 50 showrooms and a local team who have seen the benefits of competing on quality and value rather than price. A.H. Beard mattresses are now selling on the ground in China for an eye-watering price of $70,000 each, making it a fabulous example of “China Success”

China Success
China Success
Episode 1: The story behind A.H Beard’s massive success in China.
Loading
/

OUR CLIENTS​