Katherine Melchior Ray, Vice President Marketing of Tommy Hilfiger Japan, gave a lecture about creating a career across cultural extreme.
Currently, many businessmen work and do business with foreigners. For example, American businessman deals business with Chinese company, or American workers work in Asian companies. Katherine mentioned that when working in the organization especially working in global organization; the best way to create myself as well as my own brand is marketing myself through my honest awareness. In the other word means I have to know what I like and I want to do and then create myself through my interested. The most important thing is being brave to take a risk from outside since the more taking risks means the more we learning and gaining knowledge.
She also pointed out that doing business with different country, businessman needs to know and understand local cultures as well as business practice of that country. For instance, businessman needs to know how to greeting customers, business partners, or colleges across cultures such as bowing, kissing, shaking hands, and so on.
Personally, I really like this lecture because this lecture is very useful for me. After I graduate from Master of International Management (MIM) program from Portland State University, I want to work in global leading companies such as P&G, Unilever, or Exxon Mobil. If I got a job from those companies, I have to coordinate with foreigners. Thus, it is important to know how to deal with them. Furthermore, I will understand how to create myself, make myself to be a value resource within the organization, and maintain my value.
All things considerate, this lecture is not only teaching me how to deal business or work with foreigners, but also making me understand and realize how to create myself to be a good human capital for the companies and maintain my core competencies in the long term.
Jaraswan Jarasjaruwan or Pear is a full-time MIM student. She got a Bachelor’s of Science from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. After she graduated, she worked as an educational consultant in Thailand for 2 years. Pear chose to study international business at Portland State University because she is interested in the business field and also the reputation of the university. Currently, Pear is studying Chinese as a third language. Also, she will choose Global Marketing as her specialization in the Master of International Management program.
