Teachers and Students

Everyone knows that teachers are revered in Chinese society. This tradition is thousands of years old and continues today.

In search of investors and consulting clients I have been teaching at Shanghai JiaoTong University's mid-career executive training programs for the past six months. The classes are organized around different themes ranging from Real Estate to Finance to Private Equity to Innovation. I have been teaching a 2 day section once a month for a number of different programs.

Once I become the teacher of these executives in the 30s and 40s the teacher-student relationship is "fixed" for life. It is a very strong bond complete with respect and deference. Within this relationship nearly anything becomes possible.

Some of my students have become investors. Some have become clients and of course most have become friends.

The majority of these students are mid-career private enterprise entrepreneurs. They are seeking information on developing their companies - particularly for financing.

It's a great prospecting tool 1