60 People, 60 Stories

Where it is all happening

By Larry Wang (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-30 08:33

"How many people from the Chinese mainland can you think of who are running multimillion dollar companies today in the US compared to here in China?"

This is my response when I was asked the question. "Why are there so many people from the mainland looking to return to China these days?"

Frankly, there is no comparison between the two.

When I set up our office in Shanghai 10 years ago, going and staying overseas was the objective of every person from the Chinese mainland who could find a way to go abroad and also afford to do it.Places like the US and Europe not only offered better career opportunities, but also a far better quality of life.

The trade-offs were huge though. Chinese mainland professionals overseas had to compete in less familiar environments and perform in their second language.As a result, rather than business and leadership roles, they were mainly directed into technical and engineering career tracks. Going abroad also meant separation, sometimes for many years, from close relationships.

That has all changed.Although many still want to study or gain some work experience overseas, they do not necessarily want to stay abroad. Here in China, returnees can leverage and apply 100 percent of their international training in a place that they know intimately. My recruitment firm sees the demand for their backgrounds from many middle to senior management positions that we fill with them for our multinational clients. To borrow an expression, it is in China now where they can "be all you can be".

On top of this, they can also pursue success while being near family and friends, and enjoying the quality of life that previously was only attainable overseas.So while money may not be the driving factor for every individual from the Chinese mainland, the chance for a better life certainly is. Increasingly, from the perspective of career and quality of life, China is the place where they are able to best achieve that.

Larry Wang is CEO and founder of Wang & Li Asia Resources, China's "2008 Recruitment Firm of the Year".