Susan on China

My friend Susan has a way of cutting through to the core of any issue. She just returned from a business trip to Beijing with these observations –

On public transportation – “As a New Yorker still waiting for the 2nd Ave subway, you’ll appreciate this – The Chinese completed 3 new subway lines in the last 5 years in Beijing alone! If there was ever any doubt in your mind that the Chinese would surpass us, let this set that to rest.”

On the auto industry – “The number of Chinese who own cars has risen exponentially in the past 5 years. They’re all so proud of this, and I’m thinking  – Wait a minute. This means that the majority of the drivers in China who are currently on the road have been driving for less than 5 years? That’s like having an entire country of teenage drivers!”

On the language – “Our kids need to learn Mandarin so they can talk to their Chinese bosses when they are cleaning their houses.”

On women in the workplace – “Four out of the five high level Chinese execs at the meeting were women, while I was the only women among the five American execs at the meeting – which is typical of the American firms we work with. I think something different is going on in China as far as women in the workplace, and I suspect it is one of the reasons they are doing so well.”
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