Part 1 of 2: Provocative China Podcast presents a conversation with Ken Wilcox, former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank and the author of The China Business Conundrum: Ensure That "Win-Win" Doesn't Mean Western Companies Lose Twice. Listen to Ken's firsthand trials and tribulations trying to set up a joint venture in China between SVB and the CCP. His experience is fascinating—and sometimes maddening—filled with unexpected assertions from Chinese counterparts right out of the Art of War playbook, highlighting key cultural differences and, as Ken puts it, deeply convoluted negotiations that expose our Western naivety regarding doing business in China.

No one in China has read the book "Getting To Yes," so if you are armed with these tactics and strategies, YOU WILL FAIL IN CHINA!

In our conversation, Ken dives into the struggles Western businesses face in China, from the risks of technology transfer to navigating the morality and ethics of Chinese business negotiations. He also shares some lessons he learned from his missteps along the way. Whether you're in business or just curious about U.S.-China relations, this episode is packed with honest, down-to-earth advice from someone who's been through it all.

Part 1

00:00:08 Introduction

00:01:19 Perceptions of China in 2008 vs. Today

00:03:08 Lectures from Chinese Counterparts

00:10:24 Learning Chinese Language and Culture

00:23:16 Inadvertent Technology Transfer

Connect with Ken
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenwilcoxsvb/

Buy Ken’s book:
https://www.amazon.com/China-Business-Conundrum-Win-Win-Companies/dp/1394294166

Visit Gene’s author website:
https://www.provocativechina.com/

Buy Gene’s books:

https://www.amazon.com/Gene-J.-Hsu/e/B092FYDCN7

Hi, I’m Gene, a stay-at-home dad raising my son, Jayden, in Orange County, where we meet many kids from China. Watching their interactions made me realize the importance of language and cultural awareness in friendships.

That’s why I created the What Do You Say To A Friend From China book series!
📚 Introducing: My First Mandarin Chinese Language & Cultural Guide!

This book is a fun and engaging way to introduce kids to Mandarin and Chinese culture through the adventures of Jayden, an all-American boy, and his best friend, Evan, from China.

🌟 What you’ll discover inside:
✅ Basic Mandarin Chinese words & phrases for kids
✅ Cultural insights that shape Chinese thinking & behavior
✅ A heartwarming friendship story that fosters understanding

📅 Launch Date: March 18, 2025! 🚀 Pre-order coming soon – maybe even NOW as you're watching this!

Subscribe and follow on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@chinamyth

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @ChinaMyth for:
✅ What Do You Say To A Friend From China video books & lessons
✅ Mandarin Storytime – translated readings of famous children’s books
✅ Fun & educational cultural insights!

👉 SUBSCRIBE NOW & share with parents who want to help their kids connect with friends from China! 🇨🇳✨
#learnchinese #chineseculture #mandarin #chinesecharacters #learnmandarinonline #chinesestoriesforkids #multiculturalkidsbooks #chinesehistory

The world's first Mandarin-Chinese language and cultural guide for learners of any age, but especially for kids.

Jayden has a friend, Evan, who's from China. Discover everything Evan has taught Jayden about Chinese culture and how he became his best friend. He'll also share a bit of Chinese history from their perspective because this also influences Chinese thinking.

This guide is not a textbook. Instead, Jayden aims to provide additional cultural understanding to create a fun Chinese learning journey. He will explain what Evan and his parents and grandparents think when they say or do strange and unusual things. Jayden will teach you essential Chinese words, phrases, and cultural nuances beyond their translations so you can learn what to say to a friend from China.

Watch free video books, Mandarin Storytime lessons, and more:
www.youtube.com/@chinamyth

#MandarinForKids #LearnChinese #ChineseForBeginners #LearnMandarin #ChineseCultureForKids #UnderstandingChina

What Should Danny Do? is an innovative, interactive book that empowers kids with the understanding that their choices will shape their days, and ultimately their lives into what they will be.

It is a #1 Best Seller on Amazon with almost 20,000+ FIVE STAR ratings, and now it has been translated into Chinese and read it both languages.

For more Mandarin Storytime Videos and What Do You Say To A Friend From China books:
https://www.provocativechina.com/

#childrensocialskills #beginningchinese #storytime #mandarinchinese #learnchinesefree #learnchinese #kidschinese

What do you say to a friend from another culture when playing together? How can remembering what our parents say help us enjoy our activities more? When Jayden goes to the zoo with his best friend from China, they discover new shared experiences. Their customs and habits aren't always similar, yet they have the best time of their lives.

So, what will you say next time playing with a friend from another culture?

This book is available on Amazon, Kindle, and coming soon on Audible.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9YNJ2W8 (What Do You Say series)

Little Blue Truck is a joyful cacophony of animal and truck sounds that will have youngsters beeping and quacking—and begging for one more go-round! Little Blue Truck is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.

But, how well does it translate into Mandarin Chinese?

Watch, listen, and learn with the latest MANDARIN STORYTIME where we curate imagination-provoking stories with Mandarin Chinese translations for all of our cross-cultural kiddos.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pWVaIbZYU0U

#aliceschertle #littlebluetruck #storytime #kidsbooks #mandarinchinese #culturalstories #learnchinesefree #learnchinese #Mandarin #friendshipbooks

Has the nature of Guanxi changed in the post-COVID era of doing business in China?

Thirteen years ago, my personal driver in Shanghai invited my wife and me to a lavish, relatively speaking, dinner party to celebrate my birthday with his relatives. This dinner celebration is unusual for any Western leader assigned a driver in China because these drivers usually lack the Guanxi or cultural incentive to suggest such a gesture to their clients. In the Chinese hierarchical system, the higher-level person usually organizes and pays for these occasions.

Why did my driver, XiaoHe (小何), insist on this overture, and what were the reciprocal personal benefits, referred to 利益 (Lìyì), in Chinese?

#ChinaBusiness #ChineseCulture #Covid19 #Psychology #Communications #China #CCP #USChina #Tradewar #Geopolitics

http://provocativechina.com/

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is an all-time classic picture book, from generation to generation, it has sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds.

But, how well does it translate into Mandarin Chinese?

Watch, listen, and learn with the latest MANDARIN STORYTIME where we curate imagination-provoking stories with Mandarin Chinese translations for all of our cross-cultural kiddos.

Watch Video: https://youtu.be/A4ynsLmP_ew

#ericcarle #hungrycaterpillar #storytime #kidsbooks #mandarinchinese #culturalstories #learnchinesefree #learnchinese #Mandarin