What if one conversation could transform your business? For one European founder, it just took one week to go from exploring the Chinese market to setting up an office in Shanghai. That’s the kind of rapid transformation Catherine Duan has to her name. As founder of China Tech Fellowship and cross-border platform Puzzled, Catherine has built a career bridging the innovation ecosystems of China and Europe. She is a Chinese national educated in the UK and based between Shanghai and Berlin, and therefore, she understands both worlds.
We hosted Catherine Duan in our Leadership Spotlight Episode 3, where she shared all about her mindset, achievements, thought process and insights for leaders. Read on to discover everything discussed in the podcast.
- First-hand experience beats internet research when exploring new markets.
- Authenticity is non-negotiable in building trust across cultures.
- Human connections are the skill that transfers across every industry.
- Start with purpose, not technology, when building AI solutions.
- You can design the life you want through the choices you make.
The Power of First-Hand Experience
If you ask any European founder about entering the Asian market, you’ll hear these things: language barriers, unfamiliar platforms, and a general sense that breaking in will be “really, really hard.” But what we hear from Catherine is a whole different story.
Through her China Tech Fellowship – five-day deep dives into Chinese innovation hubs, she discovered new perceptions. In the live discussion, Catherine said: “One of the founders who joined our trip, who actually just happened in September, has already been discussing with a few authorities as well as companies to set up an office in Shanghai. And that happened in one week.”
According to her, once you have one or two key contacts who understand both ecosystems, doors don’t just open, they fly open.
The One Skill That Transfers Across Every Industry
Catherine’s resume is diverse; she has worked in different industries, including space tech, fashion, vehicles, and now tech innovation. But one thing she found common during all this professional experience is the need for human connections.
She also served in human resources for 7 years, and through this, Catherine learned that the real value she brings to any industry isn’t technical expertise, but the ability to connect people and facilitate collaboration.
Importance of Authenticity in Business
When Catherine is asked about her core leadership principles, she says:
While it may sound basic to others, she believes in cross-cultural communication and partnership building, and authenticity is the foundation on which everything else rests. She’s seen too many failures because the leaders in place couldn’t maintain authenticity due to pressure. In contrast, many successes that came from staying true to core values even when it would have been easier to adopt.
Catherine’s other global leadership traits that she finds useful:
- Adaptability — essential when entering different markets
- Clarity — critical when leading teams
- Authenticity — always first
AI in Business – Balancing Efficiency with Human Values
Being someone who was deeply embedded in the tech ecosystem, Catherine has seen AI agents proliferate across industries. And the pitch is always the classic one: efficiency, automation, and cost savings. While Catherine acknowledges the benefits of AI in business she is also aware of the other side.
She gives us the example of AI in human interaction. Says “Nowadays, so many companies use the agent to receive the calls from customers and solve the problems and so on.” It sounds very efficient but if it’s just about attending the calls and not solving the problems of customer (they are most likely to have) then it’s not fulfilling the purpose.
Top Industries for Europe-Asia Collaboration
Now comes the real question: what are the top industries for Europe-Asia collaboration, according to Catherine? Here are the three sectors with particularly strong potential for the Europe-Asia partnership according to her:
1. AI and Machine Learning
She noted that most top AI researchers and developers have Asian backgrounds but lack access to European founder networks. European founders are increasingly coming to Asia not to explore markets but to find technical co-founders and build teams. She observed: “A lot of them are actually coming to Asia to scout for good employees or good founding partners.”
2. Life Science and MedTech
Catherine has consulted for medical device companies scaling in Asia with products that don’t have European equivalents yet. She says, “There is a huge gap, but also means a huge opportunity to come in the next few years.”
3. Robotics, Especially Humanoid
She says the complex and lengthy supply chains that use countless components and suppliers, the humanoid robotics demands collaboration. Catherine emphasizes: “I think collaboration is definitely the key in this industry.”
Final Words – What Founders Can Take Away
Catherine’s work is an example for every global leader that cross-border success goes beyond basic tactics and market data. She emphasizes first-hand experience, says the internet research has limits and nothing replaces the impact of being there, meeting people and understand the market from inside.
For global leadership specifically in the cross cultural contexts, she urges the leaders to stay authentic, adapt your approach but don’t compromise on who you are. Lastly, if you’re turning into global business or building AI agents, your purpose should remain the same: serve real human needs.
FAQs
Catherine’s advice is to prioritize first-hand experience over internet research. Attend programs like the China Tech Fellowship, industry events, or trade missions that provide curated introductions.
While Catherine’s example of a founder setting up a Shanghai office in one week is impressive, timelines vary based on your industry, preparation, and the strength of your initial connections.
Not necessarily. While language skills help, Catherine emphasizes that having the right connections who understand both ecosystems is more valuable than language fluency alone.
Relying solely on internet research and secondhand information. Catherine consistently sees founders with preconceptions about Asian markets that dissolve once they actually visit and meet people face-to-face.
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