Since I arrived China to work for my country at Expo Shanghai 2010, I have been able to live  amazing experiences, progressed my career working in the agricultural and food sector for the last 8 years (I went back to Chile in between to work in the banking sector), and developed great friendships along the way. I have also been lucky to travel through different provinces of China, whether for business, work or leisure, and come across different realities within this fabulous country, getting a little closer to the culture, hopefully learned and learning from it every day, and witnessed how this nation is changing over the last 10 years. An example of this witnessing has been the appearance of multi-purpose technologies such as Wechat, with numerous impacts in daily life, from social to work reasons, considering online payment, transportation, study groups, and practically any major area in which one has a need…probably can find a starting point in this application to solve it. Interesting is how Wechat has incorporated different features of many apps and created a unique ecosystem, and can illustrate the fast evolution and reach of new technologies. Another has been the growth of imported foods in many categories and the development of local ones, such as excellent quality blueberries produced in Yunnan.

At Expo Shanghai with country pavilion team,

former Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Republic of Chile

During this last year I have also been able to initiate a long desire: to start DNF Pacific Group, an agricultural business development agency with focus on products from South America to China. Within categories that we have developed are fresh fruits and dried fruits, including cherries, blueberries, grapes, plums, raisins and citrus as a first stage.

Imported products: arrived to China

We also provide specialized services in Marketing for the adaptation and promotion of products to China and professional market research reports, based on multiple data collection, digging and mining (using Big Data). This year we will be participating in the 4th edition of CIIE, China International Import Exhibition, to be held in Shanghai during November, which is a important motivation and milestone for DNF and partners. At the same time, we are preparing the last details for exports of other food categories to the market.

Participating in Specialized Business events

As consumption grows in China, so do the opportunities. But also the challenges given the high competitiveness and quality requirements for imported products, and due to uncertainty caused by events such as COVID 19 that have disrupted world trade, affecting international business from logistics, operations at origin and destination, to changes in the consumer’s necessities. On the other hand, although many want to enter and develop this vast market, doing so without taking care of proper precautions could result in a considerable blow to business efforts and a costly adventure, as it could happen in any other market. In that sense, we put our experience, business savvy and commercial networks available to facilitate business development in a safer, accessible and more efficient way, thus reducing risks, by paying attention to the real requirements of the market, the real possibilities of providing the appropriate product, and lowering communications problems, trying to add value both at origin and destination through personalized and technical advice.

Regarding this class, Business Strategy, surely will demand significant personal and group effort to carry it out successfully. The challenge is not minor since it means putting into practice the knowledge acquired throughout the program: in marketing, finance, legal, human resources dimensions… in short, applying the core of the program with a comprehensive vision of it.

Professor Mark Lee

To me the course is very motivating because we will have “two big challenges” where to apply the knowledge. On the one hand, the Major Research project in which we can choose a company of our interest, subject to the approval of the professor, and with the exigency set in three parts: Organizational Analysis, Market and Financial Analysis and a Five-year Strategic Plan. The analysis and the proposed strategy will entail much reasoning and internal group debate; this also opens the possibility of learning not only from the expert guidance of Professor Lee and his academic staff, but also from the points of view of classmates.

On the other hand, the Business Simulation Game. The latter will theoretically have us manage a company for ten years and competing against other companies in the athletic footwear industry.

On class screenshot of Business Simulation Game

I think given the level of detail and number of variables, it is a highly complex game if you want to face it with a real desire to participate and learn. From decisions that impact product segments, prices and sales channels, production, salaries and human resources, to name a few, we must consider to manage our company and make our products more competitive and desirable for the market, aim to exceed the expectations of the board and public opinion, and taking into account how the industry evolves in the medium and long term as the periods go by.

With Classmates of TWU MBA, GS14

This is a very interesting and exciting way to rehearse on how to run a business; one that can develop further our analytical and strategist skills, and prepare us better for the real business world, whatever we undertake or wherever we work in the future.

I wish each of my classmates success and good learning in the process of this course, and may we enjoy to the fullest the few classes left as we approach to the end of this great experience that this MBA program has been.

All the best!

Simón Brantes C.

July 27th, 2021