The Negotiation

In this episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley sits down with Elysia Guo, a rising voice in China’s influencer economy and an entrepreneur who has built a unique career at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and digital influence. Elysia shares her journey from a strategy consultant to becoming a full-time content creator and brand collaborator, offering an inside look into China’s fa...

In this episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley welcomes back Olivia Plotnick, Founder of Wai Social and one of the most insightful voices on Chinese consumer culture and digital marketing. Olivia recently embarked on a remarkable journey across 32 cities in China over 60 days, immersing herself in the country’s diverse regional cultures and uncovering how people live, shop, and connect with...

In this episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley welcomes back Crystal Tai. Crystal is a journalist, cultural strategy researcher, and Managing Partner at Nüora Global Advisors. Formerly Senior Managing Editor at Jing Daily, her work explores how changing values + consumer behaviors, and social movements shape business trends and global markets.  In this episode, Crystal shares her insights o...

In this episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley sits down with David Perez-Des Rosiers, Director of the Beijing Chapter of the Canada-China Business Council (CCBC). The CCBC has been a cornerstone of Canada–China business relations for over four decades, supporting Canadian enterprises as they navigate opportunities and challenges in China. David shares his perspective on the chamber’s work,...

In this episode of The Negotiation , we are joined by Nicole Lin , Business Development Country Manager at Tmall Global . This conversation comes ahead of the China Cross-Border Summit in Los Angeles on October 16, 2025 , co-hosted by WPIC and Tmall Global. Nicole shares how Tmall Global is helping brands of all sizes access China’s enormous consumer market without requiring a local entity, explai...

In this episode of The Negotiation , we welcome Emmanuel Poupelle , WPIC Marketing + Technologies’ Director of Growth for Europe, to explore how European lifestyle and health brands can succeed in China’s fast-changing consumer landscape. Originally recorded as a webinar, there were so many incredible insights brought to the discussion that we felt it was well worth publishing as a podcast as well...

In this episode of The Negotiation , we speak with Clementine Pippa Ebel , a cultural strategist and expert on China’s rapidly growing outdoor sports market . Clementine works for KAILAS , one of China’s top domestic outdoor gear brands, and brings unique insight into how Chinese consumers are embracing trail running , hiking , camping , and the broader Gorpcore lifestyle . We explore how outdoor...

In Part 2 of our interview with EIU economist Tianchen Xu, we turn our focus to the Chinese consumer. Is spending recovering? What’s happening in the housing market? And are the big headline sales events like 618 masking deeper issues in consumer confidence? Tianchen walks us through the mixed signals emerging from China’s domestic economy, from retail sales rebounds to the drag of the property se...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Tianchen Xu, Senior Economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit, we dig into China’s macro performance in the first half of 2025—and what the future may hold. Tianchen analyzes Q1’s headline 5.4% growth, discusses why the London trade truce between the US and China matters, and highlights what Western media narratives often miss when reporting on China’s economy...

In this episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley welcomes back WPIC CEO Jacob Cooke to share insights around two pivotal developments for global consumer brands: the framework trade agreement between the US and China, and China’s massive 618 shopping festival. Jacob breaks down the implications of the new framework agreement between the US and China, explains how tariff policies are shifting...

In this episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley sits down with Kevin Xu, founder of the bilingual newsletter Interconnected , which offers sharp analysis on the intersection of technology, investing, and geopolitics between the United States and China. Kevin has become one of the most thoughtful and trusted voices interpreting Chinese tech trends. Together, they explore the evolving AI lands...

In Part 2 of this special episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley continues the conversation with Dr. Chui Chui Tan, founder of Beyō Global. This episode focuses on practical examples from Chui Chui’s work with global brands, including Spotify and Bumble, and what it really takes to launch successfully in new markets. Chui Chui unpacks how Spotify adapted its product strategy for dozens of i...

In Part 1 of this two-part episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley welcomes Dr. Chui Chui Tan, founder of Beyō Global and a leading voice in international growth strategy. With over 16 years of experience helping brands like Spotify, Bumble, and Google expand into new markets, Dr. Tan shares how cultural insight—not just translation—can make or break global product launches. This conversatio...

In this special French-language edition of The Negotiation , we welcome Emmanuel Poupelle , WPIC’s newly appointed Director of Growth , for a conversation hosted by Charles Lavoie , VP of Marketing at WPIC. Emmanuel brings years of on-the-ground experience in China’s retail and e-commerce industry. He has now joined WPIC to help more European brands expand into the dynamic markets of China, Japan,...

In this episode of The Negotiation , host Todd Embley is joined by Mark Kruger, a Senior Fellow at the Yicai Research Institute, Centre for International Governance Innovation, and the University of Alberta’s China Institute. Formerly with the Bank of Canada for three decades, Mark now resides in Shanghai and writes regularly for Yicai Global, where he offers clear, data-driven analysis on China’s...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Rui Ma on The Negotiation podcast, we explore the evolving consumer tech and innovation landscape in China beyond AI. Rui shares her analysis on the rise of local life services, humanoid robotics, and China's dominance in electric vehicles—highlighting the factors propelling growth and the remaining roadblocks. We also zoom out to explore the broader dynamics bet...

In this episode of The Negotiation , we’re joined once again by Jacob Cooke, Co-founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies. Jacob walks us through the key insights from WPIC’s latest data report profiling the fastest-growing consumer segments in China’s e-commerce market. Drawing from GMV data across Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin, the report reveals a story of recovery, consumer optimism, and ev...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Rui Ma, a distinguished expert with nearly two decades of experience working in technology and finance in the U.S. and China. Rui provides deep insights into the current landscape of AI, focusing particularly on the competitive dynamics between the U.S. and China. She discusses how geopolitical tensions and export controls h...

Justin Downes returns to The Negotiation podcast to reflect on the recently concluded ski season in China and to discuss his new role in Hokkaido, Japan. With a career dedicated to advancing winter sports in Asia, Justin has been instrumental in the infrastructural development of ski resorts in China, contributing significantly to the country’s readiness for the 2022 Winter Olympics. In this episo...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, Todd Embley sits down with Peter Park, WPIC’s latest addition in Melbourne and a recognized expert in Australia’s consumer brand sector and the APAC e-commerce landscape. Peter delves into his professional journey, his role at WPIC, and why the firm is an excellent partner for Australian consumer brands, especially in the F&B and health supplements s...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley speaks with Joe Mazur, Senior Analyst at Trivium China, on the complexities of the U.S.-China relationship in the early days of the second Trump administration.  Joe offers a comprehensive overview of the trade measures implemented by the U.S. since Donald Trump's re-election. He analyzes the motives behind the tariffs and their potentia...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, Todd Embley has a captivating conversation with Elyse Ribbons, a seasoned expert in the dynamics of influencer marketing in China. Elyse shares her extensive experience and insights into the unique landscape of social media and influencer engagement in China, highlighting the intricacies of platforms like RedNote (Xiaohongshu) and Douyin. The discussion...

In this episode of the Negotiation Podcast, Todd Embley interviews David Nottingham, the EU General Manager for IPinYou, a leading Chinese martech company. David shares his journey from Southeast Asia to the ad tech world, discussing the unique challenges and opportunities within the Chinese digital ecosystem. He explains the workings of IPinYou, its proprietary technology, and how it compares to...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined once again by Olivia Plotnick, a seasoned expert in China marketing and the founder of Wai Social. Today, they dive into the explosion of Xiaohongshu, or “Red Note”, in the United States because of the impending ban of TikTok. Olivia begins with a detailed overview of the current buzz surrounding "Red Note”, explaining why TikT...

In this episode of The Negotiation Podcast, Todd Embley interviews Cynthia Dearin, founder of Dearin and Associates, who shares her unique career journey from diplomat to management consultant. She discusses the importance of global expansion for businesses, the services offered by her company, and the consumer sectors in Australia that are poised for success overseas. Cynthia emphasizes the need...