The Negotiation

In this episode of The Negotiation, Darren Touch, founder and CEO of the Canada China Forum, discusses his interest in international relations with China and his experience as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University. He shares his insights on the current state of Canada-China relations and the necessary steps to strengthen the relationship. Touch emphasizes the importance of people-to-people e...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, we take a look back at the Paris 2024 Olympics with Mark Dreyer, the preeminent analyst of China's sports scene. Mark, a seasoned China sports reporter, delves deep into China’s performance at the 2024 Games and the cultural phenomena surrounding Chinese athletes. The discussion kicks off with a review of China's overall performance at the Paris 2024 Oly...

In this second installment of our engaging dialogue with Ed Sander on The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley continues to explore the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of China's digital technology scene. Ed, known for his deep insights into the intricacies of Chinese e-commerce, shares his expertise on the roles of major players like Alibaba and JD.com and dives into emerging platforms li...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Ed Sander, a renowned analyst specializing in China's digital technology landscape. In the first part of this two-part conversation, Ed shares his expert insights into Pinduoduo and the meteoric rise of its international marketplace, Temu.   The episode kicks off with Ed discussing the innovative business strategies, such as...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Jason Ang, Co-founder and CEO of CONTEN.T, a forward-thinking agency dedicated to crafting digital experiences for global brands across the Asia-Pacific region. Jason delves into the evolving digital landscape, the unique challenges of engaging Gen Z consumers, and the strategic nuances of marketing in APAC.   Jason begins b...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley welcomes Dr. Benjamin Herscovitch, a Research Fellow at the Australian National University's School of Regulation and Global Governance. Dr. Herscovitch brings a wealth of knowledge on China's economic statecraft and the dynamics of Australia-China relations, offering deep insights into recent developments and future prospects.   The dis...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Alex Phillips, the China Corridor Director for Santander UK. Alex shares insights into the evolving trade relationship between the UK and China, and how Santander UK facilitates international growth opportunities for British companies looking to expand into China and other Asian markets. The conversation kicks off with Alex...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley sits down with Zarina Kanji, WPIC’s newly appointed Managing Director for the UK and Europe. Zarina shares insights into her career, the evolving e-commerce landscape in China, and the promising opportunities for UK and European brands in APAC markets. The conversation begins with Zarina recounting her career journey, including her lengt...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley welcomes Maren Steinnes, Co-founder and CEO of Fjorda, the innovative Norwegian supplements brand that has made a significant impact on the Chinese market. Maren shares the intriguing journey of Fjorda's entry into China, exploring the strategic decisions that led to its success and the broader implications for international brands in th...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley sits down with Julienna Law, Managing Editor at Jing Daily, to discuss the current state of luxury brands in China, evolving fashion trends, and the impact of cultural shifts on consumer behavior.   The episode kicks off with Julienna sharing her journey into China-focused journalism and what currently excites her in this field. They del...

In this informative episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Olivia Plotnick, the founder of Wai Social and a renowned expert in China marketing.    Since her last appearance on the podcast in 2020, the landscape of digital consumption in China has evolved significantly, and Olivia is here to shed light on the latest trends and platforms shaping the Chinese market.   Olivi...

In this engaging episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley sits down with Joe Mazur, Senior Analyst at Trivium China, a research firm specializing in China’s politics and economy.    Based in Beijing and with his finger on the pulse of US-China relations, Joe provides valuable insights into the current state of the bilateral relationship, as well as the economic landscape in China.   Jo...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Dean Diabate, an expert in the world of China e-commerce and Africa/EU-China trade relations.    From his early career beginnings in Paris, Dean recounts his initial venture into China's burgeoning e-commerce sector, the pivotal transitions that led him to Alibaba, and the lessons he learned along the way.   A significant pa...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Tom Parker, National CEO of the Australia China Business Council (ACBC), for an insightful discussion on the evolving dynamics of Australia-China relations and the expanding opportunities for Australian businesses in China.    Tom begins by introducing ACBC, outlining its mission, membership, and the vital role it plays in s...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley welcomes Gerald Hoe, Head of Global Marketplace ROW at Coupang, one of South Korea's premier e-commerce platforms.    With its customer-centric and innovative approach, Coupang has cemented its position as a leader in the South Korean digital marketplace. Gerald provides a comprehensive overview of how Coupang has revolutionized the way...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Leif Rogers and Gino Gordon of Red Phoenix Entertainment, a sports marketing agency facilitating the expansion of North American sports, athletes, and franchises into Asian markets. Leif, the Founder and CEO, alongside Gino, Chief Strategy Officer, share their unique insights and experiences in bridging sports cultures acros...

Global skiing participation is on the decline—but in one crucial market, skiing is perhaps the hottest recreational pastime, with millions of people taking up the sport in the last few years.    That market is China. In this episode of The Negotiation, host Todd Embley welcomes back Justin Downes, who has led efforts to develop snow resorts across China over the last two decades.    As President o...

In our latest episode of The Negotiation podcast, we're excited to welcome back Mark Dreyer, a luminary in the world of sports in China.    With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, Mark gives us a sneak peek into the key stories and athletes poised to make headlines for China in the upcoming summer games, and whether China is expected to dominate the medal table.    Mark highlights the feel-good st...

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, we're excited to have Crystal Tai, Senior Managing Editor at Jing Daily, rejoin us for a deep dive into evolving fashion and lifestyle trends in China.    Jing Daily is the premier source for insights into China's digital consumption trends and luxury market, and Crystal brings her extensive expertise back to our listeners, offering a fresh perspective o...

In this episode of The Negotiation , Todd sits down with Filip Zieliński, a seasoned entrepreneur and long-time China resident with a wealth of experience across various industries, including green energy, tech, F&B, retail, and education. The conversation starts with a deep dive into China’s booming green energy space. Filip has had a front-row seat to China’s EV revolution - shaking up the g...

In this episode of The Negotiation , we welcome back to the show, Charles Lavoie, VP of Marketing & Head of Creative Labs at WPIC Marketing & Technologies and longtime guest of the pod.   In our conversation, we explore the transformation that China's e-commerce scene has witnessed due to the rise of Douyin, which has provided global brands with a new platform to connect with Chinese consu...

We dive into the evolving e-commerce and consumer trends in China for 2024, starting with analyzing the performance and tactics of leading e-commerce giants like Douyin, Pinduoduo, Taobao, and Tmall. What drove ByteDance's revenue growth of 30% to $110 billion? How is Pinduoduo's western-facing discount platform Temu adding to its incredible growth, if at all? And where does all of this leave Alib...

In this episode of The Negotiation, we are thrilled to feature Andrew Methven, author of the Slow Chinese newsletter, one of the leading resources for keeping up to date with modern Mandarin language trends.  Andrew's journey from a planetary science graduate to a Chinese language enthusiast is as fascinating as it is unconventional. Facing limited career prospects in space exploration, he embarke...

In this episode of The Negotiation, we're delighted to speak with Claire Urry, Chief Commercial Officer at the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), the premier British organization dedicated to fostering trade and investment between the UK and China.   Calling in from the picturesque English town of Horncastle, Claire gives a detailed breakdown of the UK and China’s robust trading relationship,...

In this episode of The Negotiation, we sit down with Denni Hu, a Shanghai-based journalist for Women's Wear Daily (WWD), a premier fashion industry publication.   Our discussion with Denni covers a range of topics, including the latest fashion, consumer, and lifestyle trends in China. We delve into Denni’s career path, the expansion of luxury brands in China, and the intriguing interplay between f...