On Saturday, 25th March 2017, NCSH made our way to Sheshan Golf Club (佘山高尔夫球俱乐部) at the far west of Shanghai for NCSH’s March Speaker Series. For many, it was probably the farthest commute we have ever made since the start of NOC. The club was a pleasant 15-minute walk from Sheshan metro station, with the fauna of the path graced by hints of blossoms from the coming spring. The personnel at Sheshan Golf Club welcomed us warmly with nibbles that were exquisitely displayed as we entered the room. The massive glass windows on all four sides showcased the breathtaking scenery of the golf course. More importantly, we gathered today to listen to Mr Roger Foo, GM of Sheshan Golf Club and guest speaker for the series, share his expertise on ‘Hospitality and Entrepreneurship in China’. Sheshan Golf Club, also NOC Shanghai's longest partnering company (current interns – Debbie and Alicia), is dubbed the best golf club in the whole of China. While it has only been in operation for a mere 12 years since its inception, the golf club is currently ranked 86th in the world and has consistently ranked within the top 100 golf clubs for the past three years. The exclusive and members-only golf club is also known widely for hosting World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. Since the inaugural event in 2005, the golf club has hosted the tournament ten times and has consistently received praise for the world-class standards of the course and its facilities. Roger shared with us his experience of managing the club, including the long way he had come before the club attained its current standards. Having been in the industry for more than 20 years, Roger had worked in Phuket for five years before being headhunted. In spite of the many difficulties shrouding his initial move to Shanghai, Roger shared that he fell in love with the metropolis and wholeheartedly believed that China will continue to be the land of opportunities for the next 10 to 15 years. He then left us with some heartfelt advice from his life’s journey and career progression in the hospitality sector. 1. The importance of assimilation Roger shared that it is imperative to recognize the existence of cultural differences wherever we go. Instead of identifying the differences, he felt that the only way was to respect, embrace and learn them. He had taken lessons to improve his Chinese in order to thrive in China and highlighted that communication is of utmost importance for survival. "It is the way it is, we just learn to assimilate to the environment, we learn to adapt." - Roger 2. The importance of creativity Roger revealed that the Profit & Loss statement often translates to the measure of his capabilities as a GM of Sheshan Golf Club. Thus, he learnt to recognize market trends and constantly innovates to raise revenue and decrease expenses. In a multi-million industry, he needed to expand his mindset to think above and beyond, instead of restricting operations with the mindset of ‘just a golf course’. He illustrated how he challenged conventional marketing methods, such as the use of advertisements in magazines, by replacing them with creative communications via WeChat. By giving more thought to possible channels, it could very well turn to revenue streams for a company. 3. The importance of specializing Roger is an advocate in the importance of finding something you are particularly good at and to keep doing it. Having a broad spectrum only equates to one being neither here nor there, and breed mediocrity, which can be unhealthy or even dangerous. He believes it is key to build your expertise, knowledge and skill set in order to establish a specialty you can call your own. For Roger, he chose golf management as a niche, rather than a mere degree or academic direction. He has also been working in relevant fields since graduation, which built the credibility of his management skills in the industry. 4. The importance of having local Chinese as partner Network is everything in China and in order to succeed when the opportunity presents itself, one must always ensure that there is a trustworthy local partner onboard. Having a local partner will definitely be able to provide value to your venture with their local know-how and expertise. With these learning points conveyed over the sharing session, Roger motivated NCSH with his genuine advice to boldly venture out and assured us that there is no harm taking a risk since we have the age advantage as youths. The remaining time of the session was then handed over to the Director of the golf club – Gavin. As a native Canadian, he had relocated to Shanghai due to the work opportunity offered by Sheshan. Gavin briefly touched on his experience thus far, with the conclusion that the past five years in Shanghai had further developed his character. Every hardship and hurdle made him a stronger person and conferred a perseverance that would no longer be shaken easily. "Many people see the negativity and they leave. If you could only look past it, you will see and experience so much more. China is a beautiful place, one with many opportunities." - Gavin We would like to take this opportunity to thank Roger and Gavin for their insightful sharing. Despite the long journey, the visit to Sheshan was definitely a distinctly different experience from the bustle of Shanghai that we have grown accustomed to. The afternoon’s sharing drew to a close as we appreciated the all-encompassing beauty of China - both in its natural, picturesque scenery and the dynamicity of its economic landscape that presents a myriad of opportunities for the willing.
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SHEN
申城 (shen cheng) is an ancient name for Shanghai.
As a group of NUS and NOC students who are in Shanghai for a year-long internship programme, we have named our student organisation as SHEN (Shanghai House of Entrepreneurs). Archives
November 2017
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