Engaging China: Building cultural capability for boards and directors

Business success in China hinges on cultural awareness skills. Join us to explore how values, hierarchy, and relationships influence decision making and gain strategies to build cultural fluency at the board level.   

Business success in China requires more than strategic and financial insight – cultural competence, relationships and networks equally influence business practices and decision-making. This session will explore the cultural dimensions shaping governance, risk, and stakeholder engagement in China.

Led by Shiraz Engineer GAICD, Head of Asialink Business Academy, the session will unpack key cultural frameworks that inform leadership and boardroom interaction.

Key topics include:

• Core elements of Chinese business culture 
• Navigating hierarchy and organisational structure 
• Guanxi (relationships and networks of trust) 
• The role of Face and social harmony 
• Culture influences on business strategy and risk appetite 
• A real-world case on applying cultural understanding for board-level engagement It will provide directors with practical insights into how cultural awareness and skills can enhance effectiveness when engaging with Chinese counterparts, partners, and regulators that can lead to trust, effective communication, and make better-informed decisions in the Chinese business environment.