Hailing from Denmark, what first brought you to China?
The first time I visited China was as an exchange student in 2013. I was intrigued to know more about this country that I had been studying about for so long and it was clear to me that the only way I would ever understand it would be to go myself and experience China firsthand.
Handing out raffle prizes during our Community Block Party this summer
How would you say your experiences traveling abroad have impacted your life, personally and professionally?
Going abroad is without a doubt the best thing I ever did for myself. You gain so much when you travel; independence, cultural insights, personal insights, new friends, survival skills, and so much more. Learning to cope in a number of unexpected situations has taught me more about adaptability and flexibility than any workshop or coach could have back home. These skills will help me for the rest of my life.
Visiting Disney Land with the team shortly after it opened
What led you to work for Hutong School?
I already knew Hutong School for a while, because I used to take Chinese classes here when I lived in Beijing. So I kept an eye on Hutong School for a long time, and when the right opportunity came up I jumped at it. From the first time I was in contact with someone from Hutong School, I could tell that this was not an ordinary company. Everyone was so nice, took a real interest in the students and made everyone feel really welcome. I knew this was the kind of place I wanted to work.
Describe a typical day of work for the Marketing Director of Hutong School.
I always start my day by going through my inbox. We work across many timezones so I want to see if something happened in Europe or the US over night that I should be aware of. Once that’s done I will have my priorities set for the day, usually there will be some meetings either with someone from our team or with some of our partners. I also try to evaluate our different marketing efforts on a regular basis so most afternoons I will have something planned that I need to analyze.
What is the most common question prospective interns have?
Many people are wondering about how they will manage if they don’t speak Chinese. To this we always say, Chinese is going to make your life a lot easier but it’s totally possible to spend time in Beijing or Shanghai without knowing Chinese. All our partner companies where we place interns have English speaking supervisors, and our staff is always ready to help out if there is a situation that requires some Chinese skills.
Experiencing the Summer Palace during winter
How does your team settle prospective interns’ worries about life in a non-English speaking country?
It’s easy to get worried before going abroad, no matter where you are going. And if you think communication will be an issue, you are probably even more worried. However, thousands of people arrive in China every day and many of them don’t speak Chinese. They still manage and have a wonderful time here, so don’t worry too much. We will help all the new interns with building some basic vocabulary as quickly as possible, and for those who have the time and interest, learning Chinese is actually not that difficult.
Standing in the main entrance to our Shanghai school. We are really lucky to have the school in an old lane house with brick walls and real Shanghainese neighbours
Why do you think Shanghai is an incredible place for international work experience?
Shanghai has it all! This city combines all the best of China with the best from the rest of the world. As a desired destination for many young Chinese people, Shanghai has an amazing energy and life here can never be boring. There are new startups to watch, great fashion, world class restaurants, cosy alleyways, skyscrapers, multinationals, etc. Shanghai is full of opportunities and so many people come here to realize their dreams. It’s hard not to get excited when you are surrounded by people who are chasing success.
How does Hutong School introduce interns to the amazing opportunities both in and out of the office in Shanghai?
We try to make sure that there is something new to do with us every week. Sometimes we take students out into the city to explore by night, other times we invite local business people to the school to talk about their experiences in the Chinese business environment. We also try to leverage our vast network, so if someone is looking for a job, apartment, internship, business partner etc, we can introduce them to the right people.
China is often said to be like no other country in the world. How would you describe China in 5 words?
Enormous! Exciting! Fun! Surprising! Unique!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
In my job I get to interact with amazing people every single day. We have a great team across all the offices, lots of fun, wonderful students and interns who come to us from all over the world, and inspiring business partners who contribute to our community in countless ways.
