International Study Trip

A Reading Week to Remember

Anusha Giridharan — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:18:43 +0000

A Reading Week to Remember Anusha Giridharan Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:18

As most of our fellow ��ݮ��Ƶ students packed their bags and headed home for a well-deserved break during reading week, the AFM 334 International Study Course class embarked on an exciting journey to the bustling city of New York! It was a memorable trip filled with sightseeing and tremendous learning opportunities that offered us a direct glimpse of the fast-paced world of business and finance that shapes the “Big Apple”.

The energy of New York made every moment feel electrifying, and since returning to ��ݮ��Ƶ we’ve had time to reflect on this unique experience and appreciate everything we learned during the trip.

Sightseeing

Our weekends kicked off bright and early, with each day carefully planned to ensure that we maximized our time in the city that never sleeps. From wandering the streets of New York, to visiting Summit One for breathtaking views of the skyline, exploring art history at the MET, and enjoying the beauty and fall colours of Central Park and its iconic landmarks, we truly embraced the city! We even experienced the excitement of the New York Giants vs Cincinnati Bengals football game, where the atmosphere was vibrant among fans and made for an unforgettable experience which allowed for us to truly indulge ourselves in the culture!

Business Meetings

Throughout the week of meetings, we had the opportunity to visit a range of companies from startups to multinational corporations spanning various industries. We were fortunate enough to have 13 meetings across our four days in New York:

Brookfield Asset Management
Bridgespan Consulting Group
Sullivan & Cromwell
British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI)
The United Nations Tour
Goldman Sachs
The New York Stock Exchange
Point 72
Star Mountain Capital
Blackstone
Mosaic
Palistar
Polar Asset Management

Meeting with a variety of companies allowed us to gain exposure to the American economy. We were struck by how many of these organizations are prioritizing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives in their day-to-day operations, and are actively implementing it using various reporting frameworks to showcase their commitment. This growing trend highlights the importance of ethical practices in current business environments.

We are thankful to our Professor, Steve Balaban, our Teaching Assistant, Kangan Mahajan, and Alumni Development Officer Victoria Hinde for all their guidance and helping us make the most of our experience!

Reflections on our unforgettable trip to Japan

Anusha Giridharan — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:25:39 +0000

Reflections on our unforgettable trip to Japan Anusha Giridharan Fri, 09/13/2024 - 09:25

The trip ended in the blink of an eye. Nevertheless, we were grateful for the opportunity to travel to Japan as a group to learn more about the fascinating culture and gain insights into the Japanese ecosystem from industry experts across various industries (despite the scorching heat!!).

After returning to the hectic and buzzing ��ݮ��Ƶ campus, we gathered our thoughts and reflected on the trip's highlights and key takeaways.

The Weekend

Our day trip to Kyoto was one of the most memorable moments. We travelled to three cities in a day (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka) and visited several cultural sites, including the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Okochi Sanso Garden. It was also our first full day travelling as a group. It was great catching up with everyone, as it had been a month since we last saw each other, and with everyone together, the trip felt alive and real.

Business Meetings

During the week of meetings, we visited various companies, from start-ups to multinational corporations across different industries. We were responsible for leading the meetings at each company.

The companies included:

Omron Ventures
OOYOO
Toshiba
UTEC
Muji Hotel
Final Aim
Rakuten
Incubate Fund
Nomura Research Institute
Shell Japan
Astellas Pharma
Globis Capital Partners
MUFG

Throughout the meetings, we encountered several recurring topics from the professionals, but gaining insight into their unique perspectives was incredibly valuable. Here are some things that we have learned:

The Japanese Government has various monetary and non-monetary initiatives to support startups' growth and sustainability.

Instead of entering large companies and staying in the same company for life, new graduates are job-hopping and leaning towards working for a startup.

If you're interested in seeing our key takeaways from each company, please visit the school’s LinkedIn page: University of ��ݮ��Ƶ School of Accounting and Finance.

Overall, the Japan trip was a success. We not only achieved our goal of learning more about the current Japanese ecosystem across different industries, but we also built deep connections with each other and many of the industry professionals.

International Study Course expectations vs. reality

Kelsey Stoddart — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:55:55 +0000

International Study Course expectations vs. reality Kelsey Stoddart Wed, 09/11/2024 - 15:55

Over the summer, the AFM 334 International Study Course class had the opportunity to cross off a top destination on many of our travelling bucket lists – Japan!

Like many others who have had the opportunity to visit Japan, we set off for the trip with high expectations — visions of serene temples, bustling streets and shops galore — but as is often the case with travel, the reality we were met with was not entirely what we had expected. In this blog, we’re sharing how our expectations have stacked up against our real experiences and some anecdotes that we picked up along the way!

Weather

From the bustling cities of Tokyo and Osaka to the quiet beauty of Kyoto, they all shared at least one thing —humidity and rain. While we had known that visiting Asia during the middle of August would mean signing up for 30+ degree weather, blazing sun and humidity, not many of us expected it to be that humid or anticipated our suits getting soaked from the rain. We had naively thought that the rainy season would mostly be over by mid-July, so we were definitely in for a surprise when the edges of a typhoon hit us in the middle of one of our business dinners!

Lines at Theme Parks

While in Osaka for our first weekend of travelling, the fifteen of us had decided to spend a day at Universal Studios Japan! Like with any theme park open on the weekend in the summer, we had expected lines to be hours long, with a real possibility of us not getting to experience all of the attractions that we had hoped. In reality, however, we found that the rides with the longest lines marked as “Full of Thrills and Screams” typically had a “Single Rider” line that reduced the waiting times to virtually zero. This made these attractions so time efficient that many of us could ride them more than once!

Public Transit

We relied on public transit throughout our trip to get us to and from our different meetings and activities. Our Meals and Logistics team got us to all of our meetings on time and often early; however, some processes were not as clear as we had expected after hearing all of the positive reviews of the Japanese transit system. While none of the issues we encountered were major, there was some confusion when we learned that certain trains required extra ticket purchases on top of the transit card transactions. The sheer number of different transit companies that operate within the same station was a lot to take in when in a rush to get to our next destination. Overall, despite these few blips (and with the help of our Suica cards and Google Maps) everything was manageable, and we were getting the hang of it by the third day.

All in all, despite our trip not being exactly what we had expected, the memories and bonds we formed during this experience will surely last a lifetime.

Seoul-searching: exploring South Korea in one weekend

Kelsey Stoddart — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:33:18 +0000

Seoul-searching: exploring South Korea in one weekend Kelsey Stoddart Fri, 09/06/2024 - 10:33

For the spring 2024 AFM 334 International Study Course trip, we were lucky enough to visit South Korea and explore all it has to offer. As the Marketing and Culture Team, we aimed to act as tour guides and plan a fun and engaging weekend that the team could reminisce about for years to come.

After a few weeks of initial research into South Korea’s most memorable landmarks, we narrowed our plan down to places that were visitable within the timespan of 3 days. We started with a trip to Namsan Park and the National Museum of Korea on Friday, followed by a train to Busan on Saturday, and finished the weekend with a walk around Gyeongbokgong Palace and a shopping trip at Lotte World Mall on Sunday.

The three biggest highlights of our weekend were seeing N Seoul Tower up close (after the toughest trek of our lives), exploring Gamcheon Cultural Village in Busan, and travelling back in time by exploring Gyeongbokgong Palace in Hanbok.

While we could have admired N Seoul Tower from below the mountain, the class was feeling ambitious that day. We planned to climb just a bit of the way to get a better look at the tower, but ended up climbing the whole mountain! Sure, a ride on a cable car could’ve taken us to the same destination, but the trials and tribulations we faced made the trip much more memorable.

Executing the day trip to Busan was the most difficult since it involved taking a 3-hour bullet train to the opposite end of the country, then navigating our way through unknown, mountainous territory. Though it was a tiring day for the navigation team, it was completely worth it. While Seoul boasts a modern, busy atmosphere, Busan’s environment can be described as more laid-back yet bustling. It was a great contrast to see, as it gave the class a more well-rounded view of the country (and of the sea). Gamcheon Cultural Village was the epitome of a demure seaside village, with many cute cafes and colourful shops.

We finished off our weekend with a visit to Gyeongbokgong Palace, a must-see for first-time visitors to South Korea. While we could’ve paid the entrance fee like regular tourists, the Marketing Team decided to find a Hanbok rental shop so the class could experience Gyeongbokgong Palace to its fullest (and for free).

Overall, the weekend was a huge success! We saw everything we wanted to see, got some great photos and memories, and experienced the power of friendship. While it was a lot of fun, it’s safe to say that everyone was very tired by the end of the weekend. (We did climb two whole mountains, after all.)

Meet the Japan International Study Course team

Hailee Larocque — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:48:45 +0000

Meet the Japan International Study Course team Hailee Larocque Wed, 08/07/2024 - 10:48

Konnichiwa, everyone!

As the Spring 2024 International Study Course class, we are excited to take you along with us as we embark on our upcoming journey to Japan!

Our class is split into three teams: Marketing & Culture, Corporate Relations, and Meals & Logistics. We are looking forward to sharing our journey with you.

Marketing and Culture Team

Hi! We are Joel, Sarah, Claire and Bethany from the Marketing & Culture team! We are responsible for researching Japan’s culture, creating social media content, and planning activities during the weekend. In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for Instagram stories, reels, and more! When the trip is over, we’ll also post a reflection on our experience and the highlights of our trip.

What has our team planned that we are most looking forward to?

So far, we have planned out super fun weekends in Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo! Some of the places we will be going to are the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Tsukiji Fish Market, and Universal Studios. We are super excited to explore Japan’s culture (especially the food) and talk with the interesting companies that our Corporate Relations team were able to set up meetings with!

Meals and Logistics Team

Hi! We are Bonita, Alim, Robert, and Tanya – the Meals & Logistics team. We are responsible for finding places to eat, booking hotels, and navigating the group from Point A to Point B throughout the trip.

What has our team planned that we are most looking forward to?

We are very excited for the Shinkansen - the Japanese bullet trains!! They go up to 320 km/h, and a trip that would normally take 6 hours by car only takes 2 hours by train. We’re especially looking forward to seeing Mount Fuji out the window on our trip to Kyoto!

Corporate Relations

Hi! We are Harry, Jivitesh, Alicia and Sharon – the Corporate Relations team. We are responsible for setting up and organizing all the meetings with business professionals and industry leaders in Japan during the weekdays.

What has our team planned that we are most looking forward to?

We’re excited to experience meetings with the companies we’ve contacted and learn more about Japanese business culture through these industry leaders and professionals. Some of the industries include consumer services, Rx (Prescription Drugs), Venture Capital and many more!

The best way to approach a company: Insights from the South Korea Corporate Relations Team

Hailee Larocque — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:48:48 +0000

The best way to approach a company: Insights from the South Korea Corporate Relations Team Hailee Larocque Tue, 08/06/2024 - 11:48

Being part of the International Study Course for the upcoming South Korea trip has been an enriching experience that has combined academic learning and real-world engagement with companies.

As members of the class Corporate Relations team, our role involves setting up meetings with companies to foster valuable connections and gain insights into various industries. This task requires a blend of strategic thinking, persistence, and patience.

Here's a detailed look at the process we follow to successfully approach and secure meetings with companies:

Step 1: Identifying the right contacts

The first step in setting up a meeting is to identify the right people to reach out to within the companies we are interested in. A targeted approach is essential. We prioritize reaching out to University of ��ݮ��Ƶ or other Canadian university alumni who are currently working at these international companies. Alumni are more likely to be receptive to our requests due to their shared connection with the school. Additionally, we seek out locals who have participated in exchange programs at ��ݮ��Ƶ, as these individuals often have fond memories of their time on our campus and are usually enthusiastic about reconnecting with the University.

Step 2: Crafting a compelling reach-out note

Once we have identified the appropriate contacts, the next step is to send a well-crafted reach-out note. This note needs to capture their attention and generate interest in meeting with us. To achieve this, we conduct thorough research on the company to uncover interesting facts or recent news that we can mention in our initial communication. Highlighting such details demonstrates our genuine interest and effort, making our outreach more compelling. The reach-out note typically includes:

A brief introduction of ourselves and the International Study Course.
Specific insights or fun facts about the company that relate to our academic expertise or interests.
A clear and polite request for a meeting, with suggested dates and times.

Step 3: Engaging in back-and-forth communication

After the initial reach-out, we often engage in back-and-forth communication to finalize the meeting details. This stage involves discussing availability, setting agendas, and clarifying any other logistical aspects. Effective communication is key to ensuring that both parties are aligned and that the meeting will be productive and mutually beneficial.

Step 4: Patience and persistence!

Securing a meeting with busy corporate professionals requires a lot of patience and persistence. There is often a waiting period between sending out our initial reach-out note and receiving a response. During this time, it’s important to remain patient and be prepared to follow up as needed. Polite follow-ups can serve as gentle reminders and demonstrate our continued interest in arranging the meeting.

Our takeaways

Setting up meetings with companies as part of the Corporate Relations Team involves a strategic and thoughtful approach. By identifying the right contacts, crafting compelling reach-out notes, engaging in detailed communication, and maintaining patience and persistence, we can successfully secure valuable meetings.

These interactions not only enhance our understanding of various industries but also build lasting connections that can benefit our academic and professional journeys. Being part of this process is a rewarding experience that combines classroom learning with real-world application, making our international study trip truly transformative.

Wrapping our brains around logistics: Insights from the South Korea Logistics Team

Hailee Larocque — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 16:59:16 +0000

Wrapping our brains around logistics: Insights from the South Korea Logistics Team Hailee Larocque Fri, 08/02/2024 - 12:59

The International Study Course is an incredible opportunity to learn how to navigate planning an international trip and experience cultural and economic differences.

As part of the Meals & Logistics team for the South Korea trip, our responsibilities include organizing accommodations, transportation and meals during the week. To successfully tackle these tasks, the Meals & Logistics team strategically plans, demonstrates time management skills, has clear communication, as well as strong organizational skills.

Here’s the approach we used in order to set expectations for the team and successfully execute our planning strategy:

Assess the city and country you are travelling to

Every destination has their own unique characteristics that impact the kinds of public transit, accommodations and restaurants available. Taking time at the beginning to research and understand the city will make planning easier. Seoul, for instance, has an extensive public transportation system that spans the entire city. Therefore, a hotel near a subway station where multiple lines connect would be most ideal. Furthermore, some sectors are better known for being foreigner-friendly, which also influences which areas to focus on when looking for hotels and restaurants.

Lastly, having an idea of the city’s relative cost of living is critical in order to have accurate expectations for the costs of accommodations and restaurant reservations. For example, Seoul likely has a cost of living that varies significantly from Hanoi. Thus, before beginning to book accommodations and restaurants, having an understanding of the city improves planning productivity.

Reach out to book accommodations

Hotels are typically booked the furthest in advance and are one of the larger expenses - so, finding availability in the early stages of planning is key.

Based on your mental picture of the city, determine what is the most optimal location of the hotel, whether it be near a transit station, in an affordable sector etc. Due to monetary restrictions, you may have to balance comfort and location preferences with the prices. However, as a rule of thumb, it is best to reach out to a variety of hotels, as the more options you have, the better!

Find restaurants for professional dinners

Ideally, all meetings would be booked prior to the search of restaurants, allowing for a more focused search. Taking budget into consideration, look for meal spots that are appropriate for a professional dinner. Try to use as many resources as possible to discover restaurants, including social media, Google Maps, travel agency sites, country-specific platforms and others. Contacting as many options as possible is important. In addition to the variety of restaurants, using multiple methods of communications to book reservations, such as calling, social media messaging and email, can help broaden your options.

Plan all transportation routes and methods

Finally, carefully plan all transportation routes based on your meetings and restaurants. Using the native navigation app of the country, write down all transportation courses with specific stations, stops, timestamps as well as back-up plans. Based on what country you may be travelling to, the typical online platforms such as Google, may not be the most optimal and accurate source. For instance, Google Maps is not typically used in Korea, and Naver Maps is used instead. If possible, it is best to have some extra time in case a meeting runs late or if you go the wrong direction.

Overall, organizing accommodations, transportation and restaurants requires a logical and methodical approach to account for international differences in structure, online information sources and cost of living.

The International Study Course provides numerous opportunities to develop skills in planning and analysis, problem-solving, and research.

Au revoir, Switzerland: Reflecting on our experience

Kelsey Stoddart — Thu, 16 May 2024 13:51:11 +0000

Au revoir, Switzerland: Reflecting on our experience Kelsey Stoddart Thu, 05/16/2024 - 09:51

As the lucky students who recently travelled to Switzerland for the winter School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) 2024 International Study Course trip, we are reflecting on and sharing our once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The main priority of the trip was to meet with companies and business professionals, but we also got the chance to experience Swiss culture and visit many exciting spots. Some of the highlights included visiting the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Zurich, Mount Rigi near Lucerne, and visiting the tallest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc.

Business Meetings

How did we prepare?

A high degree of preparation was involved to ensure that we got the most out of our meetings. For each company that we visited, a student was responsible for preparing our group by giving a presentation that included what the company does, some current key news items, and topics that we should focus on during the Q&A periods. Asking good questions and understanding the businesses were critical aspects for ensuring the success of each meeting.

Having students on the trip from different programs within SAF, such as Computing and Financial Management and Biotech/CPA, was particularly helpful as they taught us about concepts related to pharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence which proved helpful during our meetings.

Companies Visited

Throughout the trip, we had 15 meetings. The companies we met with were from a diverse range of industries, including:

Financial services:

Julius Baer
LGT
Amundi Alpha Associates
Zurich Insurance Group
Boston Consulting Group Switzerland

Software companies:

Ansys Switzerland
DeepJudge AI

Intergovernmental organizations:

United Nations
International Labor Organization
Canadian Embassy

And more such as:

Ypsomed
The Global Fund
Jacques Bogh
Geneva Airport
CERN

Meeting such a unique set of companies not only sharpened our knowledge of accounting and finance, but also exposed us to areas that we were not as familiar with such as international relations and scientific research. These opportunities are an excellent way to help any student develop their interests because of the opportunity to speak with so many interesting people who are happy to answer questions about their career paths.

For example, many of us on the trip have developed an interest in wealth management after having the chance to speak with professionals from companies such as Julius Baer and LGT.

Insights & Takeaways

Throughout the trip, we gained a lot of insight by listening and asking questions. A key theme that arose throughout our time in Switzerland was the focus on Environment, Social, & Governance (ESG) criteria. Switzerland is known for its focus on sustainability and renewable energy, but the companies we met also emphasized the importance of social equality.

Another key theme we noticed throughout our trip was the importance of trust, especially in any business that offers financial services. Switzerland has a very large wealth management industry and the businesses we met underscored the importance of gaining client trust in order to ensure financial success.

Conclusion

The International Study Course is not only a great way to develop valuable skills to aid in your professional development but also to forge lifelong connections. We would highly recommend all current and future SAF students participate in the International Study Trip!

We would like to offer a special thank you to professor Steve Balaban, our teaching assistant Echo Chen and alumni development officer Victoria Hinde for their hard work in not only making this trip possible, but also for their guidance in ensuring that everything ran smoothly.

The trip was something that we will never forget!

Ready for takeoff: planning a trip to Switzerland

Kelsey Stoddart — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:50:08 +0000

Ready for takeoff: planning a trip to Switzerland Kelsey Stoddart Thu, 04/25/2024 - 10:50

As part of the School of Accounting and Finance Winter 2024 International Study Course, the class has been hard at work preparing for our trip to Zurich and Geneva at the end of April!

The AFM334 International Study Course is offered to upper-year students and enables us to meet with companies and business professionals abroad, helping students to learn more about the global business landscape and further enhance the knowledge we gain in the classroom.

Students enrolled in this course will join one of three teams, each with unique roles and responsibilities: Corporate Relations, Marketing & Culture, or Meals & Logistics.

The trip is student-run under the leadership of Professor Steve Balaban, our teaching assistant Echo (Master of Accounting), and alumni development officer Victoria Hinde. This means that students are responsible for selecting and scheduling meetings with companies, ensuring that transportation and lodging are in order, and creating our weekend itineraries.

Meet the teams

Corporate Relations

Bhavna (Biotech/CPA ’25), Harman (Accounting and Financial Management (AFM ’25), Rachel (Computing and Financial Management (CFM ’25), and William (CFM ’25) make up this term’s Corporate Relations team.

The team’s role is to set up meetings with various companies and organizations in Switzerland. The team leveraged their networks as well as LinkedIn to reach out to companies to attempt to schedule meetings with. Some of the companies the team has arranged for the class to meet include Boston Consulting Group, Julius Baer, and The Zurich Insurance Group. Aside from the accounting and finance industries, the team has also arranged meetings with tech startups, pharmaceutical companies, and non-profit organizations.

Marketing & Culture

The Marketing & Culture team is comprised of Aaris (AFM ’25), Delaney (AFM ’26), Marco (AFM ’26), and Shakthika (AFM ’25).

The team’s responsibilities include managing and planning our weekends in Switzerland, organizing team-building activities, and educating the class on Swiss culture. During the weekends in Switzerland, some of the experiences they have arranged include visiting the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Zurich and a day trip to Chamonix, a French town located at the base of Mont Blanc. On top of planning weekend activities, the team has arranged multiple pre-trip team building activities, including an escape room and class dinners.

Meals & Logistics

Aradhna (AFM ’25), Luka (AFM ’26), Shlip (AFM ’26), and Zo (AFM ’26) make up this term’s Meals & Logistics team.

This team is responsible for scheduling dinners with business professionals, organizing hotel accommodations, and planning the transportation to and from meetings. They have put immense thought into the planning and scheduling of the trip to ensure it runs smoothly, especially because there is a lot of pressure to ensure we can navigate between company meetings efficiently. Thankfully, the team has effectively outlined every logistical component of the trip, while staying within the strict budget constraints.

What we’re looking forward to

The class has put a lot of hard work into the organization of the trip and we are ready to realize the benefits once we take off for Switzerland!

There are countless personal and professional opportunities we are looking forward to on our trip, from meeting with CFOs of large financial institutions and having professional discussions with such a diverse set of companies, to learning about Swiss culture first-hand and taking a scenic hike through the Swiss Alps.

We are very grateful to Steve, Victoria, Echo, and the School of Accounting and Finance for making this possible!

Keep an eye out for the team’s update detailing their learnings post-trip.

Building Connections Across the World

Emily Tran — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:31:40 +0000

Building Connections Across the World Emily Tran Thu, 08/10/2023 - 15:31

As the corporate relations team for the International Study Course Trip to Vietnam, our mission is to establish strong connections with industry professionals across the globe. With its dynamic business landscape, Vietnam has emerged as a promising destination for collaborations and partnerships. Despite encountering several challenges, our team has honed valuable skills and tactics to ensure our success in reaching out and arranging meetings with industry experts in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Leveraging local head offices for introductions

Navigating the Vietnamese business environment can be complex, especially when dealing with unfamiliar companies and individuals. To overcome this hurdle, we adopted a strategic approach of reaching out to both the domestic and international head offices of companies that are based in Canada. We gained valuable guidance and direction through building connections with senior management in Canada and seeking introductions to their counterparts in offices located in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. This not only provided us with a clear pathway to the right contacts but also facilitated a warmer reception from potential partners, since introductions from trusted sources carry significant weight in Vietnamese business culture.

Personalized communication for effective engagement

Learning from Professor Steve Balaban, we recognized the importance of personalized communication in establishing meaningful relationships. Rather than resorting to bland and generic template messages, we crafted personalized messages tailored to everyone we hoped to connect with. This approach not only demonstrated our genuine interest in their work and expertise but also fostered a sense of trust and authenticity. By initiating conversations that resonated with the recipients, we were able to bridge the gap between potential partners and ourselves, resulting in a higher rate of positive responses.

Embracing the business culture in Vietnam

Understanding and respecting Vietnamese business culture has been crucial to our success in setting up meetings. There is an emphasis on valuing relationships and face-to-face interactions, which we have embraced wholeheartedly. We learned that building trust and rapport takes time, and as such, we have adopted a patient approach to cultivating these connections. Regular follow-ups with industry professionals, along with a genuine interest in their insights and expertise have contributed to the development of lasting partnerships. By focusing on nurturing authentic connections instead of rushing for immediate outcomes, we have built stronger trust and confidence among our potential collaborators.

Outcomes: Setting up meetings with industry professionals

Through unwavering determination and continuous follow-up, our efforts were fruitful as we were able to successfully arrange meetings with prominent industry professionals in Vietnam. These meetings spanned across various sectors in the industry, including venture capital and beyond. In the meetings, we facilitated productive discussions and fostered new avenues for potential collaborations. We firmly believe that these initial meetings are the stepping stones to forging strong and mutually beneficial partnerships in the thriving business landscape in Vietnam.

Conclusions

Connecting virtually with industry professionals in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi required strategic planning, cultural sensitivity, and personalized engagement. By leveraging local head offices for introductions, embracing personalized communication, and recognizing the importance of building relationships over time in Vietnamese business culture, we navigated challenges and achieved success in setting up meetings with key players in the Vietnamese business world. As we continue to expand our corporate relations efforts, we look forward to building lasting partnerships and meeting with these dignitaries in-person during our trip!