ASIA EXPERIENCE REFLECTION

Mackenzie Mayernik

Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS International Trip 2017

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Within twenty minutes of arriving back to my tiny sorority house on Clifton Avenue, I

was greeted by one of my sorority sister’s embrace. “How was your trip to Asia?” she asked,

“tell me everything!” Having just survived a fifty-hour journey home and unsure of what day or

time it was, I politely assured her I would fill her in on the experience some other time, and I

dragged myself up to my room to try and catch up on sleep.

Arriving at the entrance of my room, I was staggered as I examined my humble abode –

nothing had changed… and yet, everything had changed. The room looked the same – clothes

lying on the floor, framed pictures on the wall – yet I felt different. I had experienced the most

tremendous six weeks of my life, allowing me to look at things differently and think about the

world in a new and sensational way.

Indeed, my dramatic first reactions of home may have been spurred by lack of sleep or

emotional overload, but I still maintain a sense of that peculiar internal dichotomy as I slowly

transition back to my routine life. The feeling of the power of transformation has left me

responding to the question “how was Asia?” with “how much time do you have?” as I eagerly

attempt to verbalize the experiences I was blessed to have over the past six weeks. The Lindner

Honors-PLUS International Trip to Asia was certainly the experience of a lifetime, but

moreover, this journey has taught me invaluable life lessons related to professional, cultural, and

personal development that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. In this reflection, I hope to

delve deeper into the advice gained and conclusions drawn from my experience in the ever-

changing, dynamic environment of Asia’s diverse markets.

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Move at “Asia Speed”

Growing up in the Midwest, I quickly learned the continents of the world in geography

class. I knew Asia was a massive continent filled with over four billion people, but American

education barely scratched the surface of Asia’s history, countries, and economy. One of the first

myths that was immediately debunked as we landed in Japan was that Asia is far more than an

inimitable beast of a continent – it is four billion voices, forty-eight unique countries with their

own histories and cultures, and seventeen million square miles of diverse markets to be respected

and analyzed differently. As such, one of the greatest takeaways of this trip was learning the

unique aspects of each Asian market, and how each company we visited addresses the ever-

evolving cultures in which they are present. In a visit with Nielsen in Shanghai, Gautam Seth

referred to this dynamic environment as “Asia Speed” – the fast-paced momentum in which

economies are evolving based on their aging or youthful populations.

Japan and China, two countries that I naively considered “one in the same” prior to this

semester, have starkly contrasting economies and cultural values. My unawareness began to fade

as we took our first week of classes in Chiba, as Ishido-sensei whimsically educated us on

Japan’s “silver economy” and depopulation as their economic prosperity has slowed for the past

twenty years. However, one aspect of their culture remains steadfast – their self-sacrifice and

dedication, dating back to the Samurai spirit. Whether it was interacting with professors in the

classroom or students in the cafeteria, the quiet humility of the Japanese was evident. Jetting just

a few hours to the mainland, I was appalled as we stepped into a whole new world: China. The

smog seeped into our lungs – an indication that we were far away from the tranquility of Chiba.

However, our visit with Nielsen in Shanghai quickly allowed us to quantify the tangible

differences we felt between China and Japan. A nation with the fastest growing population in the

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world, China’s aging yet evolving consumers are defining their economy. In order to “win” in

China, companies must move at “Asia Speed” and quickly adapt to the innovative market that is

wealthier and more connected than ever before. After the visit to Nielsen, I sat in amazement –

not just because of the powerful learnings I experienced, but because I could not believe I

thought Japan and China were so similar.

My realization of the stark differences between China and Japan just scratched the

surface of my uncovering of the true meaning of “Asia Speed.” In Singapore, Pier Luigi of

Unilever attempted to verbalize the disparities between markets in Southeast Asia. Eager to ask a

question, I asked the General Manager of Southeast Asia what consumer trends he found in the

region, and to my surprise, he struggled to find an answer. Looking back, it would have been

wise for me to apply my China/Japan lesson prior to asking this broad question, but Mr. Luigi’s

answer discussing overall themes and how important it is to dive deep into each country’s

consumers was the perfect response. Indeed, Southeast Asia sheds a new light on “Asia Speed,”

and as I experienced Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore, I saw firsthand the incredible

differences in just one specific region of Asia.

Despite being fascinated by the immense diversity in Asia as many of its nations rapidly

change, I also felt taken aback by the momentum and liveliness of the specific cities we visited.

Whether it was the emerging market of Ho Chi Minh City filled with the imminent threat of a

motorbike stampede, or the polished perfection of Singapore filled with the watchful eye of

authority monitoring littering on the streets, I felt encapsulated by the culture we were in, taking

in every moment in “Asia Speed.” It was only once I stepped out of the fast-paced streets and

reflected on the differences between the cities that I realized each country we visited was

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unapologetically their own, abashedly proud of their culture and eager to showcase it to visitors

like me.

Values Do Matter

In Dr. Rickett’s Business Ethics course, we were assigned to read an article by a P&G

employee who compared and contrasted P&G’s fortified values with those of her lifelong friend

who ultimately committed suicide after his company, Enron, collapsed with corruption and

corporate greed. The title of the article, “Values Do Matter,” resonated with me as we travelled

to multinational corporations throughout Asia. The values and mission of a company outlined

their culture, and it was fascinating to interact with the employees who lived out those values

every day. After our many multinational companies, I began to draw conclusions on what values

I hope to find in the companies I work for throughout my career.

Three companies’s approach to their values and mission intrigued me the most – Johnson

& Johnson, P&G, and Unilever. Overlapping in the same FMCG and CPG industry, these

companies with competing products are all uniquely proud of their distinctive values. At Johnson

& Johnson, the word “credo” was most commonly used to describe the company’s why. In

Robert Wood Johnson’s 1943 “Our Credo,” he clearly outlines the primary, secondary, tertiary,

and quaternary responsibilities of his companies. Johnson & Johnson’s promise to “doctors,

nurses and patients, to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services” was

not just a written word, but a verbal theme that each expatriate mentioned as they discussed their

career at Johnson & Johnson. I distinctly recall Johnson & Johnson employee Tracy Guldan

saying “It’s not just about the profit, but how you make the profit,” and to this day, her sagacious

words have been placed as a priority for me when searching for jobs.

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Following a visit to Johnson & Johnson, we were eager to visit Unilever and hear from

the Executive Vice President of Northern China, who made it immediately clear what Unilever

focuses on: sustainability. Whether it was in Singapore or Shanghai, my class sat in awe as

Unilever’s “risk appetite” and character-rich values were seamlessly integrated across the world.

Unilever went beyond the bounds of everyday business with their goal of making sustainable

living commonplace. Although I was not familiar with Unilever, I was inspired by their approach

to business, addressing the macro-impact of their products and how effective brands can truly

change the world.

Just one day after we visited Unilever in Singapore, I was thrilled to visit my future

employer, P&G. Expecting a similar set of values as their CPG competitor, I was taken aback by

the completely different mission of the Cincinnati-based company. Instead of “sustainability,”

the word “consumers” was often heard at our visit with P&G. At the top of their list of values

was integrity, defined by their employee’s character and commitment to improving the lives of

their consumers every day. With each P&G employee who spoke, their evident passion for

consumers and winning in a highly competitive market energized me, as I envisioned myself

perfectly aligning with their values.

After many company visits, the phrase “values do matter” took on a refreshed meaning.

While I found myself closely resonating with specific company values, I was also perplexed by

my multi-faceted appreciation of values. How was it that I appreciated the “passion for winning”

of P&G, the emphasis on sustainability of Unilever, and the deep-rooted responsibility to

consumer of Johnson & Johnson? This was one of my favorite realizations of the trip – that a

company’s values are unique yet overlapping, peaking my interest in a fascinating way that is

helping to me build the values of my ideal career.

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“America Isn’t the Whole Equation”

Early in our International Trip, I recall being stunned to silence as I asked the expats from

Johnson & Johnson how they worked in the “unique political environment of communist China.”

Mark Rosenberg, Director of Marketing for Johnson & Johnson Asia Pacific, quickly responded

“Working in China is unique, yes, but it helped me to quickly realize that America isn’t the

whole equation.” Growing up, we learned of our nation’s history, colored by arduous pursuits of

the “American Dream:” freedom, individuality, and financial success. Indeed, travelling to Asia

for six weeks made me appreciate the home I was raised in, the opportunities I was given, and

the life I am blessed to live; however, I learned that keeping an ethnocentric perspective was an

injustice to my capacity as a developing human of the world.

Similar to my prior belief that “Asia is all the same,” learning that America does not

always have to claim the first prize in everything they do was a tough lesson to learn. I am proud

to be an American, but I am even more proud to now say I am a citizen of the world,

acknowledging the strengths that each nation’s natural and man-made resources can provide to a

global economy. At the same Johnson & Johnson company visit, one expat noted that

communism, although flawed, was relatively effective in managing the Chinese population of

1.4 billion people. Even still, the communal principles of community penetrate the workplace,

forcing American expats to embrace working with a collective mentality where individuality is

not valued. Lindner Honors-PLUS Alumnus Dom Berardi noted the debunking of the “America

First” mentality. As a true worldly business professional, Mr. Berardi’s career is dedicated to

encouraging international students to explore the opportunities of the American higher education

system, and yet even he noted “if you look at everything through an American lens, you’ll never

get it.”

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One of the most intense examples of learning to think beyond “America first” came in a

visit to Nielsen, as they explained the digital madness of the Chinese economy and its

consumers. Gautam Seth introduced us to WeChat, the all-in-one application changing the way

Chinese consumers live. The app allows users to buy, sell, message, manage accounts, post

pictures, order food, and network – all within one app. Contrasting the amazing innovations of a

single app in China, I was foolishly bothered by the Chinese firewall blocking Google and

Facebook. While the Chinese obstruction of certain sites is up for debate, I enjoyed learning that

not having access to American apps did not limit the Chinese from being just as connected – if

not more – as I was to my friends and family. It was as if the Chinese and American apps were a

part of two different worlds, which begged me to wonder why America has not yet taken an

innovative hint from our Chinese counterparts and collaborated across the Pacific Ocean to

powerfully impact both economies.

Although it was over a hundred years ago, I reflected back to how my great grandparents

felt, travelling to the United States for the first time. They were visitors trying to find their home,

living as human sponges soaking in their experiences in a new land and hoping to find success

and understanding in a foreign place. Despite being a visitor for a few days in each country, I felt

connected to travelers around the world, including my immigrant great grandparents, who

eagerly looked forward to their new opportunities. Asia provided countless learning moments,

but only if I fully embraced the culture I was in and acknowledged that “America isn’t the whole

equation.” In the most reflective sense, I was merely a guest to the incredible story of Asia’s

development, letting down my own barriers and stepping out of my American comfort zone to

fully appreciate the masterpiece of a market I was travelling through. Now at home, it is my

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responsibility to push my mind beyond its previous limits of the American coastlines, and

embrace the innovation of a land different than my own.

The Future is a Just a Whole String of Nows

After six countries, nine cities, forty-two days, fourteen flights, and countless memories

later, it is nearly impossible to verbalize the incredible journey my Lindner Honors-PLUS class

had. I think back to first meeting my class on June 8, 2014, knees trembling and hands sweaty as

I nervously met the people I would have by my side for the next five years. At that time, making

it to the International Trip almost three years later seemed like a far and distant future. Flash

forward to March 10, 2017, and the same jittery feelings filled my body as I wondered what the

future would hold over the next forty-two days. Little did I know, my nerves would be trumped

by immense thrill, peace, and adventure as my class evolved from peers to best friends over the

past three years.

Coach Lou Holtz said it best: “the future is just a whole string of nows.” In 2014, my

future was the next five years of my collegiate career. Prior to the trip, my future was an

impending experience filled with company and cultural visits. Today, I can honestly say I am not

quite sure what the future holds, but I know it is even more inspired and expansive because of

the Lindner Honors-PLUS International Trip. Because of this experience, I learned just how

valuable the “nows” are, because those are the moments that substantiate your future and craft

your memories.

This experience was filled with countless, minute “nows” that will leave me with tears –

either from laughing or crying – when I look back on my time in Asia. One of the “nows” was

the first night of the trip, where my class attempted to crack my routine life by throwing

spontaneity in my direction with a trip to Tokyo within hours of arriving. Another “now” was

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sitting at a park overlooking the Shanghai skyline, reflecting on how we all felt like the luckiest

people in the world to have the opportunity to travel to Asia together. One of my favorite “nows”

was the final night of the trip, where my class and I poured our hearts out about just how

immensely changed and forever impacted we felt from our experience. Yes, these “nows” seem

like just short moments in the passage of time, but knowing that they were once a distant future

for me makes them that much sweeter.

Built to Last

Amid the company visits and cultural sights emerged the invaluable lessons that I will

carry with me for the rest of my life. It is now up to my fellow classmates and me to take our

reflections and put them into action, activating what Unilever’s Pier Luigi calls “built to last.”

Lessons, friendships, and life-changing experiences are priceless, but putting them to waste by

not appreciating them for their full value is detrimental. I eagerly look forward to this new stage

in my life, refreshed by an ever-changing experience and lifelong relationships.