Working for a Local Agency or Brand- China PR Expert: Harriet Gaywood
July 13, 2024
Have you ever considered working for a local Chinese company? We thought we would ask 20-plus-year PR expert, ultra-marathon runner, and ethnic musicologist Harriet Gaywood, who previously worked at Blue Focus and recently was the VP of Public Relations at Huawei. How is it different from working at a foreign firm? What are the challenges? Is this a viable career option for new recruits?
Have you ever considered working for a local Chinese company? We thought we would ask 20-plus-year PR expert, ultra-marathon runner, and ethnic musicologist Harriet Gaywood, who previously worked at Chinese firm Blue Focus and recently was the VP of Public Relations at Huawei. How is it different from working at a foreign firm? What are the challenges? Is this a viable career option for new recruits?
1. What's your elevator pitch?
2. What's the state of the Chinese PR industry? Is there room for advertising and PR agencies in today's social media world?
3. What was it like working for a local PR agency? Is there big differences?
4. How is public relations different from advertising? Is there space for both PR and advertising agencies to exist?
5. How did Blue Focus pivot so quickly into social media? How has its transformation been different from foreign firms?
6. What are the advantages that international agencies have over a local agency?
7. Are language skills important? What does it take to work at a local firm?
8. How can foreign agencies work better with global and local Chinese companies?
9. Do you see the role of foreigners changing within local companies?
10. A/B Test: Strategy, Partnership & 2028 (the future!)
Harriet Gaywood On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-gaywood/
For everything ShanghaiZhan: http://zhanstation.com/
ShanghaiZhan Theme Music: by Bryce Whitwam
https://soundcloud.com/bryce-r-whitwam/bad-cough-syrup?si=cfb30a6e0c0e459da78b912bf60825ac
Bryce on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycewhitwam/
Ali on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikazmi/
1. What's your elevator pitch?
2. What's the state of the Chinese PR industry? Is there room for advertising and PR agencies in today's social media world?
3. What was it like working for a local PR agency? Is there big differences?
4. How is public relations different from advertising? Is there space for both PR and advertising agencies to exist?
5. How did Blue Focus pivot so quickly into social media? How has its transformation been different from foreign firms?
6. What are the advantages that international agencies have over a local agency?
7. Are language skills important? What does it take to work at a local firm?
8. How can foreign agencies work better with global and local Chinese companies?
9. Do you see the role of foreigners changing within local companies?
10. A/B Test: Strategy, Partnership & 2028 (the future!)
Harriet Gaywood On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-gaywood/
For everything ShanghaiZhan: http://zhanstation.com/
ShanghaiZhan Theme Music: by Bryce Whitwam
https://soundcloud.com/bryce-r-whitwam/bad-cough-syrup?si=cfb30a6e0c0e459da78b912bf60825ac
Bryce on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycewhitwam/
Ali on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikazmi/