University of Helsinki
Doing business in China is often viewed as something distant, unfamiliar and challenging, demanding one to understand a completely different culture and working habits to achieve success. Yet, it is commonly acknowledged that China’s economic rise provides enormous opportunities for foreign business. Mr. Lauri Tammi, CEO of Slush Beijing 2015, consultant and an active entrepreneur in China, is an inspiring personality who has constantly pushed Sino-Finnish cooperation forward on numerous spheres for over a decade. Mr. Tammi’s perspective offers an encouraging view of what doing business in China might feel like.
Mr. Tammi has a varied and active background on China through study and research, business, and innovation and technology. Before delving into the world of Chinese entrepreneurship, Mr. Tammi has been living the “Chinese dream” by gathering experience in start-ups and companies in China. In 2015, he brought the famous Slush Helsinki to Beijing. He built a team and inspired a group of volunteers to realize the event with very little outside support. He then gained experience as a Community Manager at Nihao, a Chinese service provider and network startup, and as a Health IT Consultant on China for a leading Nordic data management business, AVAINTEC.
With his diverse background, Mr. Tammi has recently commenced with consultancy. His company helps Chinese businesses to internationalize and provides support for Finnish businesses to work with the Chinese. “I had to try different things to know what I really want to do. As I gathered experience, it was time to establish my own business. There is always limits to self-actualization when you are working for somebody else,” he says over a WeChat phone call, an app that is being used not only for instant messaging and phone calls, but also for shopping and payment, ordering a cab, and for public social media – just one example of how overwhelming the internet sector is in China.
But isn’t it difficult to enter the Chinese market as a foreigner? “Finnish people are highly valued and trusted in China. Here I can do things on a much bigger scale than in Finland. I feel that I have a competitive advantage simply by being a Finn,” Mr. Tammi explains. “Finland is a big buzz word in China right now. Finnish people and products are respected here. This in itself gives you a competitive edge.”
However, the complex Chinese environment is very different from the Nordic rules-based society. Certain adaptability is therefore required to grasp the massive opportunities of starting and doing business in China. “Of course, the Chinese culture is more complex and versatile for a person coming from Finland. A flexible attitude and an open mind get you far. You need to be sincerely interested in the culture and the people here. If you do, being a Finn opens many doors.”
Also, there are personal challenges and questions to examine. “As anywhere else, you need to consider your financial and family situation – whether you may plan for long-term living in China, or if you prefer to work from Finland.” With anyone planning a China-related career, especially if it involves living in the country, Mr. Tammi encourages learning Mandarin. “Knowing how to speak the language not only opens new business opportunities, but also improves the quality of everyday life.”
Mr. Tammi encourages all interested in China to take a small risk and experiment with the possibility of working in China. He is confident that China offers a wide range of research and job opportunities in a number of fields. “China is a place where one can realize him or herself. There is so much going on, especially in the tech sector. When doing business, the administrative and the legal aspects are of great importance. There is great potential in Sino-Finnish cooperation in this regard.”
For students interested to learn about Chinese business and law, the Center’s member universities a variety of relevant courses. Dr. Yihong Zhang, Finnish China Law Center, will be offering the following courses at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Law, in the coming academic year:
By Cristina D. Juola