How Technology Can Shape Soft Power

Senior business executives and policy experts from leading global private and public institutions will share their insights on how high-tech companies are reshaping the foundations of soft power at an upcoming Asia House conference, held in partnership with Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) and IE China Center.

As the world becomes increasingly globalised and interconnected, high-tech companies have become important ambassadors of a country’s soft power. This digital conference will discuss the instrumental role high-tech companies can play in cultivating positive perceptions, projecting influence, and establishing meaningful connections with global audiences. The dialogue will examine the opportunities for harnessing high-tech companies’ branding and products to drive innovation, form strategic partnerships, and address global challenges.

The conference will also serve as a launch event for the report ‘Fuel the Soft Power: The Role of High Tech Companies in the Soft Power Rivalry between China and United States’, co-produced by IE University and CKGSB.

For more information about this digital conference, please contact Lin Cong, Programme Producer: lin.cong@asiahouse.co.uk

REGISTER NOW TO PARTICIPATE ONLINE VIA THE LINK HERE

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Tao Zhigang

Professor of Strategy and Economics, Associate Dean for Global Programs, CKGSB

Tao Zhigang is Professor of Strategy and Economics at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. He taught at University of Hong Kong from 1998 to 2021, and at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from 1992 to 1998. Professor Tao received his B.Sc. in management science from Fudan University in 1986, and PhD in economics from Princeton University in 1992. He has published in various economics and management journals, and his work has been widely cited.

Dr Sean Randolph

Senior Director, Bay Area Council Economic Institute

Dr Sean Randolph is Senior Director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. His extensive career in politics spans through his roles in the U.S. State Department, as officer for Asia on the Policy Planning Staff, Special Adviser for Policy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and as Deputy/Ambassador-at Large for Pacific Basin affairs. Sean was subsequently appointed U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs. During his work in the private sector, Sean was International Director General of the Pacific basin Economic Council, an international organisation leading US, Asian and Latin American Corporations and latterly as Managing Director of the RSR Pacific Group, an international business consulting firm.

PANEL

Mona Lotten

Head of Soft Power Research and Insight, the British Council

Mona Lotten is the Head of Soft Power Research and Insight at the British Council, a position she holds alongside the role of co-convenor of the British Foreign Policy group and the UK Soft Power Group. She began her career in the British Council’s Africa and South Asia regional directorates before going on to the position of Private Secretary to the Chair of the British Council. Mona went on to hold a number of positions in the organisations policy and external relations functions. Mona holds a first degree in Social Anthropology, Geography and Psychology from the University of Oslo and an MSc in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Shi Weilei (Stone)

Professor of Managerial Practice, CKGSB

Shi Weilei (Stone) is a Professor of Managerial Practice at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB), with a Ph.D. in Strategic Management from Katz School of Business. His holds several positions as an Associate Editor at the Journal of Management Studies, council member at Shanghai Advanced Institute for Financial Research, committee member at Chongqing Liangjiang Research Institute—Shanghai Jiaotong University. He has also served as a professor at SAIF-SJTU, Zicklin School of Business, and held executive roles at Antai School of Economics and Management. Before academia, he worked at Roland Berger Strategy Consultancy in Shanghai, focusing on market entry strategy and organizational restructure, among other areas, and he currently acts as an entrepreneur advisor and independent director on multiple company boards.

Ma Bin

Academic Director, IE China Center

Professor Ma Bin is behavioural scientist specializing in leadership, cross-cultural management, and innovation within the business landscape. His work features in esteemed academic journals, with recognition through research grants and awards. He currently serves as an associate editor of the journal Applied Psychology: an International Review, as well as editorial board member of a few other journals. As a business school educator, Professor Ma has teaching experiences in both undergraduate and graduate programs in China, the United States, and Europe, honored with multiple teaching excellence awards. Beyond academia, he offers regular business consulting to multinational corporations. He was also an entrepreneur before his academic career.

Jonathan McClory

Partner at Sanctuary Counsel, Soft Power Expert

Jonathan McClory is a Partner at Sanctuary Counsel, a Westminster Based advisory firm. Before joining the private sector Jonathon began his career as a Research Fellow at the think tank Policy Exchange and as Senior Researcher at the Institute of Government (IfG) where he developed the world’s first composite index for measuring the soft power of countries. Jonathan joined Winkreative where he oversaw branding strategy before latterly moving to consultancy for the London office of the Boston Consulting Group. He subsequently moved to Portland, first as General Manager for Asia and then to the Government Advisory practice of Portland as Partner following relocation from Singapore to London where his work included the creation of the annual study: The Soft Power 30.