I’ve always thrived in entrepreneurial environments—whether launching startups or navigating complex corporate assignments. My work is rooted in strategic foresight, piloting innovation at the intersection of technology and government, enabling teams to lead with clarity in environments of change.

My AD journey began in 2004 at UC Berkeley, where I collaborated with Mercedes-Benz on a DSRC V2X project—my first deep dive into autonomous driving. Fast forward to 2018, I participated in the rollout of Volkswagen’s first Autonomous Driving MaaS pilot in China, alongside consulting for various institutions and cities, spanning urban air mobility. These milestones, along with years of consulting for cities worldwide on policy-making, form the backbone of my doctoral research.

Connectivity in vehicles was my early playground in 2000, developing POI services as a bridge between R&D and IT with Mercedes’ Advanced Solution Factory. That led to a series of projects in manufacturing, WeChat QR code applications, real-time insurance monitoring, geo-fencing pilots, and intelligent connected vehicle systems. One of these even evolved into a patent application in the healthcare space.

When I entered China in 2008, I was immediately immersed in localization projects—working with suppliers in regions where English wasn’t spoken and equipment was decades old. What mattered was the spirit to succeed and contribute to quality. Over time, localization matured from basic supplier training to “Design to Profitability” strategies. Yet, English remains a competitive bottleneck for my clients, especially in high-stakes environments.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been deployed by international corporations to serve as a bridge between Chinese teams and European headquarters, or between Chinese headquarters and their joint ventures. The patterns are familiar, the challenges repeat, but the situations are in different settings, which require solutions of cultural fluency with strategic empathy.

I have contributed to academic programmes focused on China’s administrative systems, industrial development strategies, and leadership training for public sector executives. I mentor MBA students and support the accreditation of the SHUMBA program. I’ve coached government officials transitioning into private enterprises, SOE leaders entering startups, and Chinese returnees integrating into state-owned ecosystems.

With 28 years of cross-cultural experience across various industries—IT, IoT, automotive, healthcare, and energy — and countries including India, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, China, the U.S., Germany, France, and Spain, the journey has been rich.