Keynotes & lectures
You can book Ardi Bouwers as a keynote speaker or discussion moderator on subjects ranging from geopolitical consequences of China’s rise and international communication, to China’s culture & identity.
Training & workshops
We offer interactive and insightful training sessions on China strategies, Chinese politics, intercultural communication & leadership for you and your team. In our beautiful workspace in The Hague or at your location.
Research & advice
We do in-depth research and provide strategic advice to for-profit and non-profit organisations on (geo) political and intercultural issues, focusing on both Chinese and Dutch & European points of view.
Keynote Presentations
Ardi Bouwers has the unique combination of in-depth knowledge about China – acquired during her studies in Leiden and over more than four decades of visiting the country – and a broad experience in strategic advice, intercultural communication, journalism and broadcast management.
She gives keynote speeches to government officials, business executives and institutions of higher education in the Netherlands and China on politics, media and society of China in the 21st Century. In China, she mostly teaches on international journalism, intercultural communication and management.
Ardi is also an experienced interviewer and enthusiastic moderator of discussions.
What clients say
“For a lot of Westerners, Asia is unknown territory. The keynote was tremendously insightful and presented by someone who seemed to have unlimited knowledge about the subject.”
“I really appreciated the consideration of a Chinese perspective, the lecturer’s depth of knowledge and ability to communicate in a clear way.”
“The keynote was really fascinating even for someone who knew very little about China before.”
“I think Ms. Bouwers did a fantastic job of transitioning to online presenting”
(switching from face tot face to Zoom sessions during the Covid-19 crisis)
“We zijn nog aan het nagenieten van je presentatie. We hebben enorm veel positieve reacties ontvangen.”
How to book
You can also book Ardi Bouwers as a keynote speaker or discussion moderator via the international speakers bureau Athenas.
Rates for keynotes and business lunches depend on length and whether the content is off-the-shelf, adapted or originally produced.
NEW: Is your company or organisation prepared for the Chinese Century? An inspiring business lunch in cooperation with Krijger & Partners. More information here.
Contact us for more information:
ardi@chinacircle.nl or call+316-2323 4404
Example selection of keynote topics
The China Challenge, impact of the politicised business environment on Dutch companies in China:
Commissioned by the LeidenAsiaCentre, China Circle and Krijger & Partners conducted a joint study focused on the influence of the highly politicized Chinese climate of doing business in and with China for Dutch companies. Download this July 2020 report at www.leidenasiacentre.nl.
Storytelling for Business:
How to tell the story of your product & service to your Chinese counterpart & audience. Storytelling techniques help to convey your core message across cultures in your own style.
Hospitality for Chinese guests:
Effective intercultural communication and understanding some aspects of Chinese culture is key to think from your guest’s perspective and adapt your approach.
Effective Negotiating Across Cultures & Effective Intercultural Leadership
Increase your effectiveness in communication, negotiation and building trust.
Chinese Identity and History
When dealing with China, it is of great help when you understand the way China sees its own history and its place in the world. Take a look in the Chinese mirror, from ‘the century of humiliation’ to Xi Jinping’s ‘great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation’.
Scenarios for China in 2049
China is known for its long-term perspective. Let’s build some scenarios for when the People’s Republic of China turns 100. This approach gives many insights in issues in present-day China.
Example selection of workshops and trainings
Your China strategy
– Evaluating the consequences of China’s rise and Chinese political developments for your organization
Telling your story across borders
– Creating a new narrative for your services, cities, products and more.
Effective leadership across cultures
– About hierarchy, feedback and trust.
Negotiating in the Netherlands and China
– Useful hands on training for Dutch, Chinese and other internationals
Circles and straight lines
– Understanding and improving East-West communication.
Why do we have to adapt (and not them)?
– About perceptions, intentions and what is considered ‘normal’.
Storytelling, from Confucius to social media
– Dealing with delicate issues? Trying to build East-West bridges? Age-old storytelling techniques help to convey your core message across cultures in a 21st century style. More info here.
Storytelling in the Digital Age
– Storytelling for business, targeting technical and non-technical people. Stories are ‘data with a soul’ and can easily bridge cultural differences.
Effective Intercultural Leadership
– Hierarchical or egalitarian? Top-down or consensual? How to motivate your multicultural team, solicit input and give feedback.
New:
China business lunches and China policy lunches
In cooperation with Krijger & Partners, China Circle presents highly interactive lunch sessions on China’s rise and its implications for international business and government, by Alex and Ardi, complemented by your choice of speaker: for example Ties Dams, Ed Kronenburg, Bei Wang or Valérie Hoeks. By the end of the lunch, you and your company will be better equipped for the Chinese Century.
For more information and requests for tailor-made offers, please contact:
ardi@chinacircle.nl or call +31-6-2323 4404.
Trainings & Workshops
Eastern and Western communication and management styles differ greatly. China Circle offers insightful training on intercultural management and communication for you and your team. Packed with visual examples and exercises on diverging perceptions and communication styles, we improve understanding by switching between perspectives.
Ardi Bouwers and Tao Yue are both certified trainers using the Intercultural Readiness Check and the Diversity Icebreaker. Ardi’s two decades of experience in international journalism – with a special focus on cultural differences – has provided her with a sharp eye and ear for how a message comes across. Ardi and Tao are perfectly equipped to help you and your team to tailor your presentation, video or brochure to an audience from another continent. If you want intercultural feedback when preparing for an important keynote presentation, you can ask for one-on-one consulting sessions. If you want to adapt your video production or company brochure to a new audience, we offer customized workshops to make a group or a team more aware of cultural differences and barriers.
Our wonderful workshop space
If you want an inspiring location for your workshop you are more than welcome in our workshop space – with a zen-like atmosphere and an intimate green garden – in the center of The Hague. We offer excellent espresso, tasty teas, cookies & chocolate and more. The space has proven to be excellent for half-day, full-day and even two-day training and workshop sessions. Another location of your choice is possible as well.
Intercultural management
Our Intercultural Readiness Check–group-workshop provides all participants with a deep understanding of their individual intercultural sensitivity, intercultural communication, skills of building commitment and managing uncertainty. Before the workshop, all participants will be asked to fill out a scientifically tested questionnaire and they receive a personal 10-page feedback report. That provides a firm basis for dealing with questions such as: How to improve communication with your Dutch or Chinese counterpart? What is a consequence of personality and what of cultural differences?
The Diversity Icebreaker tool enables us to learn about personality and East-West cultural differences in a non-threatening environment. Fill out a short questionnaire, discover your preferences and the differences between ‘me’ and ‘you’ in a light-hearted and fun way. The Diversity Icebreaker is also an excellent tool for an in-company training session, cementing ties in your Chinese/Dutch team, as it makes people reflect, ask, listen and talk to each other.
We also offer Personal Coaching on the basis of your IRC, especially aimed at managers and team members of Dutch companies operating in China and vice versa. We will deal with questions such as: How to cope with diversity in your team? How to lead your team when one colleague is un-cooperative? How to perform well, if your boss seems to ignore you? How to make your partner feel at home in The Netherlands or China, too?
A standard workshop is 3 hours.
For larger groups we work with 2 facilitators.
Of course, our workshops and training sessions can be tailored to your specific needs. Prices will be adjusted, depending on extra preparation and development time. All workshops are suitable for diverse groups and teams: Dutch and Chinese, Asian and European or any other East-West mix.
We prefer small workshop groups, with a minimum of 6 and maximum of 16 participants.
Coaching is individual, unless you request group coaching.
We usually work with two facilitators, one from Europe and one from Asia.
Research & Advice
China Circle specializes in East-West communication, storytelling and media. Our decades-long experience in international journalism and broadcasting provides us with all necessary tools to produce the most effective communication strategies across cultures.
We advise commercial, governmental and non-governmental organisations on strategic communication issues in general, and our hearts start to beat faster when you allow us to take a critical look at your communication products – ranging from promotional videos, powerpoint presentations to corporate brochures – in order to customize them with a specific audience in mind.
Training and workshops
We love to involve different people in your organisation in the process of developing and adapting stories and communication products. One way of doing that is by way of fun, interactive and eye-opening training sessions and group-workshops. Those in-company sessions will make team members aware of cultural barriers and how to overcome them.
We can provide one-on-one training to help prepare for an important keynote presentation.
Research
Upon request, we conduct research into new trends in China on communication, storytelling and media related issues, in your field of business.
Commonly requested impact
For Dutch and European organisations
We can add a Chinese touch: Chinese audiences appreciate it when you include some Chinese text in your presentation slides, for example, colors might have a different meaning, and make sure you include relevant data and the right tone of voice to convince your audience. We also offer strategic advice on how to deal with or steer clear of sensitive cultural or political issues.
For Chinese organisations
We can help with positioning your company, the way you tell your story, the type of information you present, your choice of messenger, the overall design and (last but not least) the length of your presentation, video or brochure. Your videos need to tell your story in less than 3 minutes. And be aware that long lists of Chinese names, historical dates and data usually do not work well with foreign audiences. We love to help you ‘kill those darlings’, as the journalist motto goes.
Contact us for more information:
ardi@chinacircle.nl or call+316-2323 4404