With WANG Ning.
In this episode of ChinaConnect, we speak with Mr. WANG Ning, Vice General Manager of Yinlun Group and CEO & President of Yinlun Group Europe, about how Chinese business culture functions in practice — beyond formal organisational charts and official meetings. Drawing on his experience in senior leadership roles at major German automotive companies and in German–Chinese industrial cooperation, he explains the concept of "shadow organisations" and informal decision-makers, how to identify the real power structures behind negotiations, and why trust-building and informal exchanges are essential for success. Listeners gain actionable insights on navigating communication gaps, ensuring the right stakeholders receive the right information, and understanding why publicly stated goals may differ from operational priorities. WANG Ning also reflects on strategic differences: when German precision, long-term planning, and risk minimisation are advantageous — and when speed, flexibility, and rapid iteration, typical of Chinese firms, can create competitive advantage. Listeners come away with practical tools to operate more effectively in German–Chinese business cooperation.

With Erin Bargeld.
In this episode, we explore how investment, ecosystems, and talent development connect Germany, China, and global innovation hubs with investor and ecosystem builder Erin Bargeld. Born in China, raised in the US, and now based in Berlin, Erin shares insights from more than 15 years in the startup world, including early involvement with companies like Delivery Hero. We discuss what makes Berlin attractive for international founders and investors, how the city compares to China's speed and Silicon Valley's scale, and why strong networks, education, and the right regulatory environment are essential for a thriving ecosystem. The conversation also looks ahead to the future of work, highlighting why teams matter more than ideas, how AI is reshaping careers, and what skills the next generation of entrepreneurs will need to succeed.

With Dr. FANG Man.
In this episode of ChinaConnect – Your Guide for Research and Transfer, we speak with Dr. FANG Man, psychologist and psychotherapist trained in China and Germany, about the evolution and practice of psychology in China. With over 20 years of experience, she shares insights into the field’s development—from early Western and German influences, through disruption during the Cultural Revolution, to today’s efforts to localise psychological theory and practice.
The discussion explores how cultural factors such as "face," relationships, and harmony shape the expression of psychological distress, as well as the integration of Western clinical methods with traditional Chinese practices like body-based therapies and TCM. The episode also addresses rising mental health diagnoses among young people in urban China and ongoing debates around medicalisation. Drawing on her work in trauma and disaster response, Dr. Fang compares strengths of emergency psychological support systems in China and Germany.