Top China CEOs continue Global Business Education In April Journey to West Point, Stanford and Berkeley

NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, April 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move to attain learning that incorporates the best business knowledge from both hemispheres, a delegation of CEOs and senior executives from 70 of China's key enterprises joined top universities and government and industry leaders on both U.S. coasts in April for a strategic multicultural educational experience. The visit marks the second delegation of top Chinese business leaders from Shanghai Jiaotong University's Global CEO Program, an initiative the partnering organizations hope to repeat annually.

For the 2014 event, the Overseas Education College of Shanghai Jiaotong University joined former U.S. Senator Bob Bennett, chairman of the Bennett Group and partner at Hero Partners, to create a unique learning experience in the U.S. that included direct interaction with key international financial organizations, federal, state and local government officials, and major press organizations including Forbes and Bloomberg News. The visit also includes dialogue with world-class companies in New York and Silicon Valley.

In their homeland these CEOs run some of China's industry leading companies, but in the U.S. they are working to further strengthen their strategic thinking and leadership skills. In addition to meeting with top companies, executives and media organizations, the CEOs will attend training sessions led by business thought leaders at top U.S. universities. Unlike a vacation trip to the U.S., the CEOs see great value in the opportunity to continue learning through additional trainings at West Point, Wharton, Stanford and UC Berkeley. "As China continues to develop, leading Chinese CEOs must become more internationalized and open to learning, as to grow their companies both in and out of China. The Shanghai Jiaotong University Global CEO program provides our group of Chinese CEOs with advanced management training and face-to-face dialogue with key people in the U.S., which helps us understand and participate effectively in the globalized market," said Jiang Zhaobai, Chairman of Shanghai Pengxin Group, a leading Chinese conglomerate with interests in real estate, infrastructure construction, and investment.

"We are pleased to host this tremendous experience," said former Senator Bennett.  "Through my experience in the United States Senate and through years of business experience in Asia, I've learned that China and the U.S. both benefit from stronger and deeper business, governmental and cultural connections. Goodwill isn't enough; both sides must communicate effectively. Our company's communications with China are led by Dan Stephenson, who speaks fluent Mandarin and lived in China for nearly a decade. Together with Shanghai Jiaotong, we have created a unique platform here that allows top leaders from both countries to share more than smiles and handshakes in their meetings together," he said.

"Chinese and American entrepreneurs should find routes to communicate, understand and bond with each other.  Shanghai Jiaotong University wants to be the vehicle to put them together," said Hongxin Wang, Dean of Overseas Education College, Shanghai Jiaotong University.

Justin Hyde, CEO of Hero Partners agrees: "Entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of our American economy. Over the last 30 years, Chinese entrepreneurship has been a revitalizing force in the Chinese economy. As we align our hemispheres, these experiences allow us to strengthen our mutual understanding and partnerships."

The partnering organizations hope to continue the program annually.

About The Shanghai Jiaotong Global CEO Program – U.S. Delegation
Beginning in 2013, delegates of Shanghai's Jiaotong University have aligned with the world's top universities to develop practical, high-end courses for China's top enterprises, incorporating the best innovation and wisdom of both Chinese and Western innovation and organizational trends. The delegates come from all kinds of industries, including but not limited to finance, real estate, manufacturing, consumer electronics, industrial investment, consumer goods and many more. Through this program, Chinese CEOs can join with their U.S. peers and international business thought leaders to learn from each other, and to forge stronger bonds in an effort to become increasingly more effective in attaining their mutual organizational and entrepreneurial goals.

For more information, contact

Hero Partners
Dan Stephenson
[email protected]

Snapp Conner PR
Cheryl Conner
[email protected]

SOURCE Hero Partners