About us

China Partner = Daniela Fehring + independent partners

China Partner is Daniela Fehring. I have been counselling globally operating companies, such as BASF, Bosch, BMW, Credit Suisse, Heraeus, Infineon, McKinsey and Siemens, in Europe and Asia in Chinese, English and German for more than twelve years. The travelling between the countries and continents keeps me up to date and informed.

I value the systemic approach to consulting, acting both as intercultural advisor and trainer and as a stimulant and sparring partner for managing directors, business unit leaders and HR managers.

I have been building up a network of Asian partners in Germany since 1996; their specific country and professional knowledge enhances my own experience.

Daniela Fehring

I have been fascinated by China ever since I started my Sinology degree in Zurich in 1986. Back then, China was not a topic of general discussion, and my relatives criticised me for choosing to study what I did. Through my degree I had the opportunity to get to know the country as far back as 1988 when China was still socialist and it was possible to make very good friends.

My original plan was not only to start my working life in China, in 1994, but also to end it there. Then I met my German husband in Shanghai. Since 1996, I have been living in Germany and working as a freelance intercultural consultant and trainer, not only in Germany and Switzerland, but also in China, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia. Over the course of time I have built up a network of competent Asian partners in Germany who provide me with valuable support.

Recently I have added some “spice” to the intercultural topics in facilitating workshops for the development of female leaders in Asia as well as acting as a consultant and moderator in Post Merger Integration (PMI) processes.

I always take time out to read the FAZ on Saturdays. I particularly like the “What’s your profession” interview in the “Beruf & Chance” supplement and have used it as the basis for answering the following questions:

  • Whoever wants to get anywhere in my business … needs to have worked in China and to visit the country regularly in order to really appreciate the changes that are taking place. The ability to critically challenge your own perceptions time and again is equally important.

  • I look for advice … from my husband and good friends

  • At 18, I wanted to be … an air hostess. Nowadays I am glad I studied Sinology and have been able to track the exciting process of change that has been taking place in Chine for more than 20 years.

  • Looking back, I would … not go to work in Shanghai again without any prior intercultural preparation.

  • Family and career … are not easy to balance when you travel a lot! It’s important to ensure that we take time off together.

  • What makes me happy … when an ongoing dialogue emerges with one of my (end) clients that transcends just consulting. And, of course, the time spent with my husband!

  • A good working day starts with … a cup of green tea prepared the real Chinese way, with fresh leaves in the glass that I keep topping up throughout the morning.

  • I forget the time when … I am leafing through the Chinese dictionary tracing the origin and associations of Chinese words.

  • I advise my goddaughter … to be open-minded and embrace any encounter with people from different countries.

  • What gets me really annoyed … A lack of reliability and honesty among business partners.

Vita

Since 2011
Workshops for female leaders and managers in Shanghai and Tokyo.
Facilitating PMIs (Post Merger Integration processes) in Taiwan.
Since 2005
Expat coaching in Asia
Workshops for Asian managers working for German clients in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea.
1996
China Partner established in Kronberg.
1994-1996
Credit Suisse Zürich and Shanghai: Setting up the HR department in Shanghai, expatriate support, organisation of client events in China and South East Asia.
1994
MA Phil degree, awarded best grade (Thesis: “Develoment of private enterprise in China”).
1992-1993
Semesters spent in Wuhan (PR China) to study developments in private industry.
1991
Management of guided tours to Russia and China.
1990
1-month study visit to Japan.
1988-1990
Studied Modern Chinese History and Language at Wuhan University (PR China).
1986
Studied Modern Sinology and History Science at Zurich University.
1970
Move to Switzerland. School education up to A’Level (Matura) in Wallisellen and Oerlikon/Zurich.
1965
Born in Rio de Janeiro as a Swiss national.

Qualifications

2010
Institute of Life Motives Cologne: Reiss Profile Master
2008
Metalog Bad Staffelstein: EOL workshop (Experience-Oriented Learning Methods)
2006
ICPT Winterthur – Charles Hampden- Turner: ‚International Strategies & Reconciliation of Dilemmas’; – Dr. Sivasailam Thiagarajan: ‚Designing Games & Activities for Team Training’
2003
ICPT Winterthur – Anita Rowe: ‚Managing diversity in organizations‘
2002
ICPT Winterthur – Dr. Janet Bennett and Dr. Milton Bennett: ‚Making organizations intercultural: the role of change agents in institutional transformation‘;– Charles Hampden-Turner: ‚Creating maps of leadership from cross-cultural dilemmas‘
2001
ICPT (ICPT) Winterthur/CH – Dr. Sivasailam Thiagarajan: ‚Interactive experiental strategies for crosscultural training‘
2001
Institut für Systemische Forschung und Beratung, Heidelberg: One-year course in Systemic Consulting
1998
CIP Tramelan – Lynn Witham: ’Designing effective predeparture training for corporations’
1996
CIP Tramelan – Dr. Janet Bennett und Dr. Milton Bennett: ’Intercultural Training Design and Methodology’