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Shad Driggs International Project Manager, |
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Another global thinker, Shad Driggs eyes the opposite side of the globe. He holds the rare distinction of being an American fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Since acquiring this skill during an intensive language course in Taiwan, he has sought positions where he could capitalize on it. The first, as a business consultant in Los Angeles for the Fong Yuen International Group of Hong Kong, was not the most pleasant. "I'm Mormon, so it was very awkward for me to fit into the Chinese business culture in which drinking and smoking is a big part," he admits.
But what most left an impression on Shad was an illustration of the incredible leverage individuals have to create their own success. "I discovered that even in a place like China, someone with ability and drive can succeed. My boss had no formal schooling, he left a peasant farm at the age of seven to work in a factory and hawk wares on the street. He taught himself to read and write, developed business skills through trial and error, and is a very wealthy man today, even by American standards," says Shad.
"I'd really like to work for a multi-national corporation with business in greater China. There are tremendous opportunities in Asia." Shad says he eventually will consider going into government. "I would love to set policies for the United States that help make the world more stable and prosperous. Perhaps that's my underlying motivation -- business is one way to lift people out of poverty."
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