Why I Quit My Job In 2020

In summer 2020, I took a massive risk. I quit a stable job in the midst of the pandemic and global lockdown, in order to pursue my vision for Canadian Ecosystem Institute (CEI). My conviction about the value and promise of CEI has led dozens of others to join us, despite the pandemic.

You could say I have a habit of making big, perhaps a little recklessly bold, but still carefully considered jumps in my life and career.

My first jump was to study Chinese Language and Literature in central China at the age of 19 (I later became the first foreigner to ever graduate from this program at the university).

My second jump was after graduation, giving up an opportunity for a fully paid Master’s Degree with stipend in China, deciding instead to join Canada’s largest egg producer Burnbrae Farms. I became a farmer for a few years, and I loved it. While there, I helped Burnbrae Farms successfully complete the company’s first-ever sale of equipment to a Chinese partner, and also helped the company pass its first-ever company-wide BRC food safety audit across Canada.

My third jump was to leave Burnbrae Farms despite having made so many incredible lifelong friends there, and facing some great career prospects, instead deciding to start my own company WIP Consulting at the age of 26 and returning to China to help Canadian companies build and expand their business in China.

My fourth jump was to move to Shenzhen after many years running WIP Consulting in Suzhou. I joined Huawei Technologies and pursued an MBA at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). This jump led to me having the opportunity to return to Canada, and eventually Vancouver.

My fifth (and current) jump was in 2020, when I had the idea to do something big and perhaps a little reckless given the circumstances. I quit my full-time job in the middle of the pandemic, to start a new company.

In an era of conflict, disagreement, and disengagement, I hope to be a force for positive connection, bridge-building, and engagement between Asia Pacific and North America.

Why I founded CEI:

It was during a zoom meeting early in the pandemic and lockdown that I had the inspiration to start CEI. I was speaking to a group of university students, sharing insights about the future of technology and giving them advice about their future careers. We were into the Q&A section, and I was speaking to a soon-to-be university graduate in Toronto, who asked me: “Should I stay in Canada, or should I go back to China? As someone from China, I am worried about integrating into Canadian society. I’m worried about starting a family here, and I don’t know what I could do in the future”.

That question got me thinking about who exactly could help minorities or international companies from Asia Pacific wanting to do business in North America. Who actually understood their strengths and needs and could help them build their brand and business? What about North American companies in China? This was about more than just helping with import/export or networking events. I realized I had stumbled upon a massive, innovative, and exciting idea. I knew in that instant that I was going to quit my job very soon, with some mix of chagrin and resignation, thinking about the tough road sure to follow (I had started a company before and knew how hard it was going to be). CEI was born.

Later that year, I hired that student (her name is Du Yang), and she is now Director of Chinese Content Development at CEI. She is living happily in Vancouver with no plans to leave Canada, and now manages a team of 6 people. (Thanks Du Yang).

My company Canadian Ecosystem Institute has a unique value proposition: we help companies evolve beyond “export and import”, empowering companies to truly localize their brands and grow in North America through branding, communication, and localization. We also do the opposite, helping North American companies localize and build their brands in Asia Pacific, especially in China. We empower companies to evolve beyond import/export, and help them take direct control of their business, brand, and media communications in Asia.

That's why I quit my job in 2020. Thanks to my background (15+ years in China) and expertise in business, communications, branding, and content, I recognized this important growing need for greater connection between North America and Asia Pacific, especially in business. If you’re doing business in Asia Pacific or North America, I hope you will join us - I’d love to hear more.

I’ll be sharing more insights soon on business and culture between Asia Pacific and North America. Stay tuned for more.

Chris

Canadian Ecosystem Institute is a signatory of the Canadian Government's “50-30 challenge”, with a gender-balanced core team and board, and strong minority group representation across the company. I can be reached at [email protected]