Wang Daofeng: “I act as a bridge between China and France”

Hailing from China, Wang Daofeng spent three years in France, during which he completed a Master’s degree at SKEMA. This experience launched him into a brilliant career where he acts as a bridge between China and France. After working for years in a Parisian architectural firm, today he is thriving in his role as Director of Marketing for Citic-Schneider Smart Building Technology Ltd, a Sino-foreign joint venture between CITIC Group and Schneider Electric set up to find smart solutions to the energy overconsumption problem.

Can you tell us about your education and work experience?

First I completed a Bachelor of Finance in southern China. Then, in 2006, I headed to France to study at SKEMA, in Lille, where I completed a Master’s degree in Auditing, Management Control and Information Systems. Before going over there to study, I had no links to France but I was very drawn to it. Plus I figured that speaking a third foreign language could give me an edge on a professional level. SKEMA is a high-level, very diversified school and it’s one of the best business schools in France. It has obtained all three certifications: EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA. Unlike other schools, SKEMA focuses more on practical application when teaching. That is very useful for students.

Has the education you received in France had an impact on your career?

My studies at SKEMA gave me knowledge and a work method that I didn’t have before going to France. Going from the Chinese culture to the French culture at this school made me discover a new way of learning and thinking. That was the most important thing I learned.

After my studies I returned to China, where I had the opportunity to work as an agency manager for GCG Architect Limited, a Parisian architectural firm that designs buildings all around the globe. I was travelling back and forth between China and France and acted as the liaison between Chinese clients and French architects. It was very interesting to be the intermediary between these two cultures.

After that, I worked as a Business Manager for CITIC Group. CITIC Group has become a large State-owned multinational conglomerate with a wide range of businesses covering financial services, resources and energy, manufacturing, engineering contracting, real estate and more. CITIC Group ranked 149th in the Fortune Global 500 in 2018. Among other things, I had the opportunity to manage the excellent partnership project between CITIC and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR), which involved setting up a wine estate in the province of Shandong. It was a major project that presented a number of challenges and it required someone who could speak French and act as a bridge between the French and Chinese cultures.

Can you tell us about the company you’re working for at the moment?

Early last year, CITIC Group formed a joint venture with the French electronics group Schneider Electric. I currently work there as Director of Sales and Marketing.

Citic-Schneider Smart Building Technology Ltd was set up to find concrete solutions to the energy overconsumption problem, through the construction of equipment designed to reduce energy consumption. Its goal is to transform today’s energy consumption into “smarter” energy. This is something I find very important and it is being increasingly developed in China and all around the world.

Can you describe your current position for us?

As Director of Marketing, my job is to find energy-intensive old buildings in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, use new technologies to resolve any energy efficiency issues, exploit the potential value of the buildings and promote that in all cities. For new buildings, I have to influence the property developers during the design and drafting stage, to make them see the advantages of very smart and highly energy efficient buildings. I’m responsible for promoting the concept of smart buildings, which improve everyone’s quality of life.

What has this work experience between China and France brought you?

Before going to France, I had lived for about twenty years in China. By immersing myself in the French culture I was able to develop a new way of seeing things and of thinking. My points of view from the French culture and the Chinese culture complement each other and allow me to work on both sides by acting as a bridge between the two countries.

Interview by Soraya Ben Aziza (lepetitjournal.com) for SKEMA Alumni