Xindanwei | 新单位 A new way of working | 一种新的工作方式

November 29, 2011

November Featured People: Rina Joosten-Rabou | 人物(十一月):Rina Joosten-Rabou

Filed under: People | 人物 — Tags: — yy211 @ 4:43 pm

[lang_en]November Featured People: Rina Joosten-Rabou

Interview &Translation / yan Liu and Steffi Chen
Left: Rina Joosten-Rabou / Right: Rosalie Greven

1. Welcome to Xindanwei.com, Please introduce yourself. Could you tell us where you’re from and how you got started in the field?

I’m from the Netherlands. I started 4.5 years ago with this company called International Top Talent, together with my business partner Rosalie Greven. We help Dutch innovation centres, universities and companies to recruit and select Chinese top scientists and researchers for positions in the Netherlands or China. Before that I used to work in a big multi-national company called DSM. At that time DSM also encountered challenges in finding good researchers for positions in the Netherlands, but I met really good scientists and young technical talents in China. That’s how we got the idea to start International Top Talent together with Rosalie Greven. She started the business here in Shanghai the last four years, while I was responsible for the office in Amsterdam.

2.You are one of the first members of Xindanwei, we’ve been watching ITT growing from 2 people to a team of 7 and still growing. How do you feel along the way of developing this project? 

During these 4.5 years our clients keep coming back to us with more projects. One program we are running now is for the Dutch Polymer Institute, an innovation program in Netherland. It’s been 3 years we’ve been working for them in attracting and selecting top scientists in China in the field of polymer science. We are also organizing a large event to recruit quantitative PhD and Master students in scientific fields who wants to do a master degree in finance or banking in Netherland.

3.What is your biggest challenge at the moment in your project?

The good Chinese talents are also wanted by other countries such as the US and UK. The talents who went to Netherland are eventually very happy, but most Chinese talents don’t find the Netherlands easily. My biggest challenge now is to make sure that we promote the Netherlands in China to attract top researchers for interesting positions in the Netherlands. Chinese top talent is really wanted, so you have to make sure you act really fast.

4.What is your motivation in doing this job? What keeps you doing it? 

I think the nicest thing about my job is working with people. It is very rewarding when you can help talented Chinese professionals in their career and to connect them to interesting Dutch institutes and cooperations. International Top Talent is now also asked to advice the Dutch government on how to enhance the knowledge cooperation between China and the Netherlands. In this way both countries can create a win/win situation.

5.How do you see the fact that a lot of Chinese talents going overseas? Some people see it as a loss of resources. 

I see it from a building bridge perspective. These Chinese talents go overseas to exchange knowledge with for example Dutch scientists. They learn about new technologies and at the same time they also bring in their own knowledge. ,When Chinese professionals come back to China, they can help to build a better China. At the same time, these Chinese who spent a few years in the Netherlands can act as the best ambassadors for the Netherlands. They can also help Dutch companies grow in China. If you look at it this way you see that it´s not a loss of resources but creating a win-win.

6.What would you like to say to other entrepreneurs who are trying to build a business in China? 

There are a couple of things that are really important. First of all you need to have good people in your company, someone you trust, someone with a good network because you need network here. Secondly, a flexible attitude to adapt things in a Chinese way. Thirdly, know your own business model, it helps you to focus on what you do, because there are so many opportunities here it is very easy to get lost. Be patient. Everyone talks about growth in China but there’s also fierce competition. Take at least 3 years to build your company instead of expecting revenue in the first year.

7.Why did you choose Xindanwei and in what way can Xindanwei help you?

In the beginning, as a small company we did not have many colleagues, but we need colleagues to brainstorm, bring different ideas and energy. Xindanwei provides a great platform of bringing together entrepreneurs and professionals from different backgrounds.

8.Thanks again for providing Xindanwei.com this opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts for our readers?

In the past 6 months we’ve been followed by Dutch documentary VPRO Tegenlicht “Holland Gets Talent”, in which you are provided insights in how International Top Talents recruits top talents from China. On the 6th of December we will organize an event to watch the documentary, followed by a debate together with DSM, Philips, the BenCham and the Consulate of the Netherlands on how we can create a win-win situation in Sino-Dutch innovation and talent cooperation. For more information please visit www.internationaltoptalent.com. Please be invited to come. Anyone interested please send us an email at synthia.yin@internationaltoptalent.com and you will put you on the guest list.

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[lang_cn]人物(十一月):Rina Joosten-Rabou

采访和翻译/刘妍 和 Steffi 陈
左: Rina Joosten-Rabou / 右: Rosalie Greven

问:欢迎来到xindanwei.com,请先介绍一下您自己。告诉我们您是从哪儿来,又是如何开始从事您所在的领域的呢?

答:我来自荷兰。四年半以前我和我的搭档Rosalie Greven一起创办了现在这个公司,叫International Top Talent(ITT)。我们帮助荷兰的创新中心、大学和企业在中国寻找和招募顶级科学家和研究人员,包括在荷兰和中国的职位。在此之前,我在DSM,一家大型跨国公司工作。当时,DSM也遇到了寻找好的研究人员的挑战。但是我在中国遇到了很多优秀的科学家和年轻技术人才。这就是我和Rosalie Greven怎么想到创办ITT的。在过去四年中,她负责在上海发展业务,而我主要在阿姆斯特丹的办公室工作。

问:你们是新单位最早的成员之一。我们见证了ITT 从两个人成长到现在7个人的团队,并且仍在不断成长。在发展这一项目的一路上,你有什么感想?

答:在过去四年半中,客户不断再次与我们合作,并带来新的项目。目前我们手上的一个项目就是荷兰聚合物研究所,一个荷兰的创新项目委托。我们已经为他们工作了三年,在中国寻找在聚合物领域中的顶级科学家。我们同时在组织一项大型的活动来招募想去荷兰深造金融和银行专业的中国研究生,主要是科学类的硕士和博士生。

问:你项目中目前最大的挑战是什么?

答:优秀的中国人才被许多国家所追捧,比如美国和英国。哪些选择去荷兰的人才最终都很满意,但是大多数中国人才从并不了解荷兰。我目前最大的挑战是在中国推广荷兰,吸引顶级人才来荷兰工作。中国的优秀人才非常受欢迎,我们必须用快速行动去争取他们。

问:你工作最大的动力是什么?又是什么让你一直做下去?

答:我想我工作最好的地方就是与人打交道。当你帮助那些好的人才在职业上更进一步,在有意思的荷兰研究机构或企业找到工作时,是很有成就感的。ITT目前正在作为顾问为荷兰政府提供关于如何加强中荷两国知识合作的建议,创造两国双赢的局面。

问:你如何看待许多中国人才出国的现象?许多人认为这是一种资源的流逝。

答:对于这个问题,我从一个建立桥梁的角度来看。这些中国人才到国外与外国科学家交流(比如荷兰科学家)。在学习新技术的同时,他们也带来自己的知识。回国之后,他们可以为建设更美好的中国贡献力量。与此同时,这些在荷兰待了一段时间的中国人是荷兰最好的代言人。他们也可以帮助荷兰企业在中国成长。如果从这个角度来看的话,这不是一种资源的流逝,而是双赢。

问:对于其他想要在中国创业的创业者,你有什么想说的吗?

有几件事非常重要。首先,你需要优秀的人为你工作,你可以信赖,有好的关系网的人。其次,灵活地适应在中国做事的方式。第三,清楚地知道你的商业模式,它帮助你专注在你要做的事情上。因为在这里机会如此之多,很容易迷失。每个人都在说中国增长的速度有多么快,但别忘了竞争也是十分激烈的。花上三年的时间来建立你的公司,不要指望第一年就能盈利。

问:你为什么选择新单位?新单位在哪些方面能够帮到你的事业?

在最初创业的时候,我们的团队没有多少同事,但是我们需要同事带来不同的想法和能量。新单位提供了一个很好的平台,聚合来自不同背景的创业者和专业人士。

问:再次感谢您给xindanwei.com这个采访您的机会。您还有什么相对读者说的吗?

答:在过去6个月里荷兰的VPRO Tegenlicht纪录片摄制组追随我们拍摄了《荷兰得到人才》纪录片。这部片子讲述了ITT是如何在中国寻找和招募顶级人才。12月6日我们将组织一场活动来播放这部片子,之后将会联合DSM, Philips,  BenCham和荷兰领事馆来组织一场大型的辩论,探讨如何创造中荷两国创新和人才合作的双赢局面。跟过信息可以访问visit www.internationaltoptalent.com。我们欢迎您的参加。如果有兴趣的话,可以给我们发邮件:synthia.yin@internationaltoptalent.com, 我们将把您放在邀请名单上。

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