Tom Doctoroff is CEO of JWT Greater China and author of the book Billions: Selling to the New Chinese Consumer. In this interview Doctoroff talks about the “Confucian conflict” that affects how modern Chinese spend their money. Doctoroff argues that while Chinese are driven by their egos, they do not display genuine individualism in the way Westerners do.
Doctoroff summarizes his point of view like this:
My overall point is that culture is relative and we Westerners have to open our eyes to differing fundamental motivations. Cultures do evolve. The process however is slow and the evolutionary path is always consistent with deeply held beliefs (i.e., cultural “imperatives”). There are human truths and cultural truths. Both need to be approached with an open mind.
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- Tom Doctoroff’s Book: Billions: Selling to the New Chinese Consumer