Multicultural taste of life

Jo Lusby, managing director with Penguin Books China

Excerpts

From Japan to China: “At that time, Japan had become very much aware of the rise of China and the growth of China. So while I was living in Japan, all of the news is about the opportunity, the changing relationship and how Japan was going to work with China in a different way in the future. So when I was finished with my job in Japan, I thought I should come to China and have a look. I never particularly planned to stay long. But in the end it was just always because things were continuing to grow and continuing to change, it kept me with new opportunities. So I ended up staying for longer.”

Changing perception toward China: “It has surprised me. I didn’t expect stay here very long. I think there’s something that is very accepting about the way of life here. I feel as though I can be myself here. I live a life which is feeling honest about myself, which is a good thing. And that surprised me about China. I didn’t expect to find myself having such good opportunities and to be able to make the choices about my life and my job that I’m able to make here. I think it’s a place where people respect your desire to do things. People in England are certainly very familiar with Chinese entrepreneur spirit. And I feel very strongly here as well as the Chinese who live here. So that entrepreneurship is something I appreciated.”