Online Careers Panel

Work in the Australia-China space continues to evolve, offering a wealth of opportunities for those interested in business, education, law, and international relations. Our recent ‘Women in Australia-China Careers’ online panel, the ACYA Women’s Network, delved into the remarkable experiences of Emma Pitt (Manager of Global Learning @ RMIT), Gabi Powell Thomas (Consultant @ Nous Group), and Daisy Wu (Author and Founder @ Multilingual Connectors), who all have deep connections to the Australia-China space through their education and work experience.

中澳领域的职场不断发展，为那些对商业、教育、法律和国际关系感兴趣的人士提供了大量机遇。在近期举办的 “Women in Australia-China Careers” 线上座谈会，由ACYA Women’s Network承办，邀请了 Emma Pitt (Manager of Global Learning @ RMIT), Gabi Powell Thomas (Consultant @ Nous Group) and Daisy Wu (Author and Founder @ Multilingual Connectors),她们每一个人，都凭借各自独特的求学之路与丰富的职场历练，在中澳这片广阔天地深深扎根，书写着属于自己的精彩篇章。

The night included discussions about:

• Experiences and challenges working in China as an Australian woman / 澳大利亚女性在中国工作的经历与挑战
• Building confidence and mapping a career in Australia as a Chinese international student / 中国留学生在澳大利亚建立自信并规划职业道路
• Career and mentoring advice / 职业与导师指导建议
• Cultural nuances and language learning / 文化差别与语言学习

Emma's Path to China and Beyond / Emma的赴华之路及后续发展

Emma's journey with Chinese began in primary school in the 1990s when she befriended a classmate who had just arrived in Australia from Beijing. Their firm friendship, along with her close connection with her friend’s mother, sparked her interest in learning Chinese. After high school, she took a gap year in China as a volunteer English teacher, followed by an exchange semester in Beijing in 2007. She recalls that in the lead up to the 2008 Summer Olympics, the city and campus was full of energy. Her interest in China landed her a graduate position at ANZ, which was looking to expand into Asia and one of the few companies at the time that offered opportunities for employees to work in China. Eventually, Emma found herself back in China; this time, in the country’s most bustling commercial hub- Shanghai. “It’s about taking the time to learn the language and finding organizations with opportunities to go abroad,” explained Emma.

As an expat, Emma noticed cultural differences. She observed that her colleagues spent more time together socially due to more family and household support, whereas the Australian workplace, from her experience, focused more on work-life balance. Emma's experience in China gave her the flexibility to transition across sectors, from banking to higher education, highlighting the importance of developing transferable and cross-cultural skills. Now, as the Manager of Global Learning at RMIT, Emma works to strengthen relations between Australian universities and the ASEAN community. “I’m working less in my current role now in the China space,” shares Emma, “at RMIT we’ve got a lovely flourishing campus in Vietnam, so I’m managing staff at the Vietnam campus and traveling back and forth to Vietnam.”

Gabi's Multilingual and Cultural Adventures / Gabi的多语言与文化探索之旅

Describing herself as a ‘late-bloomer’, Gabi’s exploration of languages started in university, drawn by her interest in languages and curiosity about Chinese culture. After just one year of study, she embarked on an exchange, also, to Peking University. This experience was intimidating and rewarding, recalls Gabi. 

Learning Chinese taught her the crucial skill of humility and being attentive to understanding people and different social situations. “Learning a new language teaches you to let go of preconceived notions and truly listen.” She shared how her cultural understanding and language skills, developed by her exposure to China, have been instrumental to her consulting career. For example, she can translate and understand Chinese reports when working on projects in the higher-education space. “Throwing yourself into uncomfortable situations is the best way to grow,” she advised.

Daisy's Insights on Cross-Cultural Connections / Daisy对跨文化交流的见解

Daisy, coming from a Chinese background, emphasises the importance of building meaningful connections across cultures. She arrived in Australia at 17 as an international student and reflects on struggling with cultural isolation. “I believed mastering native-like English was the only way to succeed,” she shared.

However, Daisy found that communication extended far beyond language proficiency. As a career mentor herself now, she talks about how mentorship played a key role in teaching her to embrace authenticity and vulnerability in professional settings. Inspired by her own experience, she founded “Multilingual Connectors” to empower students and young professionals to build connections across cultural divides. Daisy reflected on her personal growth as well, on how she overcame her initial shyness and self-doubt to become more courageous in public-speaking. She also offered some practical advice on networking and seeking mentors. When it comes to choosing a mentor, she suggests considering someone whose results and lifestyle you admire, who can reverse-engineer their success, and who has a track record of elevating others.

Language Learning & Career Development Insights from Our Guests

Language Learning Tips

Gabi:

• Lay a solid foundation: When learning Chinese, focusing on mastering the limited sounds, tones and their combinations.
• Engage actively: Be brave to take part in activities like playing games with native speakers (i.e. Mafia 狼人杀). Put yourself in situations that might feel uncomfortable but force you to rapidly improve.

Daisy:

• Overcome inner barriers: Overcome internal obstacles and have firm belief in your own language capabilities.
• Speak without a script: Give yourself the confidence to try speaking without relying on prepared scripts.
• Expand communication via volunteering: Increase opportunities for natural communication by participating in more volunteer activities.

Career Development and Cross-Cultural Communication Insights

Emma:

• Industry focus: If you have a career plan for a specific region like China, closely monitor the prosperous or potentially booming industries there and start learning relevant knowledge and skills. For instance, the fashion and textile industry in Shanghai used to be fairly international and can be used as a reference.
• Maintain an open mind at work: In daily work, keep an open mind and don't shy away from showing vulnerability as it can be advantageous for career development.

Gabi:

• Clarify personal strengths: First, clarify your own preferences and areas of expertise. Communicate with others based on this self-awareness to get more targeted advice.
• Keep an open learning attitude: Always maintain an open attitude towards learning, avoid easily dismissing any field, and actively explore opportunities from various directions.

Daisy:

• Importance of networking: Recognize the great significance of networking and mentorship. When networking, approach it with empathy, try to understand non-native communication situations.
• Rational participation: Plan your time and energy and don't blindly join activities; instead, build meaningful connections according to your goals.
• Choose the right mentor: When selecting a mentor, consider aspects such as their achievements, whether they can break down and share their successful experiences, and if they have a track record of helping others progress.