Nicholas C.
About me
| Nicholas C. | |
| Politics, Economics and Philosophy | |
| Philosophy Politics and Economics | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| Goodricke | |
| 2005 |
My employment
| Co-Founder & Director | |
| Arete Complete Talent Management | |
| China | |
| Education | |
| Small business (0-49 employees) | |
| 2012 |
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A day in the life of a Co-Founder & Director in China
Starting your own business, especially on the other side of the world, is not for the faint-hearted. It sounds glamorous but you have to fight for every success.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Arete is an international education and early career development consultancy headquartered in China. We provide advice and support services to Chinese individuals aspiring to study and work internationally.
What do you do?
I have overall responsibility for the delivery of all services managing an international team of colleagues based in Asia, Europe and North America. I'm also responsible for the development of new management systems, processes and tools to improve the operation of the business and facilitate growth.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I chose not to go down the big business route after York and joined a small management consultancy in London. I caught the attention of the MD who mentored me and quickly gave me increasing responsibilities and opportunities. I learnt a lot from working closely with a successful business leader and entrepreneur and it eventually gave me the chance to start my own business.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Absolutely
Describe your most memorable day at work
When the annual turnover of the business exceeded that of the company I used to work for for the first time
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Countless. And they are as wide and varied as you can possibly imagine. Starting your own business, especially on the other side of the world, is not for the faint-hearted. It sounds glamorous but you have to fight for every success. Think hard before you turn your back on a guaranteed salary, benefits and pension - what the Chinese call the 铁饭碗. On the other hand, it's the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
I have the good fortune of being able to influence our work environment and culture. We have quite a cliched startup-type office and a very informal, fun and casual culture, at least on the surface. This is underpinned by a pretty well structured and disciplined operational framework though. As one of my mates at York had pinned over his desk: The secret is to make it look like it's no effort, not to make no effort.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I spent a lot of time crawling between the glorious old man pubs across the city. It taught me how to talk to people of all ages and all backgrounds.
What would you like to do next with your career?
Continue to grow the current business and identify, explore and try out new business opportunities.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
You're graduating into a really difficult job market, everything is currently in flux and I have a tremendous amount of sympathy for that. Rather than be intimidated by this, I would encourage you to look on it as an opportunity to be creative, take risks and try any ideas you may have. Be brave. The best time to fail, learn and pick yourself up again is in your early 20s, you have nothing to lose and you will learn so much about what you're made of.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Anything you think I might be able to help with really. I was lucky to have a great mentor at the beginning of my career and I know the value it brought to me. If I can pass some of that on I'd be very happy to pay it forward.
Next steps...
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