Note to Readers: Sharing this career reflection that Jeff recently wrote for LinkedIn. I decided to post it here because Jeff has a pretty interesting career revolving the Olympic movement and China. Someone out there may be able to pick a lesson or two from this article. I know I did.
Seventeen years.
Where have they gone?
In a world where people consistently jump from one job to another – I’m entering my 18th year with China Southern Airlines, the largest airline of the People’s Republic of China.
Who would have believed it?
It was in mid-September of that year that I joined China Southern‘s Los Angeles Office as the Director of Public Relations for North America.
My how the years seem to fly by.
And where were you in 1998?
If you were like me, you were watching Titanic winning 11 Oscars including Best Picture – the 1998 FIFA World Cup was being held in France – Saving Private Ryan opened in theaters and US President Bill Clinton was impeached by the US House of Representatives.
I made my first trip to China at the end of 1998 – a voyage of self-discovery that I never thought I would actually take.
And what has happened to me during these 17 years?
I was married – divorced – found true love and remarried now with three wonderful little kids –and was given very senior positions for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Organizing Committee – the 2010 Asian Games Organizing Committee and the 2014 Youth Olympic Committee.
I even had my very own sports radio talk show on Radio Guangzhou with more than 80 Million weekly listeners!
And I have found a second home in the nation of China – living there for the past nine years and embracing the 2,000 year old culture to find out so much more about myself every single day.
People constantly ask me if I can speak Chinese.
My reply: I just eat the food.
And so, now I am considered an expert in the Olympics and an expert in doing business in China.
Who would have believed it?
I’ve been given the rare opportunity to work with the senior leaders of the second largest economy of the world – some of the smartest, gifted and passionate people about their nation.
This also includes the current President of China, Mr. Xi Jinping.
Here is a story I hope you will appreciate.
During the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, I made friends with Mr. Wu Kun from the Olympic Media Centre who today is still one of my very best friends. During the cool of the afternoon on the last day of the Beijing Summer Olympics, Roy (his English name) and I were talking a slow stroll between the Bird’s Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Centre).
Roy and I sat and watched the people of the world all around us … basking in the warm glow of the Olympic Games.
He then turned to me and said he was told to relay a message.
Looking me in the eyes he said “you are now one of us”.
I knew immediately that his message came from the highest level of the Chinese Government.
And for a foreigner to be accepted “as one of us” is about as good as it will ever get.
Who would have believed it?
Seventeen years – where have they gone?
If you are working on a project in China, looking to open a global office or need a senior expert with strong guanxi, who has been promoted throughout the Chinese state media and respected as a dear friend of China …
Please do let me know how I can help.
Jeff Ruffolo has served in senior management for China Southern Airlines since 1998 and held numerous senior roles in China’s Olympic Movement. He can be reached at Ruffolopr@hotmail.com.
