#119: Born as a Girl, Chinese Higher Education System, Stereotypes and Migrant Entrepreneurship with Royal Reed

Chiwi Journal

Kia Ora, Nihao and hello! Welcome to the Chiwi Journal Podcast. I’m your host Camellia Yang.

My guest today is Royal Reed. Royal has 20 years of experience in the NZ legal profession. She is also well respected in the Chinese community as a TV and Radio presenter and for her legal education programs for the community. Her legal practice and excellent cross-cultural dispute resolution have received recognition in New Zealand and Greater China.

We discussed:

• What’s it like of being a girl born in a traditional Chinese family that parents favour boys over girls? What’s the bias that the old generation hold of giving birth to a girl?
• The decision making process behind picking up a career and move abroad.
• Why do Chinese people consider the National College Entrance examination as the only way to lead to a bright future? Does it contribute to many competitive Chinese students?
• What’s the difference between the New Zealand education system and the Chinese education system?
• How many stereotypes have Asian women received overseas?
• What’s bamboo plus glass ceiling facing Asian migrants in career?
• How to skin in the game and achieve a career breakthrough?
• Does local working experience still matter that much in today’s digital world?
• What internal and external factors drive Royal to start her own business?
• How to cultivate business culture as a female migrant leader?
• A brief introduction about On Being Bold organisation?

Books and links mentioned in this episode

• Qingming Festival
• One-child policy
• The National College Entrance Examination (aka Gaokao)
• Empowering Women | On Being Bold Conference
• Bamboo ceiling
• Royal's interview on OBB

（*Correct: The year I attended Gaokao was with 10 million people, not 20 million）