Like Swimming with Piranhas – Entrepreneurial China, with Zak Dychtwald

The defining characteristic of the environment in China has been its pace of change. And that has its impact on the latest generation of Chinese entrepreneurs who need to innovate to meet the tough demands of Chinese consumers.

The message is: adapt or get washed away. It's like constantly swimming with piranhas, says Zak Dychtwald, our guest on this episode. The skill to adapt to people's always evolving demands, is increasingly making Chinese companies globally competitive.

Zak is the founder and CEO of Young China Group, a consultancy decoding China's market, workforce, and geopolitical shifts. Fluent in Mandarin and based in Shanghai, he brings over a decade of firsthand experience to his work as the author of Young China and a contributor to Harvard Business Review. A sought-after speaker invited to events on six continents, Zak combines data-driven research with deep cultural insight to help leaders navigate China's future.

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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland. 
Season 8, episode 14 - Published: May 13, 2025
Hosts: Serena Jung, Nico Luchsinger, Asia Society Switzerland
Editor: Remko Tanis, Managing Editor, Asia Society Switzerland