IB Woman
Issue No. 27 - February/March
Found in translation
Leonie McKeon
by Penelope Herbert
Although Leonie McKeon lived in Taiwan and China for five years, it was her study of social anthropology that eventually led her to develop Chinese Language and Cultural Advice.
Based at Thebarton, CLCA teaches and translates Chinese and teaches business people about Chinese culture.
“My degree focussed on anthropological contemporary theory,” explains Leonie, “which looked at cultural boundaries and layers. For example, studying how a certain culture drives in traffic.”
Starting her business in 1998, Leonie’s first challenge was to explain to potential clients how her cultural knowledge and language expertise could help them with business relationships in China. She says that many businesses believe that if they have a Chinese employee, no matter what their role, that person will advise them on doing business with China.
“I had to develop a non-existent market,” she says. “People were trying to conduct business in China but they didn’t have the right skills. That’s like having a pen but not knowing how to write; and thinking that you only need the pen to achieve the outcome.”
Leonie met this challenge with the simple strategy of talking to people about dealing with China and discussing the relevant issues.
Once she has an outline of the required outcomes, Leonie puts together a tailored plan that may include cultural awareness and mentoring, working with a delegation and translation and interpretation. <...
