About
Valérie Hoeks
Sinologist and strategic advisor Valérie Hoeks has over 20 years of experience in international business between Chinese and European partners. Even before she started with studying Sinology at Leiden University, she was captivated by the country, which opened its doors to international trade after joining the WTO in 2001. Over the years, Valérie has assisted many European companies in Greater China, ranging from agriculture and biotech to medtech and energy.
With a keen eye for strategy and risk management, Valérie guides her audience through the challenges of working with Chinese partners. Building on real-life cases from the field, she shares deep insights into international business and touches on the fundamentals of successful entrepreneurship.
Valérie is regularly asked to share her experiences and vision on the radio, at clients’ premises and at conferences. She also gives workshops and keynote lectures for companies in different countries, including in Belgium, Germany and China.
Valérie stands for mutual understanding and international solidarity, which is achieved through close cooperation within the business community. As a speaker, she brings nuance to the debate about a changing world order and gives a human touch to the Western image of China.
1. China: the rise of a new world power
China is rapidly growing to the top. With a leading position in strategic technologies, including lithium batteries, solar panels and electric vehicles, the country is surpassing many rivals with ease. But ongoing inflation, an ageing population and declining birth rates paint a bleak future. How has China managed to secure its place as an economic miracle and technological wunderkind? And what does that mean for us? Valérie discusses the implications of China’s new position in a changing world order and within the European economy. She discusses scenarios from business practice and makes her audience wonder: how should my organisation relate to China differently?
2. Cooperation with China
During the past twenty years of doing business with China, Valérie has experienced first-hand how different cultural perspectives have had a negative impact on international cooperation. Valérie helps international organisations to realign themselves strategically and operationally by creating mutual understanding. She shares practical examples of how friction within international teams can be resolved and delves deeper into the differences between Dutch and Chinese business environments. With practical tips, she gives her audience the right tools to make their international cooperation a success.
3. China's position in your global strategy
The big question for European companies in China is: how do we maintain our added value in a rapidly advancing market? With a solid China strategy, your company can still compete with the fierce Chinese competition, but developing such a strategy involves many different aspects. Valérie explains the principles of risk management in China and discusses its various legal, cultural and strategic facets. She offers insights into the volatile Chinese market and lays the foundation for making well-informed decisions for a future-proof business.