I returned to my old stomping grounds, “where it all began,” in Shenzhen, China, to speak at the inaugural Shenzhen SEO Conference, hosted by my friend JP Zhang.
Since I had a packed schedule and people to meet, I arrived a few days early to connect with Justin, the CEO and my business partner at Easy China Warehouse, as well as David from NowShenzhen and others.
It struck me how natural it feels to be back in China. Meeting other experts and speakers visiting Shenzhen for the first time was a “full circle” moment. Seeing these incredible people explore the city, visiting bars and venues I frequented 15 years ago, brought a surreal sense of nostalgia.
I spoke at the Shenzhen SEO Conference, first participating in a lively panel discussing East-West differences. Then, on the afternoon of Saturday, September 20, 2025, I delivered a session on the 10 lessons I’ve learned from 17 years (hard to believe!) of experience in cross-border brand building.
It was an exciting time, and I recorded the session for an upcoming episode of the Global From Asia podcast—stay tuned for its release!
The energy here is all about hyper-focused business development and making things happen. However, China doesn’t feel as vibrant as it once did; there’s an almost tangible quietness. Between the real estate crash and export market challenges (tariffs and more), the market is undeniably tough.