Cristina, from Romania
“I moved to Beijing in January 2008 with my husband. We lived in London before and I was working there as the Finance Manager of a shipping company. Once we arrived in Beijing, I had much pleasure in discovering INSPIRED . I attended a range of INSPIRED events and I was extremely enthusiastic to discover that INSPIRED focuses both on career and personal topics. This suited me perfectly as I was also a foreigner to Beijing and to Chinese culture. I took home a better understanding of the local culture and it considerably helped my life transition to China.
INSPIRED attracts people from a very wide combination of nationalities and professional backgrounds. I met extraordinary and amazing people who have the gift of inspiring me and who helped me to keep my positive thinking and optimism at a very high level. As a result, I found very quickly a job as Finance Manager for a telecommunication company!”

Craig, from the United States
“I moved to Beijing in December 2006 for my wife’s job. Our move to China gave me the opportunity to explore new career paths and INSPIRED workshops on career direction, creativity and small business branding were a great source of ideas.
China's employment market is difficult to navigate with ever changing rules. It was helpful to meet other people going through similar transitions and to learn from their experience.
INSPIRED workshops are a great resource for the foreign community in Beijing.”

Dana, from Israel
“I had lived in Beijing for a few years before coming across INSPIRED and thought to myself, ‘if only there was something like this when I had first arrived!’ Already culturally in synch and busy running my own business, I was still lured by INSPIRED ’s more individually tailored programs.
I had just given birth and was constantly contemplating on how I could best create a balance between my career and my role as a mom. INSPIRED gave me a platform to hear other like-minded people, as well as understand my personal needs. Its program opened my eyes and my head to what might be possible. I’m still in Beijing, still running my own business and still a mom - so I guess I must be doing something right. INSPIRED is definitely very inspiring!”

Loretta, from the United States
“If you are looking at this website you are on the right track to having an inspiring and encouraging time. When I moved to Beijing, I experienced roller-coaster emotions, resistance and denial. I missed my old home and my friends. I did a lot of shopping and sightseeing. I then realized that this was not enough. I needed something more fulfilling. I joined INSPIRED . I then had a new focus. I realized my cross-cultural experience and adaptability was an asset and to quote Jasmine ‘one needs to be a chameleon!’ Emotions are normal (worry if you don't have any). Accepting change takes time.”

Gerhild, from Austria
“Until my 30th birthday I had been living in Austria and my professional career was just about to get really started. I was the General Manager of two Business Incubators, one of them especially designed for female entrepreneurs. In spite of that my husband and I both decided to quit our jobs, travel around the world and spend all of our savings!
During this journey we decided to make all possible efforts to live in China for a while - and luckily my husband was soon offered an exciting position. His job first brought us to Shanghai and then to Beijing. In the beginning I really enjoyed my new freedom of not being involved in work, no pressure, much leisure time. I kept myself busy by learning the language, I worked on my doctoral degree in law and I started to learn kick-boxing and qi gong.
Nevertheless something was missing: my career! INSPIRED helped me a lot in finding my new professional identity as I realized that I don't want just a job. I want a fulfilling career, but one which allows me to stay flexible. So, the time has come for me to be my own boss! My business will be based on coaching, mentoring and mediation. Therefore, I am currently undergoing further proper education. I plan to start my company this autumn - in Hong Kong - as my husband's position needs us to move there. But INSPIRED taught me well how to build a ‘career in my suitcase,’ and so I am ready to go there and start!”