China · Germany · Europe

Qian (Cyan) Zhao

China Market Insight · Healthcare Background · Business Content: Writing & Video

I explain how business works in China, clearly and practically, for international decision-makers. Native Mandarin speaker, based in Germany.

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Portrait of Qian (Cyan) Zhao
About

From Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim to China–Europe business

I started my career as a medical representative at Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim in Shanghai, working with physicians and hospital specialists in diabetes and cardiovascular care. I then led the nationwide retail expansion of a consumer start-up in China. Since moving to Germany, I have worked on market entry between China and Europe, and I write The China Question, a weekly newsletter that turns complex Chinese business topics into clear, useful answers.

Native MandarinEnglish fluent · German C1
Healthcare backgroundBoehringer Ingelheim · Eli Lilly
China market expertiseRetail expansion, partners, consumers
Business contentWriting & video · weekly newsletter
Writing

Selected writing

Long-form analysis and short stories about how China's economy and businesses really work.

The China Question by BergBlick

One practical question. One useful answer. Every week.

Recommended · Issue #001 · Market entry

Entering China? How do you compete with cheaper local brands?

For an established consumer category, finding demand in China is the easy part. The harder question is whether that demand supports your price and margins against local alternatives. Four questions on price position, value advantage, durability and speed that European consumer brands should answer before committing serious resources.

▶ Also available as a short video Read the article →
Issue #002 · Retail channels

Who actually sells your product in China?

How Tmall, JD.com, Douyin, Xiaohongshu and WeChat really work, and five questions to clarify about inventory, sales, demand, customers and risk before you sign a partner.

▶ Also available as a short video Read the article →

China Business Stories

Exploring the people and stories behind China's changing economy.

Story · Consumer trends

One Chinese woman, two dogs: what a RMB 300 billion pet market tells us about the changing Chinese family

Thirty years apart, the same woman owned two dogs. The first never ate dog food or saw a vet; the second came with an entire industry. Her family's story explains where China's pet market came from.

Read the story → Story · Personal

I thought career integration meant finding a job in Germany. I was wrong.

My own journey through migration, motherhood and career disruption, and how experience built in China becomes valuable again when it is translated for a new market.

Read the story →
Video

The China Question, also on video

Each issue also becomes a short video of about three minutes: the same analysis, in a format made for watching.

The thinking: Cyan Zhao.
The talking: AI Cyan.

Same curiosity. Different pixels.

Every video starts with my own research, analysis and script. The ideas are mine. On screen, they are presented by AI Cyan, my digital avatar.

This is how I use AI in my work: as a tool to communicate faster and more consistently, not as a replacement for thinking. It lets me turn each issue of The China Question into a short video every week.

The thinking: Cyan Zhao. The talking: AI Cyan. Same curiosity. Different pixels.
Video edition · Issue #001 · 2:30

Entering China: how do you compete with cheaper local brands?

Read the full article →
Video edition · Issue #002 · 2:49

Who sells in China? Five platforms, five promises.

Read the full article →
Experience

Selected experience

Commercial roles across healthcare, retail and cross-border business development.

Contact

Let's talk

I'm happy to connect about China, healthcare and international business.

cyan@cyanzh.com LinkedIn