Can Multinationals Still Compete in China?

The ground has shifted. China is no longer the easy growth story it once was for global companies. The country’s competitive dynamics now overwhelmingly favour bold, agile local players—companies that are faster, more user-centric, and increasingly ahead in innovation, not just cost.

So where does that leave multinational corporations?

Join Jacob Johansen—25-year China veteran, strategy consultant at PwC, author of From Customer to User 2.0, and host of the China Bizz podcast—for a sharp, no-nonsense examination of what it now takes to win under China’s New Normal.

Johansen’s view is clear: MNCs can still compete. But not with the old playbook.

He will cover:

• Why traditional MNC advantages are becoming liabilities
• Where foreign companies still have leverage—and how to use it
• What multinationals must urgently learn from Chinese-style innovation
• How shifting from customer focus to user centricity unlocks new relevance
• Why China is no longer just a market—but a blueprint for global business transformation

This is not a story of decline. It’s a call to reset, rethink, and re-engage.

Admission includes coffee, tea and croissants.

• 8:00 – 8:30 am | Registration & Networking Breakfast
• 8:30 – 8:35 am | Opening Remarks
• 8:35 – 9:15 am | Keynote Speech
• 9:15 – 9:45 am | Audience Q&A
• 9:45 – 10:00 am | Closing Remarks

*The Chamber reserves the right to alter the above agenda at its sole discretion.

Notes:

In case of cancellation, please kindly note you must email the BritCham Shanghai Event staff eloise.zhang@britishchambershanghai.cn before 5 pm, 2 September. Due to the service charges of Glueup and online payment platforms, we can only partially refund up to 90% of your ticket price and payment will be processed within 14 days after the event via your original payment method. However, it is non-refundable for a cancellation request made beyond the above-mentioned timeframe.