Asia 2025

Just back from nearly three weeks in Asia and feeling re-energized.

As some of you know, I spent a good part of my career based in Hong Kong and Shanghai, working across the region from Sydney to Dubai. This trip was a mix of everything: catching up with old friends, traveling with family, reconnecting with former colleagues, and meeting some truly impressive executive search consultants across Southeast Asia, Southern China, and Hong Kong.

A few things stood out:

• There’s still real energy in the region, even with a bit of economic softness. Change is in the air, especially in Hong Kong, where the vision for a more unified China is unmistakable.

• Macau has undergone a massive transformation since I last visited a decade ago. The scale of new infrastructure, buildings, and sheer architectural ambition is staggering. It’s an exciting place, and I’d love to spend more time there.

• Tokyo gave us four incredible days. Somehow it felt both full and not nearly enough. It’s one of those cities that leaves you wanting more the moment you leave.

• Hong Kong continues to feel like a home away from home. With some new ventures and relationships forming, it looks like I’ll be spending more time across Asia, alongside the great search work happening stateside.

• And a special mention for the most jaw-dropping theater experience I’ve ever had, at Guangdong Romance Park in Foshan. If you find yourself in the Shenzhen, Guangzhou, or Foshan area and want a crash course in the rich history and culture of the region, this is the place. The show featured hundreds of actors flying across the stage, a horse galloping through the audience, waterfalls indoors—it was over the top in the best possible way.

To everyone in Asia who made time to connect, thank you. I’ll be back. And to my clients, colleagues, and candidates in the U.S., thank you for being flexible and patient while I navigated the time zone math. I forgot how tough it is to coordinate anything from 12 hours ahead.

Good to be back—and looking forward to what’s ahead.