Name: Sophia Zhao
Job Title: Overseas Sales Manager, EduGlobal Media
Joined EduGlobal in: November 2007
Home Town: Lanzhou, Gansu Province
Education: M.Ed. Education Management, University of Bristol
B.A. English Literature, Xi'an Foreign Language University

What is your role as Overseas Sales Manager?

In my position, I work closely with our international clients (mostly institutions) to help them develop and carryout marketing campaigns across China. Our activities through EduGlobal Media are largely web-based, but we also do on-site and print promotions. Ultimately, my goal is to help clients understand and effectively reach their target audience in China. I also act as a bridge between our Client Relations Managers, Marketing Team, and Media group, ensuring that each division is up to date with our services, offerings and findings.

How would you describe your average day at work?

Busy busy busy! But full of exciting challenges.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I'm very pleased when proposals for new marketing initiatives are approved. My favorite part of my job is helping clients reach their goals through a successful media plan I've developed for them. It's really exciting to see how a their presence in China can grow thanks to our work.

Why did you choose to work in international education?

I mostly wanted to work in this industry for three reasons: Firstly, my academic background was in international education. Secondly, I really believe in the value of an international education. It can help not only individuals but entire families to realise their goals and dreams. Lastly, I believe that international education is important for an entire society. It can act like a bridge across cultures, teaching us about each other and ourselves.

How do you see the international education industry changing in the future? How will digital media change it?

The internet has become the most important tool in people's lives. It's not only become an important resource, it's also where people go to get things done. Digital media is and will continue to be the most important platform to connect students and far-away institutions. I believe that the role of the agent or recruiter will change as a result. Students are now able to apply directly online in many cases, but they still often need guidance, and institutions still need to make their brand and message recognisable among students and families.

You must spend a lot of your time on the web. What's your online presence like?

I'm a member of a number of consumer-based sites, like TaoBao, DangDang, and RedBaby. I also am a member of PPS, a peer-to-peer streaming network. I have a blog on Sohu and a micro-blog on Sina. I usually write a blog entry every day, about my life or what I'm doing, and I also blog a lot about my baby. On all these sites, I'm able to share questions and have discussions with other people going through similar experiences.

I also chat live a lot. I use QQ, Skype and MISN to talk to my friends and colleagues, and to make international phone calls. It may seem like I use a lot of different tools online, and maybe that's true, but I think it's pretty typical among Chinese people my age. 

You studied abroad. Was it what you expected?

No, it wasn't like I imagined at first! It's not as easy as I thought it would be. I didn't think enrolling in courses and understanding everything would be difficult, but at first it was a challenge. It's a good thing, though. Studying abroad and having these experiences are what help people grow up and become more independent.

Before I left China, I thought it would be very easy: just show up, go to class, do the work, get a degree, come back to China. But in reality, it wasn't so simple. Education in the UK is mostly based on a student's contribution. In China, teachers often give students the answers, but teachers in the UK encourage students to find and understand the answers. They inspire the students to think. I really appreciate this type of learning, but it can be a difficult adjustment for students like me, who grew up in a traditional Chinese education system. It took nearly six months for me to get used to it. To earn a good grade, foreign students often had to work twice as hard as the local students, especially at the beginning. This is something I didn't expect.

Was there anything that you found strange or funny when studying abroad?

Sometimes people eat rare meat. We don't do this in China. While I was in the UK, a local friend invited me to dinner. The waiter asked how I wanted my meat cooked, but I didn't know how to answer, so I said "rare." I didn't like what they brought to my table! This resulted in me not eating meat for the next five months...

You have a son. Will he study overseas?

Yes, I think I'll send him abroad to finish his higher education. But he's still very young, so I don't have to worry about that quite yet!