Our fifteen-member CSC team arrived at the Pangu Plaza around 9 am on Monday.
A brief selfie session in front of the building followed. We then entered the bright and ornately decorated lobby. After a brief wait, we were ushered into a large conference room at the IBM office high up in the Dragon building.
The room exuded energy and hope of the collective team. Participants included the four client organizations – Dementia Care and Research Center (DCRC – the premier Alzheimer’s care hospital in China), Third Affiliated Hospital (a top Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital), Yellow Bracelet (the largest community for Dementia patients’ families in China), Shengzefeng Old’s Apartment (an elder care facility for eldercare and the cognitively impaired). We also had Ci’aiji – the fifth beneficiary and the leading elderly home-care services organization in China. These five clients represent the forefront organizations in China today who are addressing care and societal challenges related to dementia and Alzheimer’s.
We were joined by the core Pyxera team, our Project Assistants and executives from the local IBM offices.
We took our seats briefly, then got up and scattered out in the hallway. Snapshots from IBM’s rich history of culture and innovation bedecked the walls. We went out on an extended photo shooting spree with our colleagues. All kinds of vantage spots and angles were explored by impromptu groups that formed and morphed by the excitement of the moment.
Once back in our room, we eagerly waited for the kickoff to begin. Jim Lin, Director of Communications and Citizenship of Greater China welcomed us. Winnie Song, CSC Manager of China, gave an eloquent introduction of the initiative. The clients then introduced their organizations and their care missions for patients with cognitive impairment. The members of the corresponding sub-team then introduced themselves. More photo sessions followed.
After the kickoff event was over, we were paired with our client teams. When asked about our afternoon activities, Yuying Li of Pyxera made it perfectly clear, “You are now owned by your client”!
Our engagement has begun.
The Shengzefeng Old’s Apartment
We got into a large van graciously provided by President Du to take us to her care facility. After about forty minutes of weaving through the traffic, the scenery took a rustic turn. Bright yellow fall foliage with a lush green backdrop was a soothing relief from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Our car slowed down as it approached a road hidden by tall grass. The driver turned right and approached a large metal gate that was partially open. Just as we entered the facility, we came face to face with a large wall statue that beamed at us with a welcoming gesture. It represented good health and prosperity at an old age.
We have arrived.
The van eventually came to a halt near a small unassuming one-storied building with wide open doors. This was the cafeteria that served meals to the residents and guests around the clock. Long transparent rectangular plastic slats hung from the door top serving as a screen. Lunch would be served first. Business dialogue would happen later. This is a typical facet of the Asian culture.
President Du and Ms. Bai greeted us as we got down from the van. We walked into the cafeteria together. We were shown into a newly constructed dining room with wooden walls. There were a couple of round tables with lazy susans each surrounded by a set of upholstered chairs with red covers. A handful of framed arts on the wall and four red Chinese good luck lamps, one in each corner completed the modest decor of the room.
The lunch items started arriving. A total of ten dishes were meticulously placed on the turntable. These were all freshly cooked items – several vegetable dishes along with plates of fish and meat. President Du had spared no pains to ensure that we can have a healthy lunch every day during our entire engagement. Hospitality certainly seemed like a cornerstone of the Chinese culture.
The Office
It was raining so instead of walking around the campus, we got back into the van. The driver took us to a long one-story building bordered by bright and colorful flower beds. We trudged through the front glass doors into the hallway. The inside was exceptionally clean. We were then ushered into a large room at the far end of the hallway.
As soon as I entered the room, I noticed the deep brown wood panels running along the walls. A large conference table spanned almost the entire length of the room. It was surrounded with plush black executive chairs. A large picture of Xi Jinping, China’s current President, and a gigantic hand-painting hung from the walls. Large built-in bookcases displayed neatly arranged rows of voluminous golden colored books. Sunlight filled the room through the ceiling to floor glass windows. This is going to be our office for the next few weeks. The room looked surprisingly ordered and elegant even with all the medley of its accouterment. Cleanliness, orderliness, and elegance seemed to be common themes of the Chinese culture.
The First Discussion
Once we all settled down in our randomly picked seats, the conversation started.
It soon took an interesting turn very soon.
I will be writing about it in my next blog.
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