Paying It Forward

Some five decades after a scholarship gave him his start in business, Merle Hinrich is helping develop the next generation of Asian leaders in trade. He tells Ruth Shapiro how and why

Merle Hinrich transformed trade in Asia with his company, Global Sources. Founded in the 1970s to publish trade magazines, it has developed into a flourishing online portal that connects manufacturers and retailers around the world. Now, after a lifetime in business, Merle is turning his attention to philanthropy, shaking up the way scholarships are run in Asia.

Ruth Shapiro: Let’s start at the beginning of your story.

Merle Hinrich: I grew up on a farm in Nebraska. I had a professor who suggested I apply for a master’s scholarship to attend Thunderbird School of Global Management, which I was fortunate enough to receive in 1964 when I was 20. Attending Thunderbird changed my life and helped me realise the importance of combining theory and practice, as many of the professors came from business.

After graduating, I took a job with the East Asia Publishing Company and moved to Tokyo, which in the mid-sixties was still recovering from the war and new businesses were being built. For a young guy from Nebraska, nothing could have been more exciting. Within a few months, I became the sales manager and moved to Hong Kong.